Fifteen Cornwall are recruiting now for their new cohort of apprentice chefs.

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The newly integrated adult careers service, Next Step, went live on 1 August 2010. The service is available to all adults in England aged 19 or over – or aged 18 and over if they are a Jobcentre Plus customer.

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Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) will be running a series of autumn sessions, delivered by inspiring ‘experts’ and ‘witnesses’ during September in the Camborne, Pool and Redruth areas. Cornwall SSE is part of the Cornwall Works for Social Enterprise Programme, supported by investment from the ESF Convergence Programme through Jobcentre Plus.

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Mark Prisk, Minister of Business and Enterprise, announced investments in two projects based at University College Falmouth and University of Exeter’s Tremough campus:

• The Academy for Innovation and Research (AIR), a research & development laboratory for the creative industries.
• The Exchange; an extension to the library, increased seminar and lecture space, new student services facilities and a reception.

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See the Convergence Update for the impact on Convergence of the Coalition Government’s budgetary priorities and associated changes to mechanisms and structures.

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“Citizenship for Life is a unique and challenging programme for young people aimed at broadening horizons, widening participation, increasing skills and helping young people become better citizens.

“Cornwall Council’s Community Network covering Helston & The Lizard joined forces with Inclusion Cornwall, the local Rotary Club and a team of volunteer business mentors to provide this once in a lifetime opportunity for ten 13 year olds from Helston Community College and Mullion School. The programme is funded through Cornwall Works as a pilot approach to delivering employment and skills activities.

“Inclusion Cornwall supports Citizenship for Life because today’s young citizens are the graduates, entrepreneurs and workforce of tomorrow.

“The interview process was inspiring and we selected the young people who we felt would most benefit from being exposed to new opportunities, seeing different cultures and understanding what makes the society around them tick. We are confident that this programme will enable greater participation in higher education and greater choice in work. More immediately it will breed a new group of peer mentors who will go on to inspire others. We are impressed by the range of business volunteers who have given their support and time, including the elected members within Cornwall Council.

“The programme starts with a team building event, followed by monthly visits to places and people that have made a difference and inspire others to do so. Trips, including to: the Big Issue in Manchester to look at homelessness and how people are helped to help themselves; Dartmoor Prison, to explore crime and its consequences; Cornish companies, to understand how business works, are all structured to develop motivation, confidence, skills and opportunity.

"For more information please contact Helen Jones at hljones@cornwall.gov.uk, or on 01209 614037.”

RDPE is very much open for business and is continuing its important work to help rural businesses and communities across the South West of England. Following recent announcements by the Coalition Government about the future of regional development agencies and public sector spending, Rob Hatt, Head of Food and Rural Development at the South West RDA, has been in discussion with Defra to seek clarity about the future of the RDPE. As a result, he has sent a letter to stakeholders which sets out the latest situation. You can see a copy of Rob’s letter by visiting the RDPE website.

The South West TB Advisory Service – the first phase of a £8.2 million ground-breaking support package to improve the profitability of the South West livestock sector – has gone live. The service is one of nine projects within the South West Healthy Livestock Initiative. Funded by the RDPE, the projects aims to help farmers boost their profits, increase the health and welfare of their stock and improve the quality of meat, milk, hides, fleece etc.

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Tourism in the South West of England is set to receive an £18 million boost through a joint public and private sector initiative - the Sustainable Rural Tourism Programme - to make the most of the region’s landscape and features.

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Find Rural Development Programme contact details and updates on the Convergence website.

For contact details and information about the fisheries programme, visit the Convergence website.