Airedale Partnership Board

Cllr Simon Cooke CBMDCCllr Lynne Joyce CBMDCWilliam Jowitt Carnaud Metal BoxBob Gomersall Bradford Technology Group LtdTrevor Higgins British TelecomMick Milner Keighley Economy GroupDavid Gates Bradford VisionJean McAllister the Learning Partnership

■ Airedale Partnership Brokerage Report

Contents: introduction p2

the business network p3

Partnership projects p4

Airedale online p7

conclusions p8

■ Acknowledgements Our thanks also to

Amrez Bhatti Learning & Skills CouncilSaiqa Ramzan CBMDCDiane Ramsden CBMDCClive Howarth Learning & Skills CouncilPeter Brooks Learning & Skills CouncilMartyn Chesters Yorkshire Forward Phillip Tedder Keighley CollegeChristine Peake Keighley CollegeMargaret Robson Shipley CollegeMargaret Jackman Bingley Voluntary ActionDani Mistry CBMDCNicola Mawdsley Ex CBMDCClare Bussingham CBMDCJohn Seed Bingley Voluntary ActionToni Halliwell Airedale & Bradford

Manufacturing Alliance

Robert Brough Network & Brokerage Coordinator CBMDC/Airedale Partnership

Andy Taylor Regeneration Manager, CBMDC/Airedale Partnership

Looking back over the last 12 months it isclear that some significant success hasbeen achieved.

The work that the Partnership has beeninvolved in has been varied and broadreaching.

The Partnership has organised anddelivered 7 Business Network events. Intotal nearly 200 businesses and organi-sations took the opportunity to attended,enabling us to make direct contact withnearly 450 individuals and involve themin the Partnership.

The 186 delegates who attended the fivethemed events had the opportunity to getadvice from key business supportagencies and consider key activities thataffect business such as lean manufac-turing, environmental issues and fundingavailability.

The Development of the Partnershi[pwebsite provides access to support fromagencies such as The LSC, YorkshireForward, Business Link West Yorkshire,Invest In Bradford and the ManufacturingAdvice Service as well as local educationand training provision, funding andbusiness support, Industry Cluster andSector Brokers and Local and RegionalStrategic Partners.

Through the website we have been ableto publicise the work of the Partnership

to a broaderaudience, with 2500visiting the site inthe period Januaryto March 2005.

Enterprise is seenas key to theeconomy and ThePartnership was ableto support this withfunding aimed atnew businessesstarts and at helpingto establish a mopedlease scheme foryoung people calledwheels2workenabling young people to access jobsand training who would otherwise beunable to do due to the availability ofpublic transport.

Finally all of the work and the projectsdelivered through the Partnership hasbegun to put in place the infrastructureto deliver a successful geographicbrokerage and economic regeneration in Airedale

The launch of the masterplan with itsbroad economic focus has given us theopportunity in Airedale to focus on whatis required to develop the key clusterstheme such as workforce development,business support, increased motivation

and innovation, skills and trainingrequirement and access to information.

Learning from the experience of thebrokerage activity of last year it isessential to build on the initial successesof the business network events.

From the feedback gained we arereviewing the format of the events toensure we get more interaction withdelegates so that there is moreopportunity for them to discuss issuestogether. Therefore with a futureprogramme of events there will be amore varied content of delivery to includea mixture of speakers, presentations,open and guided forums.

Conclusion and recommendations

6 People into Jobs

72 Learning Opportunities

30 New Business Start-ups

10 Business Network events

1 Website Established

3 Community Centres connected to Broadband

2 Networks Established

Bingley Connection Established

The projecthas achievedthe followingoutcomes

For further information please visit www.airedalepartnership.orgTo Contact the Airedale Partnership please call 01535 618 095 or email info@airedalepartnership.org

The need to develop a business network/brokerage for Airedalewas originally identified from research by consultants EvaluationResearch Strategies in 2002 and 2003 which looked atemployment skills and training issues in Airedale.

It was also considered a priority by Yorkshire Forward and theLearning and Skills Council for West Yorkshire (LSCWY) in thedevelopment of their skills strategy.

Airedale was also identified in a strategic context in the Yorkshireand Humber Regional Economic Strategy (RES), the WestYorkshire Action Plan and Bradford Metropolitan District Council’sRegeneration Strategy. Airedale was seen as a location for keycompanies and clusters, for investment opportunities andemployments sites and also as having an attractive environmentwith urban centres and recent road and public transport investment.

