University To Lead £2m Scheme To Boost Regional Economy
9 April 2009
University of Derby Pro Vice-Chancellor and Finance Director Hari Punchihewa.
The aim of this collaboration is to deliver a coherent and comprehensive package of support for both individuals and businesses that have been hit by the economic downturn
Hari Punchihewa.
The University of Derby has today secured Government funding to launch an exciting training and education scheme worth about £2m to support and empower individuals, businesses and communities in the current economic climate.
In February, the Government invited universities and colleges across the UK to bid for funding from the Economic Challenge Investment Fund – seeking creative and relevant initiatives to help support the economy nationally.
The University of Derby’s bid, in collaboration with four further education colleges – West Nottinghamshire College, Derby College, North Notts College and Chesterfield College – impressed so much, it received the third highest total nationally, out of around 70 successful schemes.
HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) and DIUS (Department For Innovation, Universities and Skills) has awarded £27m nationally to successful applicants, and Derby’s bid received £988,086. This money will be match-funded by the University and its local partners to deliver a programme to boost the local economy between now and September 2010.
Nationally, the Economic Challenge Investment Fund will aim to offer practical help to 50,000 people and 11,700 businesses through a range of measures including business advice, internships and short courses.
University of Derby Pro Vice-Chancellor and Finance Director Hari Punchihewa, said: “The aim of this collaboration is to deliver a coherent and comprehensive package of support for both individuals and businesses that have been hit by the economic downturn.”
Derby’s scheme is a four-pronged strategy designed to help a range of different communities in the current climate:
A specialist support centre to be offered to unemployed graduates and professionals aiming to help more than 2,000 clients through 200 workshop sessions and 60 employer internships.
The University’s Careers Development Centre will use a network of outreach centres to offer one-to-one support from higher education career specialist advisors, career coaching activities and workshops and activities to develop confidence and networking skills.
This group will also oversee the delivery of four to 10 week internships with employees, and provide clients with access to a range of on-line resources to build networking, presentation and communication skills.
Support for unemployed people with no higher education qualifications, or unemployed graduates or professionals who need to update and diversify.
500 free places on higher education taster days and 250 funded short courses in higher education will be offered in the area on courses to specifically enhance their employability and meet career change goals.
Coordinated support will be provided to businesses.
More than 100 businesses will be supported and 300 spaces for learners on short courses will be provided.
Other support will include advice from specialist consultants with experience of handling business change with input from career development specialists for staff at risk, a voucher scheme for the development of bespoke packages of support such as training programmes to offer short courses for businesses appropriate to the needs of business in the current economic climate.
The University’s own Enterprise Scheme will be extended to currently excluded groups such as redundant professionals and graduates, or those at risk of unemployment.
There will be 20 incubator access grants and 12 enterprise bursaries offered to encourage new businesses to start up.
The University’s Commercial Director Andrew Hartley, who helped shape the bid, said: “This support programme incorporates the strengths of individual partners and fills gaps in provision that have been identified with support from external agencies such as Job Centre Plus and Business Link.
“The objective of this collaboration is to ensure that support is available at the point of need. Independent research commissioned by the University of Derby found that a lot of people individuals would like to access services at their local institution.
“This programme will therefore aim to offer co-ordinated services through both the University of Derby and a linked network of the emda-funded Higher Education Centres within further education colleges and local authority managed business/innovation centres across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.”
Minister of State for Higher Education David Lammy said: “Universities have demonstrated across the country that they are central to the fiscal stimulus that local communities businesses families and young people need.
‘Universities are clearly showing that they can provide a lifeline in these challenging times by offering targeted short courses to adults who have lost expertise, and by offering graduates the skills and opportunities to set up their own business.”
-ends-
For more information about this news release, contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038 or email: s.redfern@derby.ac.uk