Category: Strategy

Dudley recession and recovery summits

We were invited by Dudley Community Partnership in the Black Country to facilitate a ‘Recession Summit’ which drew together local partners to discuss the impact of the recession on the borough and appropriate responses, both short term and longer term. This led to the setting up of a task group, an action plan, and a request to Educe to facilitate a meeting between the local authority and bank representatives to explore the scope for collaboration.Derrick Johnstone was subsequently asked to facilitate a ‘Recovery Summit’ in December 2009, inputting on good practice in other areas and helping to draw together the next phase of partner action planning.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=237

SEEDA and Sub-Regional Working

The South East England Regional Assembly undertook a Select Committee (scrutiny) investigation into SEEDA and Sub-Regional Working. We were commissioned with Makesfive to prepare the Context and Issues paper, feeding into the Select Committee held on 16 January 2009.
The focus was in particular on how effectively SEEDA’s approach to working with a range of partners and partnerships at sub-regional level helps to deliver both the Regional Economic Strategy and address local needs and priorities.The South East England Regional Assembly subsequently published its report and recommendations (112KB. These sat within the context of implementation of the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR), and related to:
  • the need for greater co-ordination and alignment, notably through a joint approach to locality investment planning
  • extending the cross-organisational task force approach within SEEDA in tackling specific issues, including work around ‘priority places’
  • supporting and enabling co-ordination of local economic assessments
  • improving communications, including dissemination of research and evaluation and strengthening the use of the SEEDA website

Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=230

Framework for Regeneration

Workshop to help members of the West Cumbria Partnership develop a fresh understanding of the then Government’s approach to regeneration, as set out in the ‘Framework for Regeneration’ consultation in 2009.The event, with senior councillors and representatives of partner agencies sought to build a consensus response from West Cumbria to the consultation questions, and identify the implications for regeneration-related policy and programmes locally. The workshop informed responses by the West Cumbria Partnership and by Copeland Borough Council.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=225

Enterprise and Social Inclusion

Facilitation and preparation of a strategy on enterprise and social inclusion for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (for Business Link Wessex) – one of the first in the country (in 2000) to bring together mainstream business support services and the thrid sector to develop a targeted strategy to develop enterprise amongst disadvantaged groups and in deprived areas.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=209

City Growth Strategies

Advisory role as member of national Resource Team (2002-04) for City Growth Strategies (CGS) – a national pilot programme, funded by the Small Business Service of the Department of Trade and Industry (now BIS). CGS promoted a market-led approach to turning round disadvantaged areas, concentrating on economic potential rather than social problems. Key features included: giving business a leading role in strategy development; ensuring a robust evidence base; and capitalising on business clusters to drive productivity improvements and local prosperity.Treasury and DTI backing for CGS was inspired by Michael Porter and Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) in the USA. The national CGS programme sought to spread lessons from the pilots and draw on US ideas and experience.Nottingham, Plymouth, St Helens, and four parts of London were selected to take part in the first round in 2001, followed in a second round by Derby, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Portsmouth, and three more parts of London.Overview of CGS prepared for Renewal.net ( pdf  83KB), plus case studies of Nottingham ( pdf  76KB) and St Helens ( pdf  84KB).

Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=207

Economic Strategies Routemap

Local Economic Strategies Routemap ( pdf – 78KB) – a tool to support local authorities in their community leadership role, help them sharpen their approach to economic development and regeneration and develop new and more effective ways of working. It maps out some of the key decisions and choices – and critical success factors – in developing local economic strategies. Developed for IDeA in 2002.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=197