When the Urban Regeneration Company for Bradford city centre(now Bradford Centre Regeneration) was established, BradfordCouncil’s Executive asked for additional proposals that met theneeds of the wider district, including urban centres and areas ofbrownfield and industrial development.

After a major consultation between June and November 2002 theAiredale Partnership was set up, with a shadow board beingformed in December 2002. Now fully constituted, the Board has

eight members. Fifty per cent of the members are private sectorrepresentatives, with the remaining members representing BradfordVision, The Learning Partnership and Bradford Council.

The Partnership aims to bring about the economic regeneration ofAiredale by:

● Bringing key employment sites into use● Stimulating the growth and development of key clusters such

as Advanced Manufacturing and Digital● Promoting connectivity● Supporting the renaissance of the urban centres● Ensuring appropriate skills development and connecting local

people to economic opportunities● Developing initiatives for the rural economy● Developing cross-boundary initiatives with Leeds and Craven

as a corridor for investment

To help to achieve some of these aims and to establish a strongerpartnership approach to economic regeneration in Airedale,funding was sought from Yorkshire Forward, through the LSCWY,to establish geographical brokerage and business network activityin Airedale.

This would be managed by the Airedale Partnership to deliver skillsand training projects, job outcomes and business network events.

An introduction to the Airedale Partnership Brokerage

Projects Overview

Bradford’s 2020 Visionidentified Airedale as one ofthe keys to economicregeneration of the district.

The Airedale Partnership wasestablished to act as acatalyst for the developmentof key employment sites, tolead the renaissance of thetown centres and to co-

ordinate business support,training and jobs match.

It would also develop cross-boundary initiatives withLeeds and Craven for thejoint promotion anddevelopment of the Airecorridor as a focus for thegrowth of knowledge-richindustries, particularly in the

digital and advancedmanufacturing clusters.

The brokerage project wasdeveloped in response to therecommendations of theEmployment, Skills andTraining Surveys undertakenby Evaluation Research andStrategies (ERS) and fundedthrough Sub Regional Action

Plan 1 funding (SRAP1).

The project aimed toundertake a range of actionsto address the skills andtraining needs of businessesidentified by the research andconnect local communities toeconomic activity andemployment opportunities.

To help to monitor and evaluate thewebsite’s effectiveness monthlywebsite statistics are sent to thewebpage manager.

We look at a number of factors, suchas the average number of visitors perday as a guide to the number of whoare people accessing the site.

The number of hits per day gives us anindication of how many pages or fileseach visitor is looking at.

The knowledge that it can take aboutfour minutes to download onemegabyte of information has proved tobe invaluable in relation to the size ofdocuments available on the site for thepublic and businesses to download.

The statistics show that many peoplehave abandoned attempts to downloaddocuments because of the time it wastaking. For example, in March therewere 362 hits on specific resources butnearly 80% - were abandoned orfailed.

The ‘Most requested resources’information is useful to show whatvisitors to the site are using it for, suchas most visited page, graphic files todownload. (see figure 5)

Checking the least requested pagegives an indication as to whetherpeople are using the site the way inwhich we hoped.

For example, our events page is usedvery little. This is clearly an area weneed to develop as it is important inintroducing the network to a wideraudience and publicising our events. Toovercome this and better promote whatthe site has to offer we can signpostand link the events page and others

from the homepage.

The statistics also showed that manypeople were exiting the site via thenews page, indicating that becausethere was no up-to-date news at thattime and all previous news items havebeen archived. The archive section

needs to be signposted and linked fromboth the homepage and the news page.

The single access page informationcan also be used to promote otherareas of the website where you haveinformation that you would like people to see.

Website Statistics

The Airedale Partnership website is essential to theestablishment of the business network. It aims to:

● Act as a single access point for businesses and other organisations to link into other beneficial and associated sites via the info links pages

● Publicise up-to-date news and progress of the work of the Airedale Partnership

● Enable organisations to publicise events

● Enable direct feedback on its work and activities to be received by the Partnership

● Help develop a strong partnership approach to economic regeneration in Airedale

■ www.airedalepartnership.org

The website has been set upas a key aspect of the workof the brokerage/network.

