Initiative
Key Priorities
Business West has established over a number of years six key policy themes around which we develop most of our policy work, priorities and actions. These are broad and all encompassing themes, and have been reviewed recently (agreed by the BW Board last year).
Below is a brief description of each theme with corporate priorities for each and local applications of the policy themes to the Swindon and Wiltshire area. They are as follows:
TRANSPORT & CONNECTIVITY
Transport and congestion are often mentioned by business as a barrier to growth in urban areas, whilst connectivity and superfast broadband are key issues across urban and rural areas alike. The focus here is on ensuring we have the right infrastructure to support business needs.
Business West Priorities 2012
- Promoting better national and international transport connections
- Encouraging LEPs to take responsibility for strategic transport
- Promoting and supporting the role out of high speed broadband access
Swindon and Wiltshire Priorities 2012
- Electrification of the Great Western mainline – ensure pressure maintained for commencement as indicatedRe-doubling of the Swindon-Kemble line – ensure start date of 2012 maintained and completion by Easter 2014
- Work with GWP and Councils to lobby their long term aim to push for a high speed line from London Paddington to Cardiff/Swansea
- Work with GWP and Councils to lobby Government for a Reading/Heathrow spur, thus avoiding the necessity of going into Paddington and back out again
- Support Swindon & Wiltshire LEP in their discussions with DfT for the Trans-Wiltshire Rail Link (north/south)
- Investigate the possibilities of a West Swindon station with the LEP and Robert Buckland MP. Possible timescale 2014?
- Liaise with Wiltshire Council/LEP on the issue of superfast broadband across Wiltshire and engage with BT contacts if required (£42m Govt. funding)
- Work with Swindon Borough Council to help address and improve the radial flows Help to refine the T&C’s of the new Great Western rail franchise Lead a fairer train fares campaign in conjunction with Influence
- Develop discussions with Forward Swindon and adjacent Councils/LEPs re A420 and A417 improvements
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
As the Localism agenda moves forward there are many significant implications for the development of our area, from housing and employment land provision to all aspects of strategic planning across local authority borders. The primary focus at the moment is on the National Planning Policy Framework and the Localism Bill.
Business West Priorities 2012
- Promoting planning reforms that support a positive approach to economic growth
- Encouraging LEPs to take responsibility for the strategic long term planning of their areas
- Supporting the development and roll out of Enterprise Zones and Areas
Swindon and Wiltshire Priorities 2012
- Work with Influence to conclude a Core Strategy for the town that is reflective of the aspirations of our growth plans and Inward Investment Service
- Ensure that the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is implemented with due engagement with the business community
- Assist Influence in their discussions with Swindon Borough Council to adopt a Strategic Planning Committee for key applications (as per Wiltshire Council)
- Assist Forward Swindon in their efforts to produce a Master Plan for the town centre of SwindonHelp to promote, and where appropriate work with, the North Star leisure project
- Assist Wiltshire Council/Military in the redevelopment of RAF Lyneham to the new Defence Technical Training Centre by 2013
ECONOMY & BUSINESS GROWTH
In our recent survey, over half of businesses identified access to finance and too much regulation as major barriers to growth. This theme enables us to pick up the key issues of concern to businesses and their ability to grow.
Business West Priorities 2012
- Promoting improvements in access to finance for SMEs
- Promoting export opportunities
- Supporting the government’s red tape challenge and ambitions to reduce bureaucracy for business
Swindon and Wiltshire Priorities 2012
- Develop improved engagement with senior executives from the top companies in Swindon
- Assist Forward Swindon with their retention activities for the larger companies of the town
- Support the Inward Investment Service work being undertaken by Forward Swindon and engage Initiative members as Hosts and/or Ambassadors for the service
- Ensure access to international gateway hubs is developed
- Promote our excellent international services - UKTI and Export DocumentationAssist Forward Swindon wherever possible with the development of Union Square project
- Work with Justin Tomlinson MP to improve entrepreneurial knowledge within young people
- Use all opportunities to promote the area as a pivotal strategic location
EMPLOYMENT & SKILLS
The focus here is on providing business with “job ready” people. This aspect picks up issues to do with education, as well as general employment and skills concerns – another major barrier to growth identified by local businesses.
Business West Priorities 2012
- Promoting business engagement in schools to help provide school leavers with employability skills
- Promoting and supporting business engagement in national and local schemes to increase employment opportunities for young people
- Supporting and promoting schemes to encourage graduate retention and recruitment
- Swindon and Wiltshire Priorities 2012
- Assist Phase 2 of Plan 500 in creating further job opportunities for 16-24 year olds
- Work with sponsors and partners, especially Swindon College, to develop the submission of a bid for a University Technical College (UTC) in Swindon
- Continue to work for better access to HE for Swindon and Wiltshire
- Use our over-arching position across both Swindon and Wiltshire to bring the three colleges closer together
ENERGY & LOW CARBON ECONOMY
The target of reaching an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 is a major challenge for all and a key issue for business, as are issues around energy supply and energy security. This is perhaps the least well developed of our themes and one that seldom features at the top of SME agendas, but still a potentially critical issue for business.
Business West Priorities 2012
- Promoting resource efficiency in business
- Supporting schemes that improve resilience to natural events
- Promoting energy security and ensuring business engagement in energy policy
Swindon and Wiltshire Priorities 2012
- Establish a forum group/committee with Forward Swindon, Honda and Webb Paton on this topic and in the process help deliver the Council’s policies
- Assist with the development of biomass, wind turbines and photovoltaic sites
NATIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
This theme is largely based around government and political agendas, where we can pick up on a whole range of issues of interest to business, such as, LEPs, elected mayors, and general and local elections.
Business West Priorities 2012
- Promoting the development of local incentives for growth
- Supporting the role of LEPs and promoting appropriate business engagement
- Supporting business to understand the implications of, and engage with, key events/activities in the political calendar
Swindon and Wiltshire Priorities 2012
- Support the role of the LEP and provide appropriate business representation
- Continue to engage with MPs/Leaders of the Councils to represent the business community
- Assist businesses via briefings, meetings, etc. to clarify the understanding and implications of key topics