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Projects
Projects
2009 Design Awards
CLOSING DATE EXTENDED TO 19 JUNE 2009
The Southern Staffordshire Partnership is committed to continually raising the standards of design in the built environment and the 2009 Awards scheme is one of a series of measures to underpin this and make southern Staffordshire an attractive place in which to live, work and invest. Quality design is now widely recognised as a key part of economic regeneration. It has a crucial role to play in the image and profile of Southern Staffordshire, in maintaining and developing local distinctiveness and attracting investment and people. Despite the economic down turn it is important that we continue to focus on producing well designed buildings, be they for housing, public use or private businesses. The quality of peoples work, leisure and home environment can be greatly enhanced by the quality of design of the buildings they are in, and to sacrifice standards now could have long term detrimental consequences.
The last Design Awards held in 2007 were endorsed by David Dimbleby and winners included Sandon Hall near Stafford, Yates Yard at Eccleshall, the Stafford Children's Centre and the Malt House at Four Ashes. Highly commended schemes included The Swan at Lichfield, the Kensington Oval also at Lichfield and the Stafford Box.
"Making a difference on the ground"
The Partnership has helped develop a number of projects that are now contributing to the economic well being of Southern Staffordshire:
Regeneration Initiative
This initiative will:
- Develop our knowledge base using regional exemplar projects
- Promote and share best practice across southern Staffordshire
- Create a culture of, and a reputation for, innovate regeneration
- Raise the profile and relevance of economic regeneration across the Partnership
An Awards scheme is being held every other year alternative with the Design Awards
It was a sell out at the inaugural Southern Staffordshire Regeneration Awards Lunch recently held at the Acton Trussell Moat House. No less than 106 schemes had been entered across 8 categories and the final 32 that had been short listed came under the spotlight to narrow it down to the final group of winning schemes
The Awards themselves were part of major new initiative by the Southern Staffordshire Partnership to put the area firmly on the regions regeneration map; with Community groups, local authorities, businesses and local partnerships all showcasing their local projects. Categories included, ‘Quality of Life’, improving the Environment’, Inspiring Young People’, Low Carbon Initiative’, and ‘Effective Partnership’.
Commenting on the initiative Partnership Director Jeff Marlow noted, “We are keen to address regeneration in a holistic way and strive to make our communities more economically and environmentally sustainable in the longer term. The Awards Competition is central to this enabling us to recognise and promote the breadth and quality of regeneration activities across southern Staffordshire. In addition to some of our flagship multi million pound projects we were, in particular, able to showcase many of those enduring initiatives that are inspired by local people which enhance our local neighbourhoods and communities”.
Winning schemes included the Willows estate in Uttoxeter where a scheme of 76 deck access flats riddled with crime and anti social behaviour were demolished making way for a brand new low rise development of bungalows, house and apartments on a mixed tenure basis, with an integrated playground for children. Other winners were the Staffordshire Business Environment Network that provides environmental training, awareness raising and support to companies across the area, the Burntwood Init project that has successfully tackled anti social behaviour in Burntwood providing positive activities and outcomes for young people, and the Think Local Initiative that promotes inter trading amongst local companies.
Each of the short listed projects were showcase on a video shown at the Awards which was produced by 2 students at Staffordshire University. The video had an introduction by BBC reporter Ashley Blake, himself an honorary graduate of Staffordshire University who are one of the members of the Southern Staffordshire Partnership
The Awards are part of a wider initiative to develop the knowledge base on regeneration using exemplar projects, promoting and sharing best practice on regeneration schemes across southern Staffordshire, creating a culture of, and reputation for, innovative regeneration, and to raise the profile and relevance of economic regeneration within the partner organisations.
Jeff Marlow added, “Whilst the Awards Competition have rewarded the best in Southern Staffordshire this was as much about supporting all the projects, organisations, individuals and groups involved in regeneration. We wanted to show that in many cases we have the ability to deliver, and that we are always looking to boost our capabilities and skills. This is key to whole initiative where we will be looking to support continuous improvement and development across all those involved in regeneration”.
