Directors CutInside our latest email update you will find details of some of the work being carried out in Sheffield that is significantly moving the city towards its ambitions. We begin with culture. A city can be measured by its creative output, in both cultural activities and business. Not only does this increase the city’s profile nationally and internationally it also helps to define a city’s identity. Cities such as Barcelona, Liverpool and Dublin have shown how culture can play an important role in the economic development and regeneration of a city. The Culture and Sport Partnership’s update shows how important the Culture Strategy is to Sheffield. Culture also has a strong and significant contribution to make to another of the agendas covered in this issue of the SFP Update – that of the need to ensure we promote and support the inclusion of everyone in Sheffield. Inclusion is one of the 3 key principles underpinning our City Strategy. (Prosperity and Sustainability being the others). The fortunes of the city are dependant on a coherent, strategic, long-term approach where each of these principles are held dear. None of these can be done in isolation and the Inclusion Strategy, which the Inclusive and Cosmopolitan Partnership has been developing, is our way of ensuring we take proactive and effective steps to ensure the city’s progress leads to a more inclusive city. The Sheffield First Partnership board gave their input on the current document at a recent meeting and wider consultation with other stakeholders and partners has been undertaken particularly during May and June, culminating in an event on 15th June at Bramall Lane. Everyone was invited to have an input into the strategy which will now be finalised and launched in September 2007. Sheffield’s business community I’m sure will welcome two of the developments described in this edition - the £18.5 million Generation Enterprise project to encourage more business start ups and promote enterprise in the city’s communities and the launch of the new Business Crime Reduction Centre with one of its many initiatives serving to boost confidence in e-business and assist economic growth in South Yorkshire. There’s something for everyone in this edition, which is of course part of our approach to ensure everyone is able to benefit from Sheffield’s progress whilst focussing on the areas critical to Sheffield’s future. And finally in this edition, we welcome four new additions to our Partnership board. The crucial work of the board will no doubt benefit from the experience and knowledge these individuals will bring to our monthly meetings. Jane Brown Director, Sheffield First Partnership Culture and Sport UpdateIt has been 10 months since the launch of the Sheffield Culture strategy and the city is progressing at a great rate: Over 1m people and 70 different organisations have contributed or taken part in some form of culture or sport activity during this time. Culture plays an important role in building a successful city and there have been some high profile successes which have all served to increase the awareness of Sheffield. This includes the Venice Biennale, a major contemporary art exhibition, where Sheffield was chosen to exhibit in the British pavilion. The re-opening of Weston Park Museum, which narrowly missed out on a national award for excellence in one of the country’s biggest arts prizes, was also a great success. It drew in 55,000 visitors in its first two weeks after re-opening following a £19m refurbishment. The Culture and Sport Board is working in partnership to raise Sheffield’s profile by focussing further attention on hosting events with a high level of national and international interest. This focus has already had some success as our city is fast being recognised for its excellence in sporting events. Sheffield is now in the position where it is being invited to submit proposals for future events such as the European figure skating championships 2010, a bid backed by Olympic gold medal winner Jane Torvill. Sheffield will also be hosting the UK Corporate Games, the British University Championships 2008/09/10 and the UK Schools Games. More recently Yorkshire hosted the 2007 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, an event often referred to as the Bollywood Oscars, with Sheffield hosting a fringe festival and the final awards ceremony. This brought many visitors to the city from all over the world and received worldwide media coverage. The Culture and Sport board are looking forward to building on this success and progressing even further during the coming years with one of the highlights to look forward to being the Crucible Theatre refurbishment. Sheffield Theatres started a multi-million pound refurbishment in May this year, aimed at bringing the building in-line with its international status. Productions will continue on the main stage until the end of 2007, when a brand new thrust stage will be installed prior to the World Snooker Championships in 2008. The theatre will then go dark again up until hosting the World Snooker Championships in May 2009. With the new fully refurbished theatre due to be unveiled in December 2009. Inclusion Strategy Consultation EventThe Inclusive and Cosmopolitan City Partnership has been working hard to develop Sheffield's second Inclusion Strategy that will be launched later in 2007. The Partnership recently held a major consultation event at Bramall Lane to prompt debate about the shape of the final strategy. Delegates attending the event, many of whom have direct experience of exclusion, were encouraged to give their input at workshops during the day. Speakers addressed why inclusion matters, the contents of the draft inclusion strategy, how individuals and organisations can make a difference and financial inclusion. Most importantly the day gave opportunity for ideas and contributions from agencies that will continue to play a role in making Sheffield a more inclusive city. Speakers at the event included: Councillor Pat Midgley, Chair Inclusive and Cosmopolitan City Board; Jane Brown, Director, Sheffield First Partnership; Christine Barton, Partners for Inclusion and ICCP Board Member; Evelyn Milne, Director, Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership Sheffield City Council; Valerie Cotter, Partnership and Local Action Manager, Sheffield City Council; Ruth Grayson, Acting Chair, Association of Sheffield Agencies for the Vulnerable