Sector Development ::
USPs developed and monitored alongside roll-out of InvestinCornwall campaign
InvestinCornwall runs to June 2012
None - other than Cornwall's USPs in an international marketing context are quite limited
n/a
- Implementation of a fully cohesive approach to focussed support which recognises the sectors best-placed to understand need and appropriate delivery mechanisms. This will include the facilitation of early-stage development for new sector organisations.
- Provision of ongoing support for sector networks that have proven capabilities and/or identified potential with commitment to innovation, flexibility and responsiveness in developing models of sector support.
- Increase of knowledge exchanges between business sectors via a cross-sector approach, by creating and/or intensifying direct links with other western European economies (in Ireland, France and north-west Spain) and investing in activities which maintain a fixed locational advantage (e.g. those relating to culture, history and geography).
- The development and maintenance of links with regional/national sector networks to ensure alignment and adoption of best practice.
- Maximise the added value of the creative industries input to other sectors by fostering innovation and creativity in all sectors, and marketing this effectively to attract new business.
Sector Transition report as of June 2009 indicates how the 6 sectors are organising themselves to target and achieve sustainability. This will involve collaborative work with Business Link to deliver services to business in areas of sector specialism, to build and maintain paying membership numbers and to bid for contracts that are relevant to individual sector groups.
Ongoing
Convergence-funded business collaboration networks focuses on support for small combinations of businesses involved in specific projects rather than supporting/ underpinning the sector networks themselves.
Sector structure/development work needed in Environmental Technology and Sevices sector to align on-the-ground capability with stated ambitions of Convergence Programme for that particular sector.
Transition project and related report completed June 2009.
- Facilitate the application of sector-specific knowledge and/or new technologies, whether product or service-driven. Take advantage of export opportunities through exploitation of the Cornwall brand and opportunities provided by European Denomination of Protected Origin schemes (e.g. Cornish clotted cream).
- Develop and offer sector specific skills training, including training on the application of new products or service technologies, and develop links with Sector Skills Academies. This action links with the Workforce Development Objective.
- Maximise the use of ICT within all businesses with the aim to get all businesses online. This action links with the Information Society for All Objective.
- Exploit the sector specific knowledge transfer expertise of relevant local, regional, national, and international HE institutions to the full commercial advantage of Cornwall's sectors and their constituent businesses.
Build on and integrate the sector development potential offered by the pilot incubation centres at the CUC in Tremough, Omega and the Cornwall Medipark, with opportunities to roll out additional developments in North and South East Cornwall. - Facilitate access to finance for businesses within key sectors where specific finance is warranted outside of generic finance models
Sector Skills development plans in progress as outcome from LSC Co-financing Phase 7 programme.
ESF 3 year investments in 13 sectors under way
ESF ITTs announced and contracted ESF sectors with Learning Partnership on behalf of public, private and Voluntary and Community Sector.
Further ESF ITT announced (Phase 2) in May 2009 including Public Sectors and Rural sectors support
A total of £120,500 has been allocated specifically for ICT/Env Cross Sector from the Key Sectors project.
- Contracting 2 HE projects - Cornwall College lead with CUC. Widening participation in Higher skills training in HE (bitesize chunks).
- Planning to extend Higher Skills support by developing specification to target business performance indicators by delivering higher skills and leadership and management training.
Enhanced support for business simplification by strengthening skills brokerage within Cornwall.
A regional Economy Recovery Plan is currently being undertaken with LSC/SWRDA/GOSW/JC+. This has resulted in reponse to redundancy projects providing a core support package plus additionl funding for professionals/ executives and to support digitial inclusion (£7.1 million)
2008-2010
Transition project examined relationships between ESF and other funding streams and overall financial status of relevant sector groups. ESF is providing a certain level of financial support which will carry the sectors through until completion of the current round of funding.
Timing issues between the introduction of the ESF and ERDF programmes and the non-alignment of the ERDF programme with the Solutions for Business specified product have proved unhelpful to the existing sector networks.
