NDC projects provided many jobs for the local community – but few within the NDC scheme itself. This project was developed to give a small team of local residents the chance to be employed within the core team and gain the skills, practical knowledge and relevant qualifications to provide a thorough grounding in regeneration practice and open up related job opportunities.

The project has focused on developing an entry-level qualification that allows local residents to progress into regeneration professions. The relatively low skills base in regeneration areas has acted as a barrier to local employment in regeneration initiatives.

Manchester has been buzzing with regeneration projects. East Manchester is being revitalised through the work of New East Manchester Ltd and Beacons for a Brighter Future. New East Manchester (NEM) is the area’s urban regeneration company, a partnership between Manchester City Council, English Partnerships and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Beacons for a Brighter Future is East Manchester’s New Deal for Communities (NDC) initiative, covering the neighbourhoods of Beswick, Openshaw and Clayton. Its key aims are to tackle crime; improve the physical environment; promote health and wellbeing; raise educational attainment; and provide skills and training to help local people into work.

Since 2005, eight regeneration apprentices (four in 2005 and four in 2006), have been recruited by East Manchester NDC and NEM. The apprentices are given a full time, two-year contract.

They each complete twelve months of short placements, lasting between four and eight weeks, within each thematic area of regeneration – such as resident liaison, the economic programme and social programmes.

They then move on to complete a 12-month specialisation in one area. The regeneration apprentices were the first in the UK to complete the level 2 ‘working in the community’ qualification.

Three have gone on to a level 3 qualification and five to a foundation degree in neighbourhood renewal at the University of Salford. In January 2006 RENEW Northwest, the Regional Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Communities, awarded the project exemplar status for good practice and innovative working.

The project is a significant development in regeneration education. Recruitment methods should be tailored to local residents. It is important that placement providers do not view the apprentices simply extra administration resource, but are aware of their training requirements. A training development coordinator in post before the programme begins will speed up delivery.

The community, the environment

Partners:

Funding:

Budget: £230,000

Renew Northwest
info@RENEW.co.uk

//2002

case

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Citizens' participation, Capacity building