Shaping Norfolk's Future

Partnership zooms in on jobs and housing

Shaping Norfolk’s Future is the business-led partner-ship of the private, public and voluntary sector, which works together to help drive Norfolk’s economy,

Partners have brought their skills, knowledge, talent and flair to develop a wide range of exciting projects providing opportunities that will help create wealth and jobs in Norfolk. Jobs and housing growth are key emerging themes
in the county, and Shaping Norfolk’s Future partners are working with the Greater Norwich Development Partnership, which aims to provide 35,000 jobs by 2021.

Thetford partners have succeeded in drawing down £9m in government funding to provide infrastructure needed to support housing and jobs in the area, and King’s Lynn partners are putting together a bid for funding for growth in west Norfolk.

Work continues on Yarmouth’s Outer Harbour.

The National Skills Academy for Financial Services, based in Norwich was opened by chancellor Alistair Darling, who challenged the people of Norfolk to “shout from the rooftops” about the success of Norwich’s financial industries.

City College and the Financial Industry Group, including Moneyfacts, Norwich Union, Virgin Money and Marsh, have worked in close collaboration with City College to develop the £5m Academy.

The Academy offers training to hundreds of people in the financial services; it is now planning seminars and courses to encourage more women to take senior level posts, and a range of courses for students and employees in the financial sector.

(From top): John Fry, Chris Starkie and Mike Burrows oversee the development of the Shaping Norfolk’s Future partnership.r.

There are also exciting developments in the manufacturing sector in west Norfolk, where partners from the borough council have continued to work closely with Palm Paper, the German paper manufacturing company, which is investing £330m to create a new site near King’s Lynn.
The build will start this year with up to 1000 construction workers working on site. Temporary offices have been sourced for Palm Paper executives involved in developing the operation; by September 2009 the company will be employing about 150 permanent employees, with a similar number of people involved in a local supply chain, which will have a significant impact on the local economy.

The local economy in Yarmouth is set to benefit from the construction of the Outer Harbour, which is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2009.

Work is progressing well with the two breakwaters, involving the importation of rock material and dredging of sand, which will be reused to create nearly 50 acres of new land for future port use.

Hethel Engineering Centre in South Norfolk now has a range of specialist engineering-related businesses based on site, a comprehensive programme of events, and programmes to help strengthen businesses.
In north Norfolk, businesses will benefit from a proposed £2.8m Enterprise Hub and Innovation Centre likely to comprise 20,000 square feet of work and incubator space.

Consultants have completed a business plan, and Shaping Norfolk’s Future partners will be shortly be identifying potential funders.

Funding from the East of England Development Agency and Norfolk County Council has supported the creation of EPIC, the East of England Production and Innovation Centre.

Based in the former Anglia TV studios it is becoming a major focus for the county and region’s creative industries, with high quality broadcast production facilities, incubator units for new and growing media companies, and is home to a new media course for Norwich School of Art and Design students.

These projects highlight the significant level of creativity, commitment and tenacity of Shaping Norfolk’s Future partners, working together towards a shared vision to help develop the county’s economy.

The partnership is moving to a new, exciting phase with the appointment of John Fry, chief executive of Archant as the non-executive chair, Mike Burrows, partner at accountants and business advisers Grant Thornton as deputy chair, and Chris Starkie, EDP business editor, as chief executive.

These three highly respected and talented business people will provide direction and leadership, represent Norfolk’s interests on a regional and national stage and work with partners at grass-roots level to help develop the economy of Norfolk.

To find out more about the partners work and strategy log on to www.shapingnorfolksfuture.org.uk

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