The Partnership were keen to adopt as wide a definition of regeneration as possible noting firstly that towns, communities and business are continually going through a renewal process and secondly that small scale projects addressing community safety, service provision, skills development and environmental improvements are as relevant as many of the larger scale redevelopment programmes.
Further details are available from the Partnership on 01543 308250 or www.southernstaffs.gov.uk
Editors Note: The southern Staffordshire Partnership brings together the public, private and voluntary sectors; and covers the districts of Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Stafford and Tamworth. The Partnership includes local authorities, Chambers of Commerce, Staffordshire University, local Colleges and Staffordshire Training and Enterprise Council.
Our aim as an economic regeneration partnership is to foster the development of a diverse, dynamic and sustainable, low carbon economy that underpins an excellent quality of life for all the residents of Southern Staffordshire.
Local Economic Assessment
In July a working group was set up with representatives from the County Council and the Partnership to start some initial work that could lead to an economic assessment for the County as trialed in the SNR consultation. Attached below is the revised draft Issues Paper together with the Partnerships current views on it. The aim is to have an Issues Paper completed by January 2009 with a Paper outlining priorities and actions by mid 2009.
Delivering Better Business Engagement
The Business Engagement scoping work carried out as part of the LAA Flagship project has identified 13 specific recommendations. A number of these could be delivered through an enhancement of the established interactive Think Local (TL) website so that it addresses the demand for business support and advice, as well as (as currently) for products and services.
The more challenging of the recommendations from the Study included the sharing of data between partners and the delivery of services at the most appropriate level by the most appropriate partner (local, district, County).
Our work plan focuses on the following key activities
• Produce a detailed schedule of partners activities for 2008/09
• Undertake an analysis of which businesses are engaged by each agency
• Provide briefings to business engagement staff at each partner / discuss strategic engagement activities
• Identification of major procurement opportunities in the public and private sectors
• Addition of discrete partner component to the Think Local website and uploading of engagement activity
• Development and integration of enhanced search facility, and interactive web technologies to Think Local
• Best Practice guide, recommendations on developing local authority strategic role, and recommendations on appropriate level/partner at which service should be delivered – supported through workshops
• Bespoke strategic engagement programme to enhance existing engagement activities
SucceSS
Success is the brand name of an exciting initiative aimed at promoting the professional and business services sector (PBS). The sector is highlighted as being important sub regionally through Southern Staffordshire Tomorrow, the Partnerships Regeneration Strategy, and receives funding support through the AWM Cluster Programme and the Partnership.
H E Full Circle
This is a seven year project, which started in 2003 and is supported by a £3 Million grant from Advantage West Midlands, that helps people in Southern Staffordshire into Higher Education and then supports graduates into employment through specialised business development. The project is supported by 20 student ambassadors who interact with schools, community organisations, colleges and employers to promote higher education. The project focuses on developing foundation degrees providing appropriate, employer led qualifications to extend participation in education, learning and training.
Design Initiative
Held every 2 years these awards promote quality design and inspirational architecture throughout Southern Staffordshire. This initiative aims to promote the achievement of excellence in design and construction of buildings and space in Southern Staffordshire. In 2008 a series of latest thinking on 'sustainability' and two seminars will be held to develop the understanding of the importance of the public realm in our towns and villages. In addition planning is underway for the 2009 Design Awards.
In 2007 to celebrate the winning entries, an Awards Luncheon was held at Uttoxeter Racecourse on 5 September where Nathan Cornish, Development Director of Urban Splash Ltd was the guest speaker
Click on to our 'News' Section to see a list of all the Winners from 2007.
Keith Asford from White Green Young, Andrew Hayward from Brownhill Hayward Brown and Jeff Marlow, all from the Design Awards CommitteeRenewable Energy Initiative
This started as the Biomass Project based at Eccleshall near Stafford which carried out significant research and development work with local farmers and businesses resulting in a company being established to develop miscanthus grass fired power station. Following planning permission being granted a power generation station will come on stream in the Summer of 2007. Funding includes £1 million from AWM and nearly £500,000 from the DTI Bi Energy Capital Grants Scheme. With financial support from the Partnership, the County Council and District Council, a project manger, Diane Roberts (pictured above) is managing activities to research, promote and develop other forms of renewable energy projects. A further bid for funding from AWM was made at the beginning of 2008.
