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Issue 91: 9th December 2011


> What’s new? > How is Convergence doing? > What are other European Programmes doing?

This is part of a monthly series of newsletters that will keep you up to date with the progress of the Convergence Programmes for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as they are delivered.

Superfast Broadband ‘goes live’ in nine more Cornish communities ahead of schedule

Superfast broadband has started to become available to nine more Cornish communities, including some of the county’s largest centres. The first homes and businesses in and around Truro, Liskeard, Launceston, Bude, Falmouth, Marazion, North Hill, Marhamchurch and Dobwalls now have access to the high-speed technology three months ahead of schedule.

> Read more

Cornish businesses raise the heat in San Diego

Five Cornish businesses shone the spotlight on the county’s expertise in the geothermal industry on a trade mission to San Diego co-ordinated by UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) in partnership with ‘Invest In Cornwall’. Altcom, EGS Energy, Fugro Seacore, Tiger X and Calidus Engineering joined together to showcase Cornwall’s capabilities at the GEA Geothermal Energy Expo 2011, the largest gathering of geothermal energy leaders in the world, attended by more than 2,500 attendees from 13 different countries.

> Read more

> GEA Geothermal Energy Expo 2011

Cornwall projects are rooted in success

Following two projects in Cornwall being recognised with national awards from the European Social Fund (ESF), a ceremonial tree planting took place at the Tremough Innovation Centre. Clear About Carbon and Cornwall Works for Learning Disabilities were both honoured with ESF Specialist Project Leader Awards in October and were granted their choice of tree saplings as their award. A tree planting ceremony took place today as a symbolic gesture of the projects’ aim to grow knowledge and skills in their respective sectors and leave behind a real legacy for the people and businesses of Cornwall.

> Read more

Convergence case studies

Find out how Convergence has helped businesses such as Cornwall Environment Consultants and TT Compost Ltd through the case studies on the Convergence website.

> Case studies

The Partner's Perspective will be back next month.

Convergence Programme position as at 9 December 2011

The table below summarises the value of Convergence investments.

All monetary figures are £ million	Total	ERDF Programme	ESF Programme
Programme budget	555.9m	402.7m	153.2m
Value of investments contracted	391.2m	290.3m	100.9m
Value of investments endorsed (but not contracted)	8.1m	8.1m	0.0m
Actual project spend to date	224.8m	126.6m	98.2m
Spend target for end 2011		achieved	55.1m

Glossary

Contracted: Contracts signed by both the applicant and the organisations managing the Programmes
Endorsed: Investments awaiting final exchange of contracts.
Spend: Money claimed from the European Union by projects for work in progress.
Spend target: The amount of money the Programmes must spend on by the end of 2011.

NB. The Programmes’ budgets are set in Euros so the pound sterling figures are estimates and will vary with the exchange rate during the life of the Programmes.

The Convergence Programmes are investing in a higher value, more knowledge based economy.
A list of investments can be found on the Convergence website.


European Fisheries Fund		For more information on the support available through EFF see the Marine Management Organisation website or call 0300 123 1032.

Information about the fisheries programme can also be found here:

> Convergence website


RDPE information		Information about the Rural Development Programme (RDPE) can also be found via Business Link Rural Business Support and on the Convergence website.

More detailed information about Convergence, links to key organisations and websites can be found on our website.

You can also check out the latest Convergence updates by visiting our Media Hub, following us on Twitter or getting our news feeds.