A groundbreaking project that involved combat veterans who have physical injuries or suffering from post traumatic stress disorder training people aged over 50 and out of work has been so successful that 11 more have been rolled out across Cornwall.  Active Plus followed on from Surf Action, a community interest company, which supports combat veterans by teaching them to surf. Both projects receive ESF Convergence via Cornwall Works 50+.

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Superfast Cornwall is delivered an early Christmas present to another five Cornish communities - including the well known ‘broadband slow spot’ of Trispen.  The pioneering public and private sector partnership announced that the high-speed technology is now available to the first homes and businesses in Trispen, Lanivet, Penryn, Porthtowan and Drakewalls.  Further parts of the Truro and Liskeard areas have also been enabled.

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Falmouth-based Research Instruments is celebrating almost 50 years of growth thanks in part to longstanding support from Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP).  Research Instruments (RI) is one of only a handful of companies worldwide that develops and supplies IVF equipment. The company has also employed 11 UCP graduates and is about to expand into a second building kitted out with state of the art equipment. Founded almost 50 years ago turnover is now around £6 million a year with clients around the world.

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ERDF Convergence investment has been agreed for DP Engineering Ltd and will support the business’s growth through the acquisition of Parker Maxam’s premises at Treleigh Industrial Estate and a contract to produce manufactured parts for delivery to the Parker Maxam facility in France.

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“Light at the end of the tunnel?  Keep going and light it yourself!” 
Carleen Kelemen, Director, Convergence Partnership Office

"The big question everybody is asking is, "Will the global economic crisis get better or worse in 2012?" And the answer is undoubtedly, "Yes".  Instability in the Eurozone, the perception that Britain is ostracised by the EU26, the weakening of the USA economy and even the slow down of the growth of the Chinese economy, has led experts to predict that this is going to be one long dark tunnel of uncertainty. At home, fuel and food prices continue to rise, consumers are discerning over where they spend their decreasing disposable incomes and the true impact of the public sector cuts will just start to bite next Spring.

"So is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Where is the end of the tunnel? Quite bluntly, you just have to keep going and get down there and light it yourself. Which is exactly what we have been doing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Not just since the credit crunch in October 2008 but since 2000 after our local economy had experienced 40 years of economic decline with not a flicker of light in sight. Yet now, after a decade of European investment programmes underpinned by collective insight and intelligent partnerships on both sides of the Tamar, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have seen an unprecedented rate of growth and have shown a resilience to the harsh economic climate changes which will continue to help it weather the unknowns of the global economy.

"We stand poised to maximise the upturn when it comes. Investments such as the expansion of the Combined Universities in Cornwall including the Peninsula Medical and Dental School have attracted thousands of students and professionals and created a new knowledge supply chain for local businesses. Hundreds of graduates have been placed with local companies and many have now started up new businesses in emerging sectors around digital, environmental and health. New research institutes for environment, health and digital innovation will position Cornwall as the place to discover solutions for the great challenges that face us in the 21st century. And the implementation of superfast broadband and complementary technologies will make us the best connected rural area in most of Europe.

"And our greatest legacy will be the ongoing investment in our people, whether to help them off benefits or out of redundancy into work or training, or upskilling or retraining in new skills. No matter what faces us on the global front in 2012, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will always look to the light."

“What is the Aerohub Enterprise Zone? And what does it mean for Cornwall?”

Miles Carden, Aerohub Enterprise Zone Manager (Interim), Cornwall Development Company

"In August 2011 the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was awarded Enterprise Zone (EZ) status for Aerohub at Newquay Cornwall Airport (NCA) - one of only two in the West Country and 23 nationally.

"Aerohub, will be a catalyst for new jobs, private sector investment within the aerospace and other high growth sectors by creating a new business hub, underpinned by the development of an aerospace academy which will develop and enhance local skills.

"Aerohub is not about displacing local business activity but about creating new opportunity and jobs around a key economic asset, the airport. NCA has seen significant European investment from both the Convergence and Objective One programmes, in partnership with Cornwall Council to ensure both the connectivity it provides is maintained and to deliver significant new high quality jobs. The EZ really gives us the best chance to deliver these.

"The EZ extends to 55 Ha (135 acres) in 3 development zones - which could accommodate over 2,000,000 sq ft of offices, hangar and manufacturing space and generate 5000 jobs.

"Is around simplified planning and business rates discounts - with the NQY Local Development Order already in place and a second LDO planned for the Business Park.

"The aerospace sector in the South West is a major economic driver with a global reach - we can tap into this at Aerohub.

• Physical Environment:  Unrivalled for aviation/aerospace activity; long runway (2700m), capacity, free airspace, access to maritime environment.
• Superfast broadband: the groundbreaking ERDF Convergence funded project is up and running.
• Convergence ERDF and ESF programmes: will be key to match fund infrastructure and buildings, support job creation, support business growth and skills development.

"The hard work begins. The LEP has commissioned Cornwall Development Company to progress and implement the Aerohub EZ – the implementation plan is with the Dept for Communities and Local Government.  A formal launch will occur in July at Farnborough Airshow.  The EZ announcement has already been the catalyst for a number of new inward investment enquires."

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 on the Convergence website.

Information about the Rural Development Programme (RDPE) can also be found via Rural Focus and on the Convergence website.