Shire Towns Initiative
The Partnerships Advocacy Paper, "Southern Staffordshire Towns - A case for Policy Interventions" was produced in the Summer of 2006. It is being used to underpin our work to influence the review of the West Midlands Economic Strategy and has been well received by Advantage West Midlands. The paper outlines the challenges that each of the towns in Southern Staffordshire faces, and how through greater regional intervention and support we could significantly raise educational attainment, wage levels, business investment, and GVA.
HE Centres
The Partnership has strongly supported Staffordshire University in the development of Higher Education Campuses across Southern Staffordshire, with the first project having been established and incrementally expanded in Lichfield adjacent to the local College.
In 2006 £2.5 million of funding was secured from AWM towards a £4.3million HE development adjacent to Burton College which opened in October 2007.
Tomorrows Entrepreneurs
A great deal of the work to develop the awareness and understanding of business and enterprise in schools, though professionally led, relies heavily on volunteers. The significant human resource base within the Partnership uniquely positions us to identify a substantial pool of "willing" volunteers. The local authorities in the Partnership have now committed themselves to giving a support to the lead bodies of Young Enterprise and the Staffordshire Education Business Partnership in providing support to their activities in school. With support from these two organisations, staff in our partner organisations are being offered the opportunity to become involved in providing enterprise support to schools that is tailored to their own time constraints and their individual strengths. Our partner organisations are also formally recognising such support as part of an individuals continuous development and as part of the staff induction programme. Such support may include providing a days support at a schools enterprise day through to long term mentoring to the sixth form business challenge teams.
This can be seen as personal development for those involved, it will ensure that there are sufficient volunteers to support enterprise activity in schools and will strengthen the relationship between a major employer in the area and its local community.
Once this level of support is embedded, the Partnership will develop a programme that seeks to identify those with an entreprenial mindset at an early age and ensure they access all the available programmes and have ongoing support through to leaving secondary school or college. This will focus on those young people who are or may become disengaged from the academic route in school, giving them initially a non academic route to develop their enterpreneurial flair.
2009 Design Awards
CLOSING DATE EXTENDED TO 19 JUNE 2009
The Southern Staffordshire Partnership is committed to continually raising the standards of design in the built environment and the 2009 Awards scheme is one of a series of measures to underpin this and make southern Staffordshire an attractive place in which to live, work and invest. Quality design is now widely recognised as a key part of economic regeneration. It has a crucial role to play in the image and profile of Southern Staffordshire, in maintaining and developing local distinctiveness and attracting investment and people. Despite the economic down turn it is important that we continue to focus on producing well designed buildings, be they for housing, public use or private businesses. The quality of peoples work, leisure and home environment can be greatly enhanced by the quality of design of the buildings they are in, and to sacrifice standards now could have long term detrimental consequences.
The last Design Awards held in 2007 were endorsed by David Dimbleby and winners included Sandon Hall near Stafford, Yates Yard at Eccleshall, the Stafford Children's Centre and the Malt House at Four Ashes. Highly commended schemes included The Swan at Lichfield, the Kensington Oval also at Lichfield and the Stafford Box.
"Making a difference on the ground"
The Partnership has helped develop a number of projects that are now contributing to the economic well being of Southern Staffordshire:
Regeneration Initiative
This initiative will:
- Develop our knowledge base using regional exemplar projects
- Promote and share best practice across southern Staffordshire
- Create a culture of, and a reputation for, innovate regeneration
- Raise the profile and relevance of economic regeneration across the Partnership
An Awards scheme is being held every other year alternative with the Design Awards
It was a sell out at the inaugural Southern Staffordshire Regeneration Awards Lunch recently held at the Acton Trussell Moat House. No less than 106 schemes had been entered across 8 categories and the final 32 that had been short listed came under the spotlight to narrow it down to the final group of winning schemes
The Awards themselves were part of major new initiative by the Southern Staffordshire Partnership to put the area firmly on the regions regeneration map; with Community groups, local authorities, businesses and local partnerships all showcasing their local projects. Categories included, ‘Quality of Life’, improving the Environment’, Inspiring Young People’, Low Carbon Initiative’, and ‘Effective Partnership’.
