Ray Browning Programme Manager North East Rural Growth Network A Defra supported pilot programme testing new approaches to rural economic growth
Overview Provide an outline of the RGN pilot Programme activities. Illustrate progress to date. Share some views on experiences so far. Set context for workshops together with Andy Dean and Paul Cowie
What is the North East RGN? One of five Defra pilot Programme's - funded 2012-15 aiming to overcome barriers to rural economic growth. N E programme themes : enterprise hubs, stimulation of demand for superfast broadband, improving access / take up of business support and also grant funding for micro enterprises. Contracted to create 53 enterprise units, support 300 businesses, create / safeguard 200 jobs and establish 40 new businesses.
North East RGN What s new? New form of programme governance - across the rural territory of NELEP : NELEP NEFRAN RGN Delivery Partnership Testing devolution /integration of fund management. Defra RGN /Defra RDPE/ERDF/ Gov t Equality Office. Piloting project interventions introducing new projects and approaches. All in a spirit and ethos of sharing learning with Defra. Recent NE RGN bulletin - highlights progress.
RGN Programme Partnership North Eastern LEP UK Gov t (Defra) National RGN Pilot Programme (Contract with Northumberland County Council (NCC) North East Farming and Advisory Network (receives progress reports) NCC (accountable body for Programme Management) Observers : Defra (Gov y Dep), NELEP Executive North East RGN Steering Group RGN Programme Delivery Group Members: 3 local authorities, National Park, University, Fed. Of Small Business, Leader Prog. Enterprise Support and Hubs Task Group
Programme Themes Enterprise Hubs Testing range of enterprise hub schemes in locations lacking such facilities - Initial Ideas : Incubation Middleton in Teesdale, County Durham. Creative Industries Hub Gibside Estate, Derwent Valley, G head. Flexible Enterprise Office Hubs Hexham and Alnwick in N land. Live Work Space rural estates near Bellingham, N land Smart Work Centre Wooler, Northumberland
Funding for Small Business Small Business growth Fund Up to 1m available until March 2014 Aim is to support new and existing micro businesses that can demonstrate significant growth potential and economic benefits to rural communities, with priority to businesses in specified sectors. Funding up to a maximum of 40%. Must be private sector match.
Enterprise Support 1.5m, 2 year contract to NEEAL regional consortia. 10 Rural Enterprise Development Officers (REDO s). Tasked to improve access to and take up of business support services. Supporting and assisting rural business networks Provide themed workshops and 1:! Support including from enterprise hubs. Andy to explain further. Digital Business Engagement Officer : Campaign to increase awareness of broadband technologies and business benefits. Prove demand where superfast broadband is yet to be programmed and thereby help secure funding and accelerate investment.
CRE Applied Research 2 Projects Focus today is on findings emerging from research into enterprise hubs. CRE are : Reviewing existing rural enterprise hubs in rural N. E. Identifying for potential added value through networking of enterprise hubs. Offering a typology of enterprise hubs to help inform understanding and policy. Second research project to explore needs of business and support services / networks. Workshops may help fine tune this brief.
What is a Smart Work Centre? SWC emerging concept Northumberland C.C. part of INTEREG IVC EC funded Project micropol - helping to shape EC policy - RGN investing in SWC pilot in Wooler. SWCs are shared, multi functional employment centres that help knowledge based workers to have a flexible base, allowing for interaction and collaboration with others. Flexible terms / opportunities for shared use. Provide business environment with a variety of spaces - flexible desk / meeting spaces / to shared facilities and informal social spaces. Opportunities for small business, sole traders, home workers as well as "remote working" for larger employers.
Smart Work Centre, Wooler Project : Expansion of Community hub into a community and enterprise hub by developing a mix of facilities: Innovative office pods in grounds, three offices and a 3 hot-desks, training room / informal meeting space / kitchen. Location: Market town centre. Applicant : Community Development Trust Glendale Gateway Development Trust Grant : 199,000 towards total costs circa 209,000 excluding inkind.
Smart Work Centre, Wooler Management : Flexible short-term licences, managed and promoted by Trust Business Support : 1:1 support via REDO s, also room available for training / workshops. Features and Facilities : mix of accommodation, storage, 24/7 access to office pods, broadband connectivity, communal area/ kitchen. Issues : - Limited on-site parking. No move-on space, - hot-desk space demand uncertain - next 6 months will begin to test demand. - Need to consider move-on space strategy.
Wooler Work Hub - Pilot Smart Work Centre
Wooler Smart Work Centre
Berwick Workspace - A micropol case study
Hexham Enterprise Hub Location: Large market town. Project: A brief issued inviting project grant applications. Deliberately not too prescriptive in terms of scale, outputs, amount of grant, or precise location in the town. Strong Community Interest 7 expressions of interest from private sector, community sector and public sector bodies. 2 collaborative bids received. The Brief : informed by Micropol project Northumberland Business Survey Micropol helping with baseline intelligence. More interest in SWC type development in Hexham and its hinterland than elsewhere in Northumberland.
Micropol business research has informed the RGN Hexham hub brief
Alnwick Enterprise Hub Project : Sub-division of two modern office units into small 12 flexible units suitable for start-ups and micro enterprises. Location: Out of town Business park with direct access to A1. Applicant : Northumberland Estates a large private estate. No track record in providing this form of accommodation. Grant : 32,000 towards total costs circa 70,000. Opening : June 2013
Alnwick Enterprise Hub Management : Flexible short-term licences, estate agent appointed to promote. Business Support : 1:1 support via REDO s, also room available for training / workshops. Features and Facilities : partition walls ( glass) easy to move to meet occupier requirements, storage, 24/7 access, parking, common kitchen. Issues : No onsite management currently planned. Desire to pilot hot-desk space in one unit but no operational solution yet. Move-on space available.
Observations on experience to date Capacity a real challenge to speed of delivery all sectors Obtaining good quality market intelligence to back up key decisions / justify changes to programme. Defra freedom to adjust programme welcomed - Emerging potential to commission capital projects - CRE hubs research and workshops today may help inform. Positive and engaging partnership. NE rural sourcing of RGN services - 100% to date. Competitive prices and high quality work. Regional funding delegation and alignment works - offers efficiencies and empowers.