Town Centre Radio Security Goes Digital

The successful Erewash radio safety system that links shops, traders and pubs with security support is going hi-tech this summer . . . thanks to a £59,000 cash injection. Delighted members of Erewash Local Strategic Partnership secured the bumper grant from Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership to fund the major revamp of the current system, which is used across Ilkeston and Long Eaton town centres.

Pictured left to right: Kevin Edwards - DDEP; Cllr Carol Hart; Lorraine Poyser - Erewash Borough Council & Ian Viles - Erewash Partnership Ltd

The existing system is owned and managed by Erewash Partnership, which announced the digital switchover this week – revealing that the all-new system will be launched in June and phased in over the following three months. Radio Link works as part of the ShopWatch and PubWatch schemes, offering clubs, pubs and shops vital radio link-ups with Police, Neighbourhood Wardens and the local Police Community Support Officers. Shops and pubs have embraced Radio Link since it was introduced by Erewash Partnership Ltd in 1997 and the system, alongside crime crackdown operations across the borough, has had a positive impact on town centre crime. Now the new funding will help drive the scheme forward with the new digital system that will offer greater control and security.

Extra features of the new system include:

·        A panic override button – a vital feature for any lone workers who find themselves in difficulty. Pressing the button in an emergency situation will override all other features and alert police and all users that help is needed. The incident is also recorded, a feature useful to police for evidence of any crime.

·        Greater security thanks to a voice scrambling facility, meaning secure transmission – conversations and messages cannot be overheard or tuned into.

·        An ability for certain groups to be in contact in isolation when confidential information needs to be shared – for example, police officers will be able to talk to each other through a secure channel when necessary.

·        Text messaging so information can be shared between shops or pubs without alerting customers or suspected offenders through overheard conversations. 

Philip Poulter, Economic Development Officer for Erewash Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be able to introduce this new system, which will bring so many new security benefits for those working to keep our town centres safe and free from crime. “This new system is particularly exciting because it also offers potential to further develop the whole project in the future – with possibilities of linking in with the CCTV system, for example.”  

Erewash Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Community Services, Councillor Carol Hart, has also welcomed the scheme: “Radio Link offers tremendous security support to the many businesses who are part of the scheme and the launch of the new digital system this summer is an exciting development. The whole project is a great example of partnership working at its best and most effective and I’m sure everyone will welcome this news.” 

Used as part of the ShopWatch scheme, staff can highlight security issues to police and Neighbourhood Wardens but also alert members and provide, when appropriate, safe haven for lost or missing children. In addition, the PubWatch system offers a radio link between pub security staff and police officers in the event of any incidents – for example weekend alcohol-fuelled problems in and around town centre pubs. This system was used with Erewash Community Safety Partnership’s successful ‘Community Marshalls Project’ over Christmas, when intelligence was passed back to local police about alcohol related town centre crime

Erewash Novice Triathlon

Dear Colleague 

Re: Erewash Novice Triathlon - www.erewash.gov.uk/triathlon 

We have been asked by Erewash Borough Council to make you aware of the Erewash Novice Triathlon that is taking place on Sunday July 13th 2008 at West Park Leisure Centre, Long Eaton. The event is aimed purely at people new to sport who would like a challenge to help them become more active or for those who have always wanted to do a triathlon but never had the opportunity. There is an individual entry, or for two or more friends, relatives, or work colleagues, a team entry. The local clubs in Erewash are providing support and advice for beginners and are also holding specific training sessions to help you on your way (contact details on the website).

TRIATHLON EVENT DETAILS:  

Date of Triathlon: Sunday 13^th July 2008

Time of Event: Early morning to early afternoon (participant start times vary as they are allocated to each person based on their estimated swim time stated on their entry form).

Location: West Park Leisure Centre, Long Eaton.

Distances: 400m swim in a heated pool, 10 mile bike ride (reasonably flat roads) and 5 km run inside West Park. (Course details on the website)

Maximum number entrants of 350. The event is fully inclusive for people with disabilities (see the website for classifications of disability).

How to enter: You can either download the entry form from the website at www.erewash.gov.uk/triathlon or call Carol Stevenson/Lynne Crawford in Long Eaton Town Hall (0845 9072244 Ext 3208/3209) and they will post out the entry form.

Payment: Please post the entry fee to the address on the entry form (along with entry form).

ONE MILE FAMILY FUN RUN 

Whilst the Triathlon is taking place, there is a FREE 1 mile Family Fun Run aimed at anyone that wants to take part. All are welcome – mums, dads, children and grandparents, visitors or relatives of those competing in the Triathlon etc. All finishers receive a medal and there will be spot prizes for those that show they have made a real effort to take part. Prizes may be awarded for anything from best Fancy Dress to sheer determination in completing the course.  