and Excluded and ICCP Board Member; David Price, Chair, Church Action on Poverty and ICCP Board Member; and Ann Allen, Community and Neighbourhood Renewal Manager, Sheffield City Council. Visit the Sheffield First Inclusive and Cosmopolitan City Board web pages for further information on the developing Inclusion Strategy and the work of the Board. Business Crime Reduction Centre OpensSheffield-based charity, South Yorkshire People United Against Crime, has launched the Business Crime Reduction Centre (BCRC) to reduce the impact of crime on economic growth and development in the region. Supported by funding from Yorkshire Forward, the European Community and Objective 1, the scheme has a £1.8m budget for the next three years but further support “in kind” will more than double that amount. A major initiative for BCRC is to increase the use of e-business practices amongst SMEs and protect against the threat of e-crime. The project has established a specialist business support service, dedicated to increasing the uptake of ICT solutions by providing guidance and reassurance to reduce the negative economic impact of internet or e-crime and other associated criminal acts. David Ransom, Chief Executive of the charity and the Centre says, “Any drive to encourage more businesses to adopt e-business practices to improve quality, increase competitiveness, customer satisfaction and reduce costs can only be successful if companies have confidence in trading on-line in a secure and risk-free manner.” The Federation of Small Businesses recently reported that 20% of all crimes are committed against businesses, costing £19 billion a year. Some 40% of employers don’t even report crimes as they feel “it wouldn’t achieve anything.” Most crimes are reported for insurance purposes rather than the victim expecting a culprit to be caught. Ransom comments, “What we have to do is step up security levels for businesses feeling their way with IT use. For example, a laptop computer costing £500 may hold £50,000 or more of commercial intelligence, if not the firm’s entire database.” The major threats faced by all companies include various types of fraud such as phishing, identity theft, viruses and hacking. Phishing is a criminal activity where phishers masquerading as a trustworthy entity, use electronic communication such as email, to attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive information like usernames, passwords and credit card details. Additionally, companies face the threat of losing valuable ICT equipment and data through burglary, arson, criminal damage, internal theft and staff leaving, complete with IT records that help them set up in competition. The Business Crime Reduction Centre staff will include six business advisers who will visit companies throughout South Yorkshire with advice and support. They will:
The BCRC is being championed by Sheffield Safer Communities Partnership, part of the Sheffield First Partnership family of boards, which is responsible for improving community safety and reducing crime across the city. For more information please contact People United Against Crime on 0114 275 8688. |
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Q&A with Angela Galvin, Chief Executive, Sheffield Theatres TrustPlaces & Spaces: What’s your favourite place or space in Sheffield? I’m going to cheat and name two – my back garden and Tudor Square. My pedometer informs me that they are just two miles apart and it’s the proximity of these very different spaces that summarises what I enjoy about Sheffield. My back garden is an oasis of calm, a suntrap and the haunt of owls, foxes and other wildlife. I find gardening incredibly therapeutic, though theatre hours mean that I occasionally take my therapy by torch light. Tudor Square in itself requires regeneration to maximise the visual impact of the Central Library, the Winter Garden, the Lyceum and the Crucible. For now, it’s the people that make it a favourite place – I love that the square is animated by up to 2,000 theatregoers each day, whether it’s the Rocky Horror crowd in their stockings and suspenders (the men), excited school parties or the multiplicity of groups and individuals who choose a night at the theatre above a night in front of the box. Somehow, I would like each of these places a little less if the other weren’t so nearby. What would you like to see Sheffield famous for? Whether as an individual, a business or a community I think it’s important to know where you come from. Not to be held back by history but to understand how its ‘genes’ have made us what we are. A friend once worked for the Florist’s Association and was given cards to leave in restaurants and hotels with the legend, ‘The tone of your establishment is brought down by your use of artificial flowers’. I’d happily distribute cards with a similar message about the use of non-Sheffield cutlery –I shall name drop and say that I even bullied Kim Cattrell into buying a canteen of Sheffield cutlery. We're in the midst of a fundamental economic revolution, based on technological, economic and aesthetic creativity. In that sense, I would like Sheffield to remain famous for its manufacturing excellence, and to honour the DNA of our radical and innovative past with a future of renown for creativity and challenge in all we do. Do you think the perception of Sheffield is changing? Every first-time visitor I meet expresses pleasant surprise at the city’s appearance, facilities and so on. So, ‘Sheffield, not as bad as you think’ is a strap line for that one. With the really striking remodelling of the city centre, the magnificent cultural offer and Sheffield’s ability to lead on key issues of the green agenda, it’s time now to be a little more confident in our messages. Though perceptions are changing, my ideal would be for people to visit us in expectation rather than surprise. Burning Issue – What needs to get better in Sheffield? The theatres play host to thousands of people from outside the city each year – artists, sports people, audiences. Amongst all the very positive comments there are two pretty consistent – and I think legitimate – gripes. One is about dining options. With performances generally starting at 7.30 p.m. and preparations at least an hour ahead of that, most actors (and some audiences) are pretty hungry by the end of a show. Actors also often have agents or other guests to entertain. But where? The options for city centre dining