IndexMasterplan

Masterplan / DocumentsNews / Output

NewsProjects

Masterplan / Current StageEvents

ResourcesEvents / Future

About UsAbout Us / Who

Events / Past / OutputResources / Reports

About Us / Who / BoardContact Us

Events / PastSite Map

Resources / Board / MinutesLinks

Pag

es

March1

March4

March7

March 10

March13

March 16

March19

March22

March 25 March 28

March31

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Vis

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Date

000 100 200 300 400 500 600

Hits

Visitors per day in March

Most requested pages in March

Airedale Masterplan launch date March 15

Britannia Bridge, Bingley

One of the aims of the AiredalePartnership Brokerage was to establish abusiness network. It would supportbusinesses in the area and link them toservices across the district through awebsite and network events.

Seven events have been held in the lastyear. As well as those launching the workof the Airedale Partnership and theAiredale Masterplan and Strategy drawnup by consultants Arup, there were alsofive individually-themed events aimed atlocal businesses.

Three events were organised inpartnership with the Airedale and BradfordManufacturing Alliance and were partic-ularly aimed at manufacturing companies.

Green and/or environmentalissues facing businessesThis event was held at the Bradford andBingley Sports Club. Its purpose was toinform manufacturers in Airedale andBradford about current environment-relatedissues which may affect their businesses,including waste management, legislation,grants and energy.

Speakers included representatives fromUrban Mines, Business Link WestYorkshire and the Carbon Trust

Business fundingThis event looked at the availability offunding to support businesses and washeld at Bradford City FC.

Guest speakers included representativesfrom Business Link West Yorkshire, UrbanMines, Invest In Bradford, Sustainability(UK) Ltd and the Manufacturing AdvisoryService.

How to make ‘leaner’businesses‘Lean’ was developed as a result ofresearch work carried out in theautomotive sector, heavily influenced byJapanese best practice. It involves theidentification and elimination of waste froma company’s manufacturing processes and

other functions.

Guest speaker was Professor David Littleof the West Yorkshire ManufacturingExcellence Club.

Two other events dealt with the followingsubjects:

What is the impact of ‘digital’ technologyThis event was held at the Bankfield Hotel,Bingley, and looked at the impact digitaltechnology is having on companies in themedia, digital and creative sectors.

Guest speakers came from YorkshireForward, Hallmark Cards, New TechnologyInstitute, Arup and bmedi@.

ConnectivityAn event held to promote e-learning andcommunications connectivity and to launchthe Connecting Airedale Survey in Airedalewith speakers from Palmedia and Reid ITServices, British Telecom, the Airedale &Wharfedale Broadband project.

AttendanceOverall more than 450 people haveattended the Business Network events.The two Airedale Partnership launchevents attracted 283 people while the fiveother events attracted 186 people, anaverage attendance of 37.2 people.

They represented 192 different organi-sations and of those organisations 37%attended two or more events. Breakdownof sectors as follows:

● Private sector businesses - 72%● Public Sector organisations – 14.5%● Business Support agencies – 5%● Voluntary sector – 4%● Community Sector – 2.5%● Political Parties – 1%

FeedbackNetwork event evaluation forms wereissued at five of the events, each askingfour questions about the quality of theevent, the capability of the speakers, thebenefits gained and the quality of thevenue.

Below is a summary of the feedbackreceived.

Both positive and negative comments werereceived from attendees at theevents for example:

● “Too specialist to be of benefit to my business”

● “Need more involvement and interaction from attendees”

● “Thanks for an excellent and informative seminar”

● “Good ideas, input and comments from Hallmark”

Business network

Poor Satisfactory Good Excellent

The overall quality of the event was 0% 11% 42% 47%

The capability of speakers was 0% 10% 39% 51%

The benefits gained from attending 2% 35% 41% 22%

Quality of the venue 0% 8% 63% 29%

Summary of evaluations of Business Network eventsto 28 February 2005

Breakdown of Organisation Type Attending

Construction NetworkKeighley College has been involved in thedevelopment of a Construction Network towork within the construction industry toconnect communities to economic activity,to develop better connections to localconstruction companies, to improveeducation, learning and skills acquisitionand improve the skills of existingemployees and encourage new businessstart-ups.

The Construction Network has so farencouraged over 30 companies to join,they include wholesalers/retailers as wellas companies providing services acrossthe range of skills including plumbers,electricians and plasterers. The networkheld a launch conference in December2004 and has since held several meetingsand delivered training for 30 employees aswell as establishing contacts with theBradford Construction Network and giving

local employers access to a wide range ofsupport services.

Davric ConstructionManagement Training – Theeffectiveness of the trainer was excellent,some topics were perceived to be morerelevant than others including motivatingand managing people, teamwork,planning, Health & Safety and stressmanagement. Working to budgets,communications and understandingcustomers was less relevant. There wassome perception that managementtraining was only for men in suits!

