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Issue 88: 9th September 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.

Opportunity for businesses to help shape direction of European policy

An opportunity for businesses to contribute to shaping the direction of European policy has arisen through the UNICREDS survey. UNICREDS is an EU funded project that aims to develop high value, knowledge based economies in remote, rural and isolated areas through collaborative university structures and regional partnerships. This questionnaire is designed to attempt to understand how rural and remote communities nurture innovative business cultures. Please note that all information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The survey can be found via the lilnk below and the deadline for completion is the 16th September.

> Survey

Stein employee works with Employment Minister

Since taking up a work placement at Rick and Jill Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, formerly unemployed Benjamin Milby has not only been taken on full time but has also worked with the Government department which is radically reforming employment support across the UK. Benjamin spent two days at the Department for Work and Pensions where he shared his experiences of employment support with Employment Minister Chris Grayling.

> Read more

Little Steps a big leap for Children’s Hospice South West

A new kind of charity shop will soon be opening in Truro thanks to the vision of a local social entrepreneur. Little Steps, from Children’s Hospice South West is a funky new store at Unit 1, Tinners Court, Truro, selling quality new and secondhand goods for under fives. The original concept for the shop came from Jane Yeomans, who has been working closely with Children’s Hospice South West to develop it ready for opening next month.

> Read more

First phase of industrial units all sold

Vickery Holman are pleased to announce all four units in the first phase (named Harmony House) at plots 2 & 5 Treleigh Industrial Estate are now sold, subject to contract. With building work having been completed on schedule at the end of July the purchasers of Units 1 & 2 have now moved in, with those of units 3 & 4 are due to follow shortly.

> Read more

The Partner's Perspective will be back next month.

Convergence Programme position as at 9 September2011

The table below summarises the value of Convergence investments.

All monetary figures are £ million	Total	ERDF Programme	ESF Programme
Programme budget	557.9m	404.7m	153.2m
Value of investments contracted	391.2m	290.3m	100.9m
Value of investments endorsed (but not contracted)	5.6m	4.8m	0.8m
Actual project spend to date	181.1m	118.8m	62.3m
Spend target for end 2011		achieved	54.1m

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.

Deadline for EFF grant applications

Wednesday 21 September is the next deadline for people seeking grants from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) towards large or particularly technical projects.

To be considered by the judging panel at the beginning of November applications must be received in full by 5pm on 21 September.

If you’re unsure of whether your application should go to panel or not, please contact the EFF England Team on 0191 376 2504.


European Fisheries Fund		For contact details and information about the fisheries programme visit: > Convergence website


RDPE information		Information about the Rural Development Programme (RDPE) can 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.