Influencing Investment European Funding RDPE in the North West Rural development in the shape of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is an example of the type of investment vehicle fundamental to the successful delivery of SSFF. In the North West, approximately £374 million is available over the period 2007 to 2013 for capital and revenue expenditure with many of the target beneficiaries within the land-based and primary production sector. RDPE is structured around three axes, underpinned by cross-cutting themes and a Leader approach. Funding partners the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the Forestry Commission and Natural England have developed a joint Regional Implementation Plan outlining how RDPE resources are to be awarded and how the programme will complement and work with other relevant strategies such as SSFF.
Influencing The direction of financial interventions in the North West is vital if we are to avoid the development of discrete sets of solutions for SSFF. Good communication is critical to successfully identifying and achieving local, sub-regional, regional and national priorities. The North West Rural Affairs Forum has played an important role within the region, acting as a consultative body, contributing to the shaping of key regional documents, and providing feedback from stakeholders, potential deliverers and beneficiaries. There is not a dedicated funding mechanism available to deliver SSFF, so mainstreamed budgets and European programmes need to be utilised where appropriate.
The North West Livestock Programme will focus on improving farm competitiveness through better animal health and welfare and greater efficiency in the use of farm resources such as fertiliser, fuel, water and energy – two of the five priority themes identified in the SSFF Forward Look in 2006.
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Key delivery issues identified for RDPE mirror those of this SSFF vision, and there is therefore a fantastic opportunity for RDPE to deliver many of the SSFF priorities. Reconnection and integration are strong underpinning principles for SSFF and also resonate strongly with the aspirations of RDPE. Solid foundations for delivery of RDPE in the North West are in place, with eight local action groups (LAGs) approved across all the 5 sub regions of the North West. A key role of the vision will be to influence the LAGs to ensure that they keep SSFF principles on their radar, so maximising strategic added value.
ERDF in the North West The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is a significant source, with a total of £521 million available to enhance the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting the creation of the right conditions for growth in employment and enterprise, and so complementing the North West Regional Economic Strategy.
Sectors, Enterprise and Skills Key areas for investment, which are primary drivers for securing competitive, profitable and connected farming and food sectors, are enterprise (innovation and entrepreneurship) and skills (training and research). Both these areas cut across SSFF and are fundamental pillars of regional policy that influence investment within the Regional Economic Strategy.
Business Support Services Business Link Northwest acts as a single point of contact for business support services. There is a strong food and drink business team that supports businesses in delivering SSFF objectives. Other flagship services, such as Train to Gain, also have a role to play in delivering SSFF, potentially helping employers of all sizes and in all sectors to obtain training advice and support. It is therefore important that we raise awareness of SSFF priorities on the part of Business Link Northwest and its partners, to ensure that we can add to their services and avoid duplication and provide ‘Solutions for Businesses’ in the Farming and Food sectors.
Single-pot investment by the NWDA will also be guided by a raft of strategies, including the North West Enterprise Strategy and the NWDA Rural Policy. The latter focuses on the themes of: • improving productivity and ensuring ongoing sustainable growth; • creating a skilled workforce by growing size and capability; and • creating and maintaining conditions for sustainable growth, including diversification.
Similarly, influencing Natural England and the Forestry Commission who fund key environmental elements of the RDPE programme through Axis Two is also fundamental to this vision. These include the Higher and Entry Level Environmental Stewardship and the Woodland Grant Schemes.
In the North West, Higher Level Stewardship has resulted in the identification of 19 ‘multiobjective’ target areas covering about 40% of the region. Renewable energy is a priority for the RDPE programme, and for forestry the real opportunity is in processed wood fuel, with both supplyside and demand-side support needed.
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