The Welland SSP Home Page

Welcome to the Home Page of the Welland Sub-Regional Strategic Partnership (The Welland SSP) one of seven sub-regional strategic partners funded by the East Midlands Development Agency to tackle across the board economic regeneration issues.

Welland is the region’s only exclusively rural SSP, with an agenda focused on 12 markets towns and rural communities across four counties covering the 1,000 square miles of Harborough, Melton, East Northamptonshire, Rutland and South Kesteven.

Working through key partnerships, the Harborough based executive team, develops and manages an economic programme covering enterprise and business development, innovation, tourism, community development, employment and skills, rural development and diversification, boosted by high leverage of public and private sector funds and contributing to a significant number of key regional outputs.

The Welland’s reputation for enterprise has this year been rewarded by the East Midlands ‘Enterprising Britain’ Award.

The SSP bid then went on to national honours, judged Runner Up in the 2006 Enterprising Britain competition and qualifying to represent the UK in the European Enterprise Awards in December – again winning a prestigious ‘Runner Up’ award in its category.

OUR VISION …..

"Economic development is the key to sustainable communities. The aim of The Welland SSP is to stimulate the viability and vitality of our rural towns and villages and to ensure an economic development that promotes a sustainable future and provides a better quality of life for everyone."

Latest News -

EMDA has announced Masterclass speakers for Survive and Thrive events in December .

“The Survive and Thrive event is vital for those businesses facing changing working environments brought about by the economic slowdown.”

Dr Bryan Jackson, emda’s Chairman, said: “emda is committed to helping businesses grow and it is especially true at this time as we support businesses through the economic downturn. We have brought together a panel of experts from leading firms in the East Midlands to deliver the masterclasses, based on years of real, private-sector experience. Aimed exclusively at businesses, the event will give business people the advice they need to help them through the uncertain times ahead.”

The events, which are exclusively for business people, are taking place at the following locations:

• Northamptonshire - Tuesday 2nd December, Hilton Hotel, Northampton at 8.30am

• Derbyshire - Wednesday 3rd December, Pride Park, Derby at 8.30am

• Lincolnshire - Thursday 4th December, Lincolnshire Showground at 1.00pm

• Leicestershire - Tuesday 9th December, The Ramada Hotel, Leicester at 8.30am

• Nottinghamshire - Thursday 11th December, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Nottingham at 8.30am

To reserve a place, visit www.surviveandthrive.org.uk where further information about the event is available. Alternatively people can call 01332 227774 to register or email enquiries@surviveandthrive.org.uk

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Hundreds of design firms in Leicestershire and Rutland are to market their work to a global audience.

The two counties have the UK's highest number of designs companies outside London, a fact not widely known.

Design Leicestershire, an initiative aimed at boosting the profile of the sector, will create 2,000 glossy hardback directories detailing the designs firms and their best work, which will be put online.

All 780 design firms in Leicestershire and Rutland are being offered the chance to be included and a panel will decide which work will be highlighted.

Companies have until next Friday to submit their names and work to the project, which is receiving £260,000 of public sector funding.

Paul Atkinson, of Atkinson Design Associates, in Leicester, one of the main private sector drivers of the project, said: "The book should be the first of its kind in the UK, linking professional practice with the dynamic research capacity of the three universities. This is important in the UK, but also significant for export and inward investment."

Please follow the link below to see the news item that appeared in last Friday's Leicester Mercury.

http://www.thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk/News/Leicestershire/Directory-to-send-designers-global.aspx

The Design Leicestershire website has now been updated so that companies can register and upload their images onlone. Please see www.designleicestershire.com.

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With businesses facing very difficult times emda in partnership with Business Link are providing “Survive and Thrive’ business support events starting on the 2nd December - "click here for details"

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“East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has announced that it is seeking a further 90 businesses to join HighGrowth East Midlands, its flagship business support scheme in 2009” - Market Harborough company Fast Floor Multimedia is already benefiting from the Growth Readiness programme - read more

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Free e-business workshops available to businesses are being delivered in the Welland area - See News and Events.