Jobcentre Plus has a new range of opportunities designed to help more people to move from welfare benefits into sustained work. Alongside the major new mainstream programme, the Work Programme, sits a range of provision, flexibilities and new ways of working that are tailored to local needs and reflect the growing role of Jobcentre Plus in employment, skills and enterprise development as defined in the White Paper on Local Growth published in October 2010.

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A company that sells high end furniture made from recycled materials is moving to Cornwall so it can consolidate and expand its business creating an estimated 15 jobs. The move has been approved for £150,000 of European Regional Development Fund Convergence investment. Eco Furniture International Limited, which designs, produces, markets and sells high quality environmental furniture, will invest £211,000 in the move.

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A significant milestone for the town of Helston was achieved when construction work began on the site of the Old Cattle Market. The first phase of demolition began with Alec Robertson, Leader of Cornwall Council, supported by John Boase, Mayor of Helston, taking the first step in the removal of the now derelict Cattle Market buildings.

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A successful scheme to attract customers to Cornish businesses by offering generous discounts has been launched for its second year. Keep it Cornish is the brainchild of Craig May, who got the idea while studying business and marketing in Bristol. He has received expert advice and finance for his venture from the Graduate Business Start Up Scheme, which is run by Unlocking Cornish Potential, as well as support from the Business Link Convergence team.

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Richard Wills is now an Executive Director with Lincolnshire County Council, but in 2000 he was helping to put the finishing touches to the Objective One Programme.

"I feel I missed out, really! Just before I left my home county of Cornwall for Lincolnshire, the challenge facing us was “How are we going to spend £2m a week for seven years?” That seems a nice problem to have now! It was addressed by the talented colleagues I left behind.

"Preparing the programme was an exhilarating experience. There was a real sense of working together by businesses, community organisations, politicians and professionals. It was a big prize! There were some rather bizarre experiences too. The South Wales Objective One group rang us one day to seek our advice on regional distinctiveness!

"I worked on what became Priority Two – Strategic Investments and Development. Many expected me to focus on transport and digital communications. These were certainly important but it soon became evident to me that a university was an essential component of Cornwall’s future.

"My mother still lives in Cornwall, as does one of my sisters, so I come back for my holidays. The intervals between visits have enabled me to get a perspective of change. It has been immensely satisfying to see the fruits of success emerge from what were small seeds of ideas over a decade ago. I am a “long-termist”. I have to be. Many infrastructure projects take many years to come to fruition. People can become impatient.

"The virtue of patience is evident. I come to Cornwall and there it all is: the Combined University; improved rail and road links; some excellent tourist facilities; a sense of entrepreneurship amongst small businesses. Now, Cornwall reaches out beyond the Tamar, with Cornish products found all over England – even in Lincolnshire!

"The present Convergence Programme is building on the good work that went before. My hope is that politicians, business people, community groups and ordinary folk work in harmony. Collaboration brings success. Success is what Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly deserve!”

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

Information about the Rural Development Programme in the South West can be found on the SW Rural Gateway website and on the Convergence website.