beyond 10 p.m. are extraordinarily few. The second issue is the gay economy - whether it’s gay-run leisure businesses or gay profile generally. There is sufficient evidence of the positive role of gay business (such as "The Rise of the Creative Class," Richard Florida's examination of creativity and its effects on economic development) to suggest Sheffield’s offer is surprisingly limited for an ambitious city. Why is the Culture offering in Sheffield important to develop and move the city forward? The quality of the work we make in Sheffield gains national recognition through reviews, tours and transfers (for example, our Fiddler on the Roof is currently flying the flag for Sheffield in London’s West End). The profile this generates is great, but ‘Culture’ is about people. Sheffield Theatres, the Galleries and Museums, the digital media and other cultural businesses provide people who visit, live or work in the city with an outlet for entertainment, thought and provocation. That’s very important. The city’s cultural businesses also bring in the kind of creative entrepreneurs who generate great ideas that become a catalyst - directly or indirectly - for new business models and real economic growth. And that’s what’s really important for moving the city forward. At Sheffield Theatres we not only attract creative people but also tap into those who don't think they're creative through programmes that touch business leaders, schools, adult learners and disadvantaged communities. Our Creative Development Programme nourishes communication and an open-ness to new ideas that is vital for business sustainability. But if you just want to bring your family, colleagues or clients for a great night out, that’s fine too! Neigbourhood EnterpriseOver the next few years the Generation Enterprise project will encourage more business start ups and promote enterprise in the city’s communities. Through the Sheffield First Partnership Local Economy board £18.5 million will be invested over three years as the project gets underway. Community organisations such as Burngreave New Deal for Communities (BNDfC) will play a key role in the development of the project nurturing the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Their model of business support, ‘Creating Enterprise Supporting Business’, is an example of one initiative in Sheffield that is already proving to be successful. BNDfC is a government funded programme to help regenerate the Burngreave area and has been awarded £52 million over 10 years from 2001 – 2011. It helps and supports existing businesses, encourages new starts and is the first point of contact for inward investment in the Burngreave New Deal area. In the last two years BNDfC has:
Jane Brown, Director Sheffield First Partnership says, “The success of programmes such as Burngreave New Deal for Communities is shaping the future of the city and the neighbourhoods by encouraging entrepreneurship and enterprise and by supporting the businessmen and women of the future.” “Encouraging new business in the area and helping existing businesses to achieve greater success will help boost the regeneration of Burngreave and ultimately of the city.” Creating an enterprise culture requires targeting people from an early age, an area in which BNDfC is also proving successful. Students from Fir Vale and Firth Park schools were involved in the latest business awards event as they took part in a Dragon's Den style exercise where they had to pitch business ideas that would benefit the pupils at their schools. BNDfC’s business initiative is celebrated at the annual Burngreave Business Awards. The event rewards and showcases success stories and also provides a platform to run workshops and seminars on key business issues such as ‘starting a business’ and ‘how to get finance’. National Refugee WeekSheffield has a long tradition of welcoming people who have left their home country to escape the threat of persecution or oppression. These groups include Chilean refugees in the 1970s, people from Kosovo in the 1990s and, more recently, people from Liberia (West Africa) and Burma. Despite this tradition there continues to be misunderstandings about the reasons why people seek asylum and what level of support they can claim after arrival in the UK. Refugee Week is a national festival that seeks to raise public awareness of the asylum system. Across the UK, between 18 and 24 June, many cities hosted a range of events to encourage many sections of the community to hear about the experiences of asylum seekers and look at the contribution this group can make to our cultural and economic life. In Sheffield the theme for this year was the amount of voluntary work that asylum seekers do for a variety of causes. A number of exciting events took place in Sheffield for the Week:
Refugee Week was organised by refugee services, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Homes and other organisations. For further details visit the refugee week website. Ice globe Marks World Environment DaySheffield marked this year’s World Environment Day on 5th June with a 1.5 metre ice sculpted globe positioned at the top of Fargate. The globe and its plinth slowly melted away to represent the world’s melting ice caps and theme of the day, ‘Melting Ice - A Hot Topic’. The event also featured a huge screen showing environmental documentaries behind the sculpture including A Crude Awakening, a graphic look at the world’s oil crisis, and a selection of short films made on mobile phones by concerned people from across the world. The event was co-ordinated by Sheffield First Environment Partnership, Sheffield Doc/Fest, Creative Sheffield and Sheffield City Council in association with carbon credit company, Carbon Planet. Sheffield First Partnership Welcomes New Board MembersSheffield First Partnership Board is pleased to welcome four new Board Members, two from the voluntary community and faith sector (VCF) and two from the private sector. The new VCF representatives include Jack Scott, a rising figure in the VCF sector and Chair of the Youth Action Network, and Pauline Grice, Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Community Foundation. Stephen Sly, Sheffield Office Managing Partner of DLA Piper, and Hakim Wais, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce Black and Minority Ethnics Forum, are also joining as private sector representatives. For further details, please view the Board Member profiles. |