06 December 2006
Graduation Ceremony for Northwest Regeneration Practitioners who have 'Raised their Game'
Seventeen regeneration practitioners from across the Northwest are celebrating today following the successful completion of the 'Raising Our Game' programme.
Raising Our Game, a joint initiative of RENEW Northwest and the Northwest Regional Development Agency, is designed to raise competency and confidence levels of those professionals working within the sustainable communities and economic development sectors.
The programme is a unique initiative, which encourages the sharing of good practice amongst the professionals working within both sectors.
Participants in the programme undertake a series of benchmarking exercises including 360-degree analysis by colleagues, managers, stakeholders and peers. The participants attend a development centre to establish areas of strength and areas for development. These are recorded onto a personal development plan.
Within two years participants work towards either a Diploma in Enterprise, which is equivalent to an NVQ level four or a Master Management Practitioner (MMP) Diploma in Enterprise, which is equivalent to an NVQ level five or higher than a first class degree.
Today 1 person will receive a Diploma in Enterprise and 16 people will receive a MMP Diploma in Enterprise. To mark their achievement RENEW Northwest are holding a graduation ceremony at the RENEW Rooms in Liverpool.
The graduation ceremony will feature a keynote speech by Arthur Smith, The Mersey Partnerships Aftercare Manager, St Helens MBC and will introduce guest speaker Gaynor Lewis, Operations Director of the Institute of Leadership Management. This will be followed by the presentation of certificates by Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive.
Beatrice Fraenkel, RENEW Northwest Chair, said, "With over £24 billion a year of public money alone being spent on Northwest regeneration, in a diverse sector which employs around 15,000 regeneration professionals, it is crucial that these individuals have access to a wide range of training and development opportunities, to ensure they have the necessary skills to deliver sustainable regeneration."
She continued, "The regeneration sector in the Northwest is extremely diverse and is driven by the dedication and hard work of many professional individuals, and we are delighted for the eighteen of whom who are being celebrated today at this Raising Our Game graduation ceremony."
Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, said: "Raising Our Game - a pilot project and national first - was developed by the NWDA in order to drive up standards in economic development and regeneration across the region. Now in its second year, this unique project continues to add value to regeneration work that is taking place across the Northwest by encouraging best practice."
ends
For further information and photographs of the event, please contact John Quinton-Barber at SKV PR on 0161 236 9909 / 07725 817554
About RENEW Northwest
• RENEW Northwest is the Northwest's Regional Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Communities. Launched at the Sustainable Communities Summit in February 2005, RENEW Northwest was commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister and is funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency to improve the skills and quality of Northwest regeneration professionals to deliver sustainable communities in the region.
• Through learning opportunities such as mentoring, Masterclasses, and good practice sharing, RENEW Northwest assists regeneration professionals, from architects to planners, from property developers to community representatives, in the development of the leadership and regeneration skills necessary for the future renaissance of the region.
For further information visit: www.RENEW.co.uk