Woollers ConstructionManagement Training – The staff foundthe people side of things beneficialincluding Health & Safety, budgets wereless relevant and they felt that some ofthe general training was aimed at bigcompanies although they thought it couldbe tailored.

Staying ConnectedFunding was given to enable the BoltonWoods, Windhill and Wrose communitycentres in the Shipley area to continue tobe connected to broadband to enable andencourage the take-up of training amongstlocal residents.

Fifty two learners have so far benefited andcontinue to take accredited qualifications. Afurther 77 learners have enrolled on oftensubstantial learning programmes as‘informal learners’ without accreditation butwith an individual learning plan.

Wrose CentreAt the Wrose Centre there are specificcrèche facilities which have been supportedby the Partnership that have been extend tocover three sessions per week to and nowsupport a regular group of women. Thegroup are all interested in gaining computerskills to either find employment or furthertraining or education.

Bolton Woods CentreAlketa, Ajtene who live in Bolton Woodshave been attending Wrose and WindhillCentres whilst Bolton Woods isrefurbished, have completed ComputerLiteracy and Information Technology(CLAIT) qualifications and have almostfinished their European Computer DrivingLicense (ECDL) qualification as well asimproving their language skills.

Frances, Robyn and Becky are allprogressing towards achieving theirCLAIT qualifications.

Comments about the crèche:‘Callum and Lowrie go to Happy Tots, If itwasn’t for the crèche… I hope it nevercloses… it’s like a lifeline. If you didn’thave it we’d be struggling ‘cos there isn’tany one else to help.’

At the Windhill CentreKerry and Joanne are taking their CLAITPlus and have enrolled on GCSE MathsCourse, both obtained part-time jobs andhad to stop, however Joanne has re-enrolled to finish CLAIT Plus.

Kathryn and Shelley are using the ITfacilities to support the work they aredoing to complete their portfolios forSocial Care NVQ’s

ConstructionnetworkSession

The Wrose communitycentre, Shipley

young people accessjobs and training locations that would otherwise be available to them.

A 22 year old male living in Denholmestarts work at 6.00am at a bakery which isapproximately 5 miles away. The first busdoes not arrive until 6.30am so he hasbeen dependant on his mother driving himto work. After seeing the advert for theproject in The T&A he contacted John and

now he is happily an independenttraveller and His mother has a wellearned lie-in.

A 16 year old male living in Denholmeis now working as an apprentice inOakworth, again facing similar problemswith public travel and his mother nowunable to continue taking him to work

was facing the prospect of losing hisapprenticeship. Now with the help ofWheels2Work he can continue his workand also undertake shift work.

A 16 year old female (pictured right) joinedthe scheme in September 2004 to enableher to get from her home in Denholme to herwork in Bingley as a trainee conveyancer.

The provision of 10 places for‘Apprentices’ in ICT at Shipley Collegeto take up ICT training to support andimprove the capacity of local communitycentres and to gain employment.

This project had recruited 10apprentices to undertake trainingtowards completing a 22 hourprogramme leading to an NVQ inInstalling and supporting or Using IT,plus achieving Key Skills and WiderKey Skills and work experience.

Achievements so far● Four learners have passed Key

Skills Level 2 Communications● Six learners have achieved CLAIT

Plus module BBC Webwise and the Learndirect Surf Direct programme

● One learner has achieved Key Skills Application of Number Level 2

● Arrangements have been made to complete the First Aid at Work module.

Placements include● Shipley College ILT Services Dept● Sure Start, Shipley● St Joseph’s College● Windhill Community Centre● Baildon Area Play Association● Bradford Council

What the learners sayCraig 29 yrs oldNVQ Installing and Supporting ITJob History: Factory workAim: initially to complete ECDL

‘Having been on the course only 3months my self esteem and confidencehave improved, studying is now moreenjoyable. I am doing the work for me

rather than being forced to do it, I feelthe course is a change of direction achance to do something I want to. Ithas also enabled me to do Maths andEnglish again, I feel as though I ammoving my life forward instead ofwatching it go by’.

