Companies keen to widen their digital reach and impact are to benefit from a £7.2million funding package, through the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and its partners.

The D2N2 Digital Business Growth Programme, set to launch next month (January 2017) and run for three years, is due to help around 850 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the D2N2 LEP area over that period, to make better use of digital connectivity to expand their businesses.

D2N2 – the private sector-led partnership which promotes economic and jobs’ growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – wants to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in a wide range of commercial sectors to make better use of their current digital and online marketing techniques, or develop new ones, to improve their business performance and productivity.

A £3.6m investment will come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) portion of D2N2’s larger €250million allocation of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF); which is EU funding to spent over six years (up to 2020) on projects which help SMEs be more competitive and expand their operations.

Matched funding of £3.6m for the programme will come from Nottinghamshire County, Nottingham City, Derbyshire County, Derby City and Rushcliffe Borough councils; Nottingham’s Creative Quarter Company and East Midlands Chamber. Some of the partners will also deliver the programme for businesses.

Activities will include:

• A small grant scheme aimed at supporting businesses in exploiting their existing technology solutions or with the introduction of new systems and software to assist with the implementation of new digital resources, in order to improve business performance and productivity.

• Raising companies’ awareness of new digital technology products and services; which could help them be more competitive and productive, and grow.

• Free workshops and seminars (similar to pictured) designed to showcase how new and emerging technologies are transforming business operations through focusing on big data, digital marketing, e-commerce, ‘The Internet of Things’, cloud computing and on ensuring cyber security. At least 48 seminars will be delivered across the D2N2 LEP area over the project’s lifespan.

• 340 free business workshops to be run on practical steps around website development, e-marketing, systems integration and other ICT matters.

• Digital Conference events to be held in November 2017 and April 2019, for 300 to 500 visitors each, which will include high profile speakers, Q&A panel sessions, and demonstration events where visitors can try out technology and talk to experts.

• A one-to-one digital skills and advice service for companies looking to put into action the direction they’ve decided to take with ICT. This will include up to ten days of onsite expert support for businesses implementing their development plan. At least 350 businesses will be supported.

Peter Richardson, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said:-

“Few business sectors can do without a digital presence and marketing strategy but many smaller firms find establishing one a daunting prospect.

“Through this significant investment in the D2N2 Digital Business Growth Programme, the D2N2 LEP and its partners will aim to address businesses’ needs.”

Councillor Diana Meale, Chair of the Economic Development Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, added:-

“Through the ongoing Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire and Digital Derbyshire programmes, we’re putting digital infrastructure in place which is amongst the best in the UK. But if the area is going to drive home the full economic benefits of having better broadband, we need to support businesses to explore and introduce new and emerging ICT products and services.

“The D2N2 Digital Growth programme, which we are proud to be delivering in partnership with the East Midlands Chamber, gives businesses new commercial opportunities to boost their competitiveness and productivity; helping to drive economic growth across the D2N2 area.”

Chesterfield Champions and North Derbyshire architects, WCEC, has been recognised as a top employer.

WCEC Architects has retained its position in the top 50 employers in Building Magazine’s Good Employer Guide. In addition, the Sheffield Business Awards, run by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and The Star newspaper, shortlisted the organisation for the People Development Award.

Consultants, contractors, house builders, and other industry firms were invited to take part in the industry’s Good Employer survey last month. It gauges the strength of feeling on the company’s performance in nine key areas including: leadership, corporate social responsibility, employees’ opportunities for smarter working, career progression, the company’s response to current market conditions, the promotion of mental wellbeing, and how likely staff would be to recommend their company to a new entrant to the industry.

The Sheffield Business Awards attracted record number of entries for the event which held in front of more than 700 people at Ponds Forge, Sheffield. It was the first time the practice had been recognised in the Sheffield College sponsored People Development category.

Dave Savage, Board Director and Director of Learning and Development at WCEC Architects said:-

“At the heart of WCEC are our people, they are the foundations of the company and we are committed to supporting them. We pride ourselves in creating a great place to work, where people feel engaged, inspired and comfortable being themselves.

“We believe that by having a diverse culture, a wide range of experience and different specialist knowledge it enables us to diversify into new sectors, remain agile and respond effectively to economic change.”

Jobless young people, the long-term unemployed and those in poverty will be helped towards finding work by a £15 million fund, through the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and the Big Lottery Fund.

The ‘Building Better Opportunities’ (BBO) programme will deliver three major initiatives – at a total cost of £15,125,000 – to directly tackle long-term unemployment, and financial and social exclusion.

Half the funding for the three year projects will come from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership’s European Social Fund (ESF) allocation, itself part of a larger €250 million in European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), and half from the Big Lottery Fund.

D2N2 is the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community and voluntary organisations which promotes economic growth and jobs creation across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for distributing 40% of all the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery; and has awarded more than £1billion to projects with a social mission in 2014-15.

The People First consortium – made up of D2N2 LEP area based charities Framework, Advice Nottingham and Groundwork – has successfully secured the BBO funding for the following three projects:

• Opportunity and Change: A pathway to work – £4.6million for a project aimed at people with multiple and complex needs – including combinations of health problems, family care responsibilities, homelessness, experience of domestic violence or offending – which have so far prevented them from becoming economically active. The project will support those furthest from finding employment to address their barriers and complex circumstances; and move them towards work, training, further education or volunteering opportunities.