Registration: West Park Leisure Centre Sports Hall on the day of the Triathlon – Fun Run starts around 9:30am (to be confirmed on the website). Maximum number of 100 entrants. 

We hope you find the above of interest and will be able to join in what promises to be a fun day.

Yours sincerely

 Phil Poulter - Economic Development Officer

 Two new directors add wealth of experience to agency’s board

 April 29, 2008 

Two new directors have been appointed to the board of regeneration agency Erewash Partnership. They are Simon Woods, educational products director of Long Eaton-based TQ Education and Training, and Phil Fone, acting principal of South East Derbyshire College. 

Simon Woods joined TQ in 1973 as an engineering student and worked in a number of roles before taking up his present position four years ago. He is one of the longest-serving employees of the company. The TQ activity in Bonsall Street, Long Eaton, which employs 50 people, designs, manufactures and supplies a range of 700 products both into the UK and throughout the world. There is also a service and training facility at Lockington. Overall, the company employs more than 250 people in the UK and overseas. When the Partnership was set up in 1994 its first chairman was Richard Edwards, a then director of TQ. Simon said: “I am delighted to have joined the board, particularly in view of the company’s previous connections through Richard Edwards. “I feel it is important that the board has a representative from a Long Eaton employer that is competing on the international stage for manufacture and export. The company’s wealth of experience in such issues and the field of education adds another dimension to the board. “Conversely, joining the board gives TQ opportunities for networking and building relationships with local businesses. ”Phil Fone replaces Linnia Khemdoudi who was appointed to the board last July after her appointment as principal of the college which she joined in 2005. She recently resigned to become principal of a college in London. Phil Fone was formerly principal of North Nottinghamshire College. 

Ian Viles, chief executive of the Partnership, a public/private sector organisation backed by more than 300 businesses, welcomed the appointments. “We have always tried to maintain a board that represents various interests, both public and private, across the borough while retaining a balance of skills and knowledge. “Both these new directors have a wealth of experience in their careers to help boost the Partnership’s vital work in regenerating the borough and supporting enterprise. “I am pleased to have such high calibre people working at board level, and I am particularly delighted to welcome a representative from TQ as a director in view of the work that Richard Edwards did as founding chairman.

Neighbourhood centre celebrates 10th

anniversary of improving lives

 October 22, 2007 

AN open day is being held to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of a centre which has helped thousands of people improve their lives and their neighbourhood.Cotmanhay Enterprise Centre, which was set up in a redundant school building in Bennerley Avenue, is managed by regeneration agency Erewash Partnership and has become a focal point for the local community in what is one of the most deprived areas in England. It will be opening its doors to local people from 10am on Friday (October 26) so that they can see behind the scenes at the work done there to provide training and see recent improvements to facilities costing £40,000.  There will also be a chance for contacts - including representatives from local businesses - to meet and chat in a relaxed manner.  

The centre is a base for various local agencies, such as the community-led Cotmanhay Neighbourhood Management Group, fire service community liaison officers, Erewash Borough Council wardens and sports development officers. But it has been home to thousands of people over the years who have taken courses provided by the Partnership and Derbyshire County Council Adult Community Education to boost skills and training and to help people get jobs. The centre has become a one-stop shop for local people, but the recent improvements have created even more flexibility and new training and meeting space that can be made available to new partners and local small businesses. Partnership chief executive Ian Viles said: “The centre is a marvellous example of Partnership-led community regeneration that has been sustained for 10 years and, hopefully, many more to come.

“The centre during these years has made a significant contribution to the lives of local people helping them to get jobs, gain confidence and make new friends, point them to other sources of help, and promote community wellbeing. “It has also managed to change some people’s negative opinions of Cotmanhay and boost its image.” Several organisations and businesses, including the neighbourhood management group, the charity Community Concern Erewash, HME Training, Presec Systems and Derbyshire Building Society will be exhibiting on the day.

Among those attending will be the Mayor of Erewash, Councillor Eileen Knight, borough council leader Chris Corbett, Erewash MP Liz Blackman, Professor Irene Hardill of Nottingham Trent University, co-author of a study into volunteering in Cotmanhay.