Nicola 27 yrs oldNVQ Installing and Supporting ITJob History: Several ‘dead-end’ jobsbetween having children, voluntary work and training courses.Aim: To take a new opportunity to gain employment

‘I had planned on staying at home withmy youngest until starting nursery, butthis opportunity came up and with allthe support it seemed too good tomiss. My confidence has improved as Ihave completed my maths andcommunications exams at level 2. I amon placement at Shipley College andhope to stay there until December. Atlast I feel my life is turning around...None of this would have been possiblewithout financial support, it has donemy self esteem a power of goodbecause I am working to support my family’

Over the last twelve months the AiredalePartnership has been involved in deliveringa number of interventions aimed atpromoting connectivity, supporting skillsdevelopment, developing initiatives for therural economy, supporting the renaissanceof urban centres and establishing itsbrokerage activity in Airedale:

This has included establishing the post ofBrokerage and Network Coordinator todevelop opportunities for businesses inAiredale to be linked with Yorkshire Forwardand LSC’s Cluster Broker activities and tolink them to the availability of businesssupport services through the establishmentof a programme of business network events.The Airedale Partnership has held seven

network events over the last year includingone consultation event and the launch of theAiredale Masterplan and strategy and fivethemed events aimed primarily atbusinesses.

The events have dealt with topics such asthe promotion of environmental issuesfacing businesses, funding sources to helpsupport and promote business growth, howto develop a leaner approach to businessdevelopment as well as looking at ICTconnectivity and e-learning and thedevelopment and impact of digital, creativeand media sectors in the Airedale.The events also gave the opportunity topromote the services of a number ofbusiness support agencies in the area.

Connectivity Feasibility The appointment of consultants Palmediaand Reid IT Services to undertake an ICTConnectivity Feasibility Study to map thegeographical spread of broadband connec-tivity in Airedale and to identify viablesolutions to connect those businesses andcommunities not able to take up broadband.

The report which was publicly launched atthe connectivity event in December 2004recommended a unified vision and strategyand a single body promoting e-learning inthe district, greater use of local facilities,mobile units and schools as venues for thedelivery of e-learning, the use of blendedlearning, minimal support networks andwireless e-learning gateways, many of therecommendations and ideas have beenincorporated into the Airedale Masterplan.

Bingley ConnectionThe establishment of the BingleyConnection a local learning outlet forShipley College in Bingley to furtherdevelop the ‘learning line’ concept along theAiredale rail route.

The Bingley Connection was opened to thepublic in July and officially opened inDecember 2004. The Connection has beenwell received in Bingley not only as anattractive addition to the main street but asan attractive venue restored and furnishedto a very high specification.

It has enabled Shipley College to begin todesign and deliver courses locally forbusinesses and to support the development of the Centre of VocationalExcellence in Care.

Positive feedback by users of the Bingley Connection:● ‘Excellent value for money’● ‘Great tutors and excellent facilities● ‘The training received has been very,

very useful and it now means that we can now offer our clients a fully functional web site’

With the opening of the Bingley Connectionthe future is now set for the furtherexpansion of training and workforcedevelopment in Bingley.

Wheels2workWheels2work is a moped loan schememanaged by Bingley Voluntary Action.It has provided an affordable and accessible transport option for youngpeople aged 16 to 25 for whom no otherform of transport is available in order toaccess jobs and training.

For just £3.50 per week plus cost of fueland oil Wheels2work so far has enabled five

Shipley College ICT Apprentices

Airedale PartnershipProjects

Bingly Connection

Funding has been provided tosupport and encourage newbusiness start-ups in Airedalethrough the Airedale EnterpriseServices.

This has enabled 30 more newbusinesses start in the

area from sales, retail,training and cateringto opera singing.

■ Start-up case study

Vincent – attended the agency on a one to

one basis to consider the possibility of

starting his own business in mobile catering.

We were able to assist with his enquiries

and ensure that he had considered the

legal as well as health and hygiene

issues. His business plan was improved

and his pricing policy revised. He has

established a pitch and is

turning over £400

per week.

■ Start-up case study

Carol – attended the business plan course

during March this year wishing to explore the

possibility of setting up as a self employed

trainer. The course was completed and Carol

started her business. Unfortunately she was

taken ill suddenly and spent a month in

hospital. This did result in a slow

down in the business but Carol is

now on the road to recovery and

the business is starting to progress

again. Currently her turnover is at

an average of £500 per month but is

expected to increase over time.

■ Start-up case studyStuart – is training to become a full timeopera singer. After leaving university he tried

to obtain sponsorship, but was unable to do

so. As he was signing on for Job Seekers

Allowance we assisted in the preparation of

a business plan. The business plan was to

teach and examine English to non- English

speakers. Stuart now spends a lot of his time

away from home, his turnover for the first 2

months of business was £7000. He is still

undergoing his training to become an opera

singer, but the need to find a sponsor is no

longer a priority.