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Prime Minister visits Herefordshire's Enterprise Zone
09/01/12

David Cameron visits Hereford - 5th January 2012

Herefordshire Council Leader, John Jarvis was joined by Jesse Norman, MP and local business leaders on Thursday 5th January to meet Prime Minister, David Cameron during his visit to Rotherwas Business Park in Hereford.

The park was granted enterprise zone status in August 2011, thanks to a bid from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). It is this partnership between the private and public sector, combined with the county's ability to attract businesses specialising in defense, security and science-based industries, that prompted the visit from the Prime Minister, who commented that Hereford's zone is an ‘exemplar' initiative.

The enterprise zone is another success contributing to the development of the county and Hereford city is one of the few areas that has been able to secure private funding during the current recession. Business and council leaders believe that urban regeneration will boost the local economy significantly.

The bid was bolstered by the fact that the area has a good transport infrastructure thanks to the newly built Rotherwas access road, that flood mitigation was already underway and that the area had good wireless broadband coverage with planned ultra fast broadband facilities.

The majority of the Rotherwas site is owned by Herefordshire Council, with some of the land available immediately for development and the entire site available by early 2012.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership the Herefordshire Business Board and the progress made by the Hereford Enterprise Zone Board in just four months. Ray Stone (Chairman, Hereford Enterprise Zone) and Nick Webster (Economic Development Manager, Herefordshire Council) then took him on a site visit around the North magazine and he also had the opportunity to meet a number of potential new businesses.

In a speech welcoming the Prime Minister to the county, Councillor John Jarvis, said:

"Achieving enterprise zone status has provided us with an amazing opportunity to put the county on the map nationally and internationally.

"It is an essential element of our primary goal to regenerate the county and boost the average wage from £19.5k to £24k. Combined with our success in keeping the City's regeneration scheme on track means we are beginning to make some real improvements for the people of Herefordshire, helping our wonderful county be a place where people want to stay to live and work for generations to come.

"We were delighted to welcome David Cameron to our county. His visit endorses our plans and achievements and reinforces our belief that our ‘exemplar' regeneration zone will contribute to the fact that Herefordshire has a strong future and is a good place to invest in."

Ends

HEREFORD OLD MARKET DEVELOPMENT 2012/2013
FOLLOW-UP TO THE ‘MEET THE CONTRACTOR' EVENT ON 1 DECEMBER 2011

IF YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT TO THE MEET THE CONTRACTOR EVENT ON 1ST DECEMBER BUT WOULD LIKE TO FILE YOUR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST IN TENDER OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS A RANGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS HEREFORDSHIRE DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE.

The ‘Meet the Contractor' event held by Stanhope and Sir Robert McAlpine teams at the Old Market Tavern on Newmarket Street on 1st December 2011 attracted about 250 business people.

In general the feedback has been most positive. The 2pm session exceeded all attendance expectations and led to an early second briefing at 3pm for those that waited. Numbers during the early afternoon meant that personal one-on-ones with the Stanhope and the Sir Robert McAlpine teams regrettably was just not possible for everyone. This was better achieved later mid-afternoon and around the 6pm session, which was also well attended.

This event was only the beginning for presenting, meeting and registration opportunities that this £90m development project can offer you, your colleagues, and your business. Other than for the early preliminaries and some services required in January/February 2012 there remains time for further enquiries, registration and opportunities to meet members of the respective teams for the package of work in the attached indicative list.

Enquiries should be directed to Hereford Futures, or through: hereford@sir-robert-mcalpine.com

There will be much opportunity for individuals with appropriate skills, especially trade, to become involved as well. Similarly there will be opportunities to register apprentices. Enquiries and registration is via the above email address. The most likely route for engagement will be by an invitation to join one of the sub-contacting businesses.

For those successful with gaining an Invitation to Tender and requiring assistance with its completion surgeries will be held to assist with its completion if required. Please contact Hereford Futures when you require that support.


HEREFORD OLD MARKET DEVELOPMENT 2012/2013
‘MEET THE CONTRACTOR' EVENT ON 1 DECEMBER 2011

Outline Works Packages

The following are the sorts of works packages that are on offer. The full scope will be much broader once the details of the scheme are finalised. This list MUST NOT be taken as definitive; there are opportunities to influence what is actually constructed by what you may bring to the table.

Preliminaries
‘Old Market Inn' refurbishment.
Temporary works water and power
Hoarding
Supporting Services
Waste management and disposal
Office services
Catering services
Security services
Main Works
Highways Section 278 (possibly 2 packages)
Piling groundworks preliminaries
Piling
Groundworks/landscaping
Concrete structural
Steel structural
Timber structural
Timber specials (i.e. screenwork)
Brick and blockwork
Partition and dry lining
Render, cladding, metal roofwork
Asphalt
Mechanical and Electrical services, including:
Building Management Systems,
Fire, and
Communication systems
Lifts and Escalators
Finishing, including:
Ironmongery
Decorating

Herefordshire bid for faster broadband

Q. Why should youregister your interest in faster broadband?

A. Because if you don't then you are not going to get the best broadband possible!

Central Government has thrown its weight behind the procurement of faster broadband, to the tune of £530m.

Herefordshire has won a pilot for superfast broadband. Herefordshire Council has invited tenders from the telecom industry to deliver the service. The tender requires private sector investment. The level of investment from the telecoms sector will depend upon the demand for faster broadband. So please register your interest now, and also encourage your local customers, suppliers,partners, family and friends to register.

Demand will be the key measure used when allocating money for superfast broadband, so, it's vital to register both your business address and your home address as every response is counted, not just the business ones.

Herefordshire Enterprise Fund

Visit http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/business/business_support/45918.asp for information about this new scheme, funded by the European Rural Development Fund.  Strict criteria is applied, but applications are currently being sought from those sectors which the scheme covers including though not limited to: tourism related businesses, some manufacturing and IT.