With the absense of any likely ERDF funding under Convergence and against the background of reduced availability of public sector funding generally, sectors will need to manage their activities and finances in a cautious manner to achieve and maintain sustainability
Total ESF funding for Key Sectors project - £8.4 million
Company Training Needs Analysis - 1390
Participants with Learner Action Plan - 5,805
Participants achieving basic skills qualification - 445
Participants achieving full level 2 qualification - 1,494
Participants achieving full level 3/4 qualification - 332
Participants achieving other qualifications - 2,769
Number of new qualifications accredited - 13
Number of businesses engaged by SPRINGBOARD - 121
The generation of new investment into key sectors - primarily renewable/ marine/environmental technologies, ICT/creative media
New FDI programme launched May 2010.
Various initiatives underway including the deployment of lead generators in US who are already beginning to make referrals.
Met 15 March with SWRDA overseas officers on UK tour to develop relationships and explain and cement strategy.
Links in place with UKTI HQ London and being put in place to relevant UKTI offices in target countries.
UK/EU team working on a number of hot enquiries particularly from (German) solar farm businesses wising to set up in UK to benefit from feed-in tariff.
FDI project runs to June 2012
UK and EU work funded by Cornwall Council annual rolling contract
Need to continue to provide service to high quality potential inward investors as Cornwall needs to supplement and develop organic growth of knowledge-based economy with the introduction of new interests.
Implementation of Next Generation Broadband should open the doors for the development of new industries/future technologies which are reliant on fast broadband
20010/11
UK/EU - 22 business investments, 150 jobs
to 6/2012
Rest of world - 4 investments, 20 jobs, £600,000 GVA
Convergence funded Business Collaboration Networks (Partner to Succeed) delivery may include an element of supply chain development depending on client demand.
West Cornwall Business Network's tendering partnership concluded as of mid-November 2009 with transfer of WCBN to the Cornwall Chamber.
CDC continues to run web resources: www.cornwallfoodfinder.co.uk , www.buy-cornish.co.uk and www.tendersincornwall.co.uk all focusing on buyer/supplier and public sector contract access issues and funded via Cornwall Council contract.
Ongoing
n/a
CDC maintains statistics of businesses registered for web services/monthly website traffic/numbers of tenders posted over its 3 services
- A focus on quality improvements via training, investment and advice programmes.
- A major investment in ICT capacity in visitor information, marketing and booking systems.
- A major co-ordinated investment in marketing to new potential visitors, particularly those with higher spend rates and those that visit out of the main summer months, through a new programme, ‘Quality Cornwall', co-ordinated through the Cornwall Destination Management Organisation.
VisitCornwall continues to encourage quality improvements and investment througn promotion of such schemes as the National Quality Assurance Scheme (NQAS) and through membership organisations such as the Cornwall Association of Tourism Attractions. The annual Cornwall Tourism Awards continue to recognise and reward quality levels across all sectors of the industry.
The new VisitCornwall partnership will be setting up a new working group which will specifically focus on quality/skills/awards.
With both the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) network and VisitCornwall all operating from the same Destination Management System, the collection and distribution of tourism data has been greatly simplified. All TIC's websites and VisitCornwall website now operate using the same platform and database, a huge improvement for both visitors and tourism businesses.
VisitCornwall campaign activity continues to focus on building business during the autumn, winter and spring months targeting both first time and repeat visitors. For 2010 we are also working with South West Tourism on additional campaign activity focusing on specialist markets such as pre-school, gourmet and green tourism.
Quality/training improvement work is ongoing with the 2010 Cornwall Tourism Awards taking place in October.
Formation of the new VistCornwall partnership completed in January 2010 with first partnership meeting taking place in February.
All TIC's moved across onto new ICT platform in April 2009.
2010 campaign activity continues through most of the year with regional work focusing primarily on the spring months.
With the appointment of Malcolm Bell as the new head of VisitCornwall there will be a complete review of Cornwall's tourism service which will have a major impact on how we deliver tourism services in the future.