The project has now begun. It is being led by Nottingham-based charity Framework; which works with homeless, vulnerable and excluded people.

• Money Sorted in D2N2 – £3m towards a project to combat financial exclusion. It will help people who are in financial difficulties whilst out of work, by helping them deal with money issues more effectively, and ensure they are accessing the financial help and benefits they are entitled to.  It will seek to address this problem, understanding that poverty and extreme financial hardship are key contributing factors to people being excluded from society.

The project, which has also just begun, is being led by the St Ann’s Advice Group, as the lead organisation for Advice Nottingham.

A further project is due to launch in January (2017):

• Towards Work – £7.4m for a programme primarily supporting men aged 50-plus, 18 to 24-year-olds, and women returning to work or who have never worked into employment and economic activity. Participants will include people from black, Asian and ethnic minority communities; those with mental health challenges; people with disabilities; homeless people; and those with substance misuse issues. It will include helping people to tackle potential work barriers such as a lack of transport, having a disability, living in an isolated or rural area, or having low or outdated skills. Groundwork will lead 23 organisations across the D2N2 LEP area to achieve its goal. The programme will be led by Groundwork Greater Nottingham.

It’s estimated the three projects will ultimately help 5,650 participants in the D2N2 area. The aim is for half these to be women, and high proportions aged over 50 and people with disabilities.

Projects must be delivered in the area covered by the D2N2 LEP – Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – and completed by December 2019.

Peter Richardson, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said:-

“Unemployment for some people can last months or even years, and tackling it requires a multi-layered approach. There can be a whole range of domestic, educational and social reasons stopping someone from finding a job.

“It is an issue which must be addressed, as moving someone into useful employment not only improves one life but a whole family’s and, to some extent, the whole economy. D2N2 is committed to inclusive economic growth, which is why we are investing heavily in creating sustainable jobs through major programmes such as Building Better Opportunities.”

Commenting on Framework’s Opportunity and Change programme Claire Eden, Head of Employment and Special Projects at the charity, added:-

“This is much more than an employment programme. It is fundamentally about improving the lives of individuals and also bringing benefits to the communities they live in.

“People may ask why we are dedicating such resources to a relatively small group of people, but the potential benefits far outstrip the investment that is being made here. By reducing people’s isolation, tackling their substance misuse or offending we are also bringing considerable savings to the public purse.”

Jo Bradley-Fortune, Executive Director at Groundwork Greater Nottingham, said:-

“At Groundwork we are excited about working with our community and statutory partners to provide a needs-led service, to move people affected by long term unemployment and barriers closer to the job market.”

Debbie Webster, Manager of St Ann’s Advice Group, added:-

“Our project is a unique opportunity to make a real difference to some of the most financially excluded people, improving their financial wellbeing and money management skills; with a tailored package of support for each person, with a dedicated ‘Personal Navigator’. We are really excited about the difference this project can make.”

Businesses and schools in the area are being urged to work more closely together to address the employment gap.

The appeal came at the recent Employability Skills Conference which was organised by D2N2 Enterprise Advisor Network and Destination Chesterfield, to address the mismatch between employment opportunities in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire and the number of young people coming forward to fill them.

While apprenticeship opportunities in the area have increased, a recent D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership report suggests that only 48% of schools are organising visits to local apprenticeship providers, leaving employers also struggling to fill apprenticeship vacancies.

The first ever Employability Skills Conference, which was attended by more than 80 people, including head teachers, local authority, training providers and employers in the area, aimed to build stronger links between schools and employers to develop the employability skills through the D2N2 Employability Framework that young people need to be successful in their first steps into employment.

Kam Grewal-Joy, Headteacher Parkside community School, Chesterfield, spoke at the conference. She said:-

“I welcomed the opportunity to speak at the conference to highlight the many benefits of schools linking with employers to prepare children for the world of work.  We are always looking to expand the many links we already have with local employers to provide students a new experience.

“At Parkside the learn to work strategy is at the core of our work with young people and their families.  Our mission is to work in partnership with others to equip children with the skills, attitudes and qualifications needed to secure successful careers and to become responsible adults in the future.”

The conference was organised by Gail Widerman, Director of Placing Futures Ltd, a partner of the D2N2’s Employability Framework, in association with Destination Chesterfield and funded through the Careers and Enterprise Company and D2N2.

Gail Widerman commented:-

“We work with both schools and businesses and more and more employers are telling us that they want work ready young people.  I am delighted that so many schools and businesses came on board with Chesterfield’s first Employability Skills Conference and are taking a joint approach to finding a solution and giving young people a very real future in industry.”

Dom Stevens, Destination Chesterfield Manager explained:-

“The conference brought together the education and business communities to address the perceived and real skills gaps before they become an issue. With more than £1billion of investment happening in Chesterfield over the next 10 years it is vital that our young people are work ready and have the skills that employers want. Having a pool of work ready employees is one of the key reasons businesses invest in an area and create jobs.”

At the conference Made in Chesterfield, the annual month-long celebration of the town’s manufacturing and engineering sector organised by Destination Chesterfield, was praised for bringing schools and employers together. A call was also made for business people to get involved with governor roles at local schools.