Commenting on the initiative Partnership Director Jeff Marlow noted, “We are keen to address regeneration in a holistic way and strive to make our communities more economically and environmentally sustainable in the longer term. The Awards Competition is central to this enabling us to recognise and promote the breadth and quality of regeneration activities across southern Staffordshire. In addition to some of our flagship multi million pound projects we were, in particular, able to showcase many of those enduring initiatives that are inspired by local people which enhance our local neighbourhoods and communities”.
Winning schemes included the Willows estate in Uttoxeter where a scheme of 76 deck access flats riddled with crime and anti social behaviour were demolished making way for a brand new low rise development of bungalows, house and apartments on a mixed tenure basis, with an integrated playground for children. Other winners were the Staffordshire Business Environment Network that provides environmental training, awareness raising and support to companies across the area, the Burntwood Init project that has successfully tackled anti social behaviour in Burntwood providing positive activities and outcomes for young people, and the Think Local Initiative that promotes inter trading amongst local companies.
Each of the short listed projects were showcase on a video shown at the Awards which was produced by 2 students at Staffordshire University. The video had an introduction by BBC reporter Ashley Blake, himself an honorary graduate of Staffordshire University who are one of the members of the Southern Staffordshire Partnership
The Awards are part of a wider initiative to develop the knowledge base on regeneration using exemplar projects, promoting and sharing best practice on regeneration schemes across southern Staffordshire, creating a culture of, and reputation for, innovative regeneration, and to raise the profile and relevance of economic regeneration within the partner organisations.
Jeff Marlow added, “Whilst the Awards Competition have rewarded the best in Southern Staffordshire this was as much about supporting all the projects, organisations, individuals and groups involved in regeneration. We wanted to show that in many cases we have the ability to deliver, and that we are always looking to boost our capabilities and skills. This is key to whole initiative where we will be looking to support continuous improvement and development across all those involved in regeneration”.
The Partnership were keen to adopt as wide a definition of regeneration as possible noting firstly that towns, communities and business are continually going through a renewal process and secondly that small scale projects addressing community safety, service provision, skills development and environmental improvements are as relevant as many of the larger scale redevelopment programmes.
Further details are available from the Partnership on 01543 308250 or www.southernstaffs.gov.uk
Editors Note: The southern Staffordshire Partnership brings together the public, private and voluntary sectors; and covers the districts of Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Stafford and Tamworth. The Partnership includes local authorities, Chambers of Commerce, Staffordshire University, local Colleges and Staffordshire Training and Enterprise Council.
Our aim as an economic regeneration partnership is to foster the development of a diverse, dynamic and sustainable, low carbon economy that underpins an excellent quality of life for all the residents of Southern Staffordshire.
Local Economic Assessment
In July a working group was set up with representatives from the County Council and the Partnership to start some initial work that could lead to an economic assessment for the County as trialed in the SNR consultation. Attached below is the revised draft Issues Paper together with the Partnerships current views on it. The aim is to have an Issues Paper completed by January 2009 with a Paper outlining priorities and actions by mid 2009.
Delivering Better Business Engagement
The Business Engagement scoping work carried out as part of the LAA Flagship project has identified 13 specific recommendations. A number of these could be delivered through an enhancement of the established interactive Think Local (TL) website so that it addresses the demand for business support and advice, as well as (as currently) for products and services.
The more challenging of the recommendations from the Study included the sharing of data between partners and the delivery of services at the most appropriate level by the most appropriate partner (local, district, County).
Our work plan focuses on the following key activities
• Produce a detailed schedule of partners activities for 2008/09
• Undertake an analysis of which businesses are engaged by each agency
• Provide briefings to business engagement staff at each partner / discuss strategic engagement activities
• Identification of major procurement opportunities in the public and private sectors
• Addition of discrete partner component to the Think Local website and uploading of engagement activity
• Development and integration of enhanced search facility, and interactive web technologies to Think Local
• Best Practice guide, recommendations on developing local authority strategic role, and recommendations on appropriate level/partner at which service should be delivered – supported through workshops
• Bespoke strategic engagement programme to enhance existing engagement activities
SucceSS
Success is the brand name of an exciting initiative aimed at promoting the professional and business services sector (PBS). The sector is highlighted as being important sub regionally through Southern Staffordshire Tomorrow, the Partnerships Regeneration Strategy, and receives funding support through the AWM Cluster Programme and the Partnership.