Agency wins cash boost for new courses

to help people get jobs

 October 16, 2007 

REGENERATION agency Erewash Partnership has won funding totalling £115,000 to run training courses for hundreds of people that could help them into work. The bulk is a successful bid for £93,500 from Cotmanhay Neighbourhood Management Group, a community-led organisation, to run courses until March 2009. The courses are aimed at developing the skills of people in Cotmanhay so that they can participate more fully in the community, which is one of the most deprived areas in England in terms of employment, skills, and health. They will be held at the Partnership-run Enterprise Centre in Bennerley Avenue, Cotmanhay. The project will contribute towards the continuing viability of the centre, which is also used by other public service agencies. The decline of traditional industries such as coalmining, hosiery and knitwear which often recruited staff with few or no qualifications has meant that unemployed people – particularly aged over 40 – are ill-equipped to find jobs elsewhere. The courses being provided are in response to what local people have asked for alongside what employers identified as skills shortages in a study in the area. The idea is to get people into work, move into better jobs, or help them into adult learning. Courses will offer pre-employment support such as job/interview preparation, writing a CV, and mock interviews; training, advice on job opportunities in the area and guidance on other courses, plus an internet club where people can find information for themselves. 

Partnership staff will go into the community to liaise with agencies and employers to try to secure jobs for local people, set up work experience projects, and offer training to meet employment needs.“This is aimed at people who are trying to better themselves and their prospects,” said Partnership chief executive Ian Viles. “We are going to be as flexible as we can in what we offer to help people.” The Partnership also won £21,500 from the Learning & Skills Council’s Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities Fund to offer similar courses at the Centre for people from a wider area, including Ilkeston, Kirk Hallam, Long Eaton, Sandiacre, Sawley and Langley Mill. It is estimated that the two sets of courses will benefit around 475 people.

 Although different courses are run throughout the year at the Enterprise Centre, this is the biggest project since one funded by the European Social Fund in 2003-5 that involved 1,300 people. Of these, almost 1,000 did vocational training and others did basic skills training such as confidence building. Enterprise Centre manager Lorraine Clarke said: “The courses that we have run in the past proved popular and we know that they have helped people find jobs or progress up the ladder in work. “We know of at least three people who, having taken part in the courses, have gone on to study at University. “We are hoping that these new courses will prove as popular and help people achieve qualifications and progress at work.”

 Partnership collects national award for its enterprising efforts

 October 2, 2007

REGENERATION agency Erewash Partnership picked up a top accolade at the first ever National Enterprise Awards.

The Partnership took the Small Agency Award for those with an annual turnover of less than £250,000. This was open to those who demonstrated a significant and long-term place at the heart of their area’s economic development, defining success in terms beyond the size of the agency’s workforce. This is the first national award for Ilkeston-based Erewash Partnership, a public/private sector partnership which is supported by almost 400 businesses but has only 10 staff, some of whom are part-time.There were 45 entries in six categories in the awards, organized by the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies – which represents more than 130 enterprise agencies in England – and sponsored by directory company Yell. The judges said that the small agency award was a difficult category to consider but praised Erewash Partnership for being “maximum bang for the buck.”

“Erewash Partnership has demonstrated great innovation, great engagement with local partners, all with limited help from EU funding,” said the judges. “It has shown the highest level of enterprise development in practice and is clearly a vital part of the local community. "In the last year the Partnership delivered business planning training to more than 75 new and potential businesses, and 65 new businesses were created with support from the Partnership. More than 300 businesses received support through 750 one-to-one advice sessions, and the Partnership delivered training to more than 300 people through its Cotmanhay Enterprise Centre.It held 15 successful business to business networking events that attracted 1,000 people, and it expanded its business database to more than 1700 entries.

Hayley Williams, head of communications at the NFEA, said: “Many people think of enterprise on a large scale, but we think it’s important to recognize those smaller, more-focused agencies, such as Erewash Partnership, too. “Staff have their feet on the ground, they know the area and its problems and opportunities and are very passionate about what they do in helping people set up and sustain business.”

Partnership chief executive Ian Viles, who was presented with an engraved glass trophy and a magnum of champagne, said: "We believe that we have built something very special – combining support for businesses and economic development work alongside one of the liveliest business networking clubs in the region. “The Partnership staff and board are thrilled to have received independent recognition of this achievement.”

Stephen Woolley, Partnership chairman, said: “I’m pleased and proud that the efforts and commitment of the Partnership have been recognized at national level for the part that it plays in boosting local enterprise and the economy.” 

Chris Corbett, leader of Erewash Borough Council, one of the 10 sponsors of the Partnership, congratulated the staff on a “well-earned and excellent award.”

Note:

In 1997 the Partnership was a finalist in the Local Government Chronicle Awards for Business partnership of the Year.

In 2005 it won the Royal Town Planning Institute East Midlands final in the regeneration category for managing the Ilkeston Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme to revive commercial properties in Bath Street. It was a finalist again this year.

 For further information call Partnership chief executive Ian Viles on 0115 944 3944