We must speak with one voice

Feb 23 2010 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

ONE North East outlined its ambitions for the region at an exclusive Evening Gazette event last week. Scores of industry leaders gathered to hear how the regional development agency aims to deliver results for the region. Sue Scott reports.

Tees Valley Industrial Programme

Nearly £4m for apprentices and retraining of Corus workers and other victims of recession

Accelerated support and more relaxed criteria for awarding more than £1m to help individuals start their own business

Help for companies, especially engineering firms, to identify alternative markets and sectors and reduce reliance on core activities

Collaborative projects to identify new feed stocks for the process sector to reduce reliance on petrochemicals and improve sustainability

£5m of match funding for energy efficiency programmes mainly at the Wilton site

Cash to prepare Tees Valley as a test bed for a fully integrated carbon capture and storage plant, described by Ian Williams as “financially horrendous and technically difficult”, but also an asset with which to attract global business

More flexible approach to state-aided investment projects, de-risking and stimulating private sector buy-in

Release of strategically-valuable regeneration land to encourage joint ventures with the private sector.