H E Full Circle
This is a seven year project, which started in 2003 and is supported by a £3 Million grant from Advantage West Midlands, that helps people in Southern Staffordshire into Higher Education and then supports graduates into employment through specialised business development. The project is supported by 20 student ambassadors who interact with schools, community organisations, colleges and employers to promote higher education. The project focuses on developing foundation degrees providing appropriate, employer led qualifications to extend participation in education, learning and training.
Design Initiative
Held every 2 years these awards promote quality design and inspirational architecture throughout Southern Staffordshire. This initiative aims to promote the achievement of excellence in design and construction of buildings and space in Southern Staffordshire. In 2008 a series of latest thinking on 'sustainability' and two seminars will be held to develop the understanding of the importance of the public realm in our towns and villages. In addition planning is underway for the 2009 Design Awards.
In 2007 to celebrate the winning entries, an Awards Luncheon was held at Uttoxeter Racecourse on 5 September where Nathan Cornish, Development Director of Urban Splash Ltd was the guest speaker
Click on to our 'News' Section to see a list of all the Winners from 2007.
Renewable Energy Initiative
This started as the Biomass Project based at Eccleshall near Stafford which carried out significant research and development work with local farmers and businesses resulting in a company being established to develop miscanthus grass fired power station. Following planning permission being granted a power generation station will come on stream in the Summer of 2007. Funding includes £1 million from AWM and nearly £500,000 from the DTI Bi Energy Capital Grants Scheme. With financial support from the Partnership, the County Council and District Council, a project manger, Diane Roberts (pictured above) is managing activities to research, promote and develop other forms of renewable energy projects. A further bid for funding from AWM was made at the beginning of 2008.
Shire Towns Initiative
The Partnerships Advocacy Paper, "Southern Staffordshire Towns - A case for Policy Interventions" was produced in the Summer of 2006. It is being used to underpin our work to influence the review of the West Midlands Economic Strategy and has been well received by Advantage West Midlands. The paper outlines the challenges that each of the towns in Southern Staffordshire faces, and how through greater regional intervention and support we could significantly raise educational attainment, wage levels, business investment, and GVA.
HE Centres
The Partnership has strongly supported Staffordshire University in the development of Higher Education Campuses across Southern Staffordshire, with the first project having been established and incrementally expanded in Lichfield adjacent to the local College.
In 2006 £2.5 million of funding was secured from AWM towards a £4.3million HE development adjacent to Burton College which opened in October 2007.
Tomorrows Entrepreneurs
A great deal of the work to develop the awareness and understanding of business and enterprise in schools, though professionally led, relies heavily on volunteers. The significant human resource base within the Partnership uniquely positions us to identify a substantial pool of "willing" volunteers. The local authorities in the Partnership have now committed themselves to giving a support to the lead bodies of Young Enterprise and the Staffordshire Education Business Partnership in providing support to their activities in school. With support from these two organisations, staff in our partner organisations are being offered the opportunity to become involved in providing enterprise support to schools that is tailored to their own time constraints and their individual strengths. Our partner organisations are also formally recognising such support as part of an individuals continuous development and as part of the staff induction programme. Such support may include providing a days support at a schools enterprise day through to long term mentoring to the sixth form business challenge teams.
This can be seen as personal development for those involved, it will ensure that there are sufficient volunteers to support enterprise activity in schools and will strengthen the relationship between a major employer in the area and its local community.
Once this level of support is embedded, the Partnership will develop a programme that seeks to identify those with an entreprenial mindset at an early age and ensure they access all the available programmes and have ongoing support through to leaving secondary school or college. This will focus on those young people who are or may become disengaged from the academic route in school, giving them initially a non academic route to develop their enterpreneurial flair.
Southern Staffordshire Partnership, District Council House, Frog Lane, Lichfield, Staffs, WS13 6YZ
Tel: 01543 308250 Fax: 01543 308200 E-mail: ssp@lichfielddc.gov.uk