Projects

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH 07

The new Penrith Partnership MTI offices were officially opened by David Maclean, MP and became a focal point for business and community information.

The 2007 Penrith Specialist Shops Guide was printed and distributed with over 60 businesses assisted with their marketing and promotion.

Following consultation the Master Plan study was completed, with summary copies available.

The first Facelift Grant packs were sent out to businesses that responded to the grant offer advert in The Cumberland and Westmorland Herald.

APRIL MAY JUNE 07

Revitalising Retail was delivered to 15 Penrith businesses, looking at internal and external aspects of retailing and website development.

www.penrithtown.co.uk was launched, this is the only website specifically for Penrith.

The 1st Facelift Grant work was completed and the grant awarded.

The 1st Penrith Learning Partnership leaflet was printed, offering a variety of training courses to retail and hospitality businesses.

JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER 07

The 1st courses commissioned as part of the Penrith Learning Partnership were First Aid and Food Safety for over 20 participants.

A joint marketing approach ensured that 6 Town Centre Summer Events took place including a Clay Day and the Summer Holiday Market.

OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER 07

Customer Service Awards to acknowledge good customer service were instigated for retailers and non-retailers. The Customer Service winners, Gordon Clark Butchers and Gianni’s Ristorante, were awarded their trophies at the Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce annual dinner.

Following feedback from businesses a Term of Learning programme was assembled and promoted to provide access for 80 people to a series of workshops on a variety of subjects relevant to businesses.

Businesses in rural areas were invited to apply for the Facelift Grant and over 20 applications were received from Shap, Temple Sowerby, Glenridding and Lazonby and other villages.

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH 08

A Penrith Business Survey was carried out to identify issues facing the town centre.

Production of the Penrith Cycling Guide leaflet was influential in the development of Penrith becoming the 1st Cycle Hub in Cumbria.

The 2008 Penrith Specialist Shops Guide was printed in time for Easter. 80 businesses have had offers of grants under the Facelift Scheme.

Housing Study

The aim of the research was to better understand the housing market and economy of the area covered by the Partnership. Penrith, as the largest settlement, has been given particular focus. Shap, Glenridding and and Langwathby were also chosen as representative case study settlements.

Using the evidence base we have been able to gain a much better understanding of Penrith's local housing market and economy, and so to make more detailed recommendations on how Penrith should be treated in regional and local strategies to enable the community of the town and surrounding settlements to realise their sustainable potential.

Eden Ahead

Aim Higher Cumbria asked a lot of young people in Eden what they thought about education and work, and, not surprisingly there were different views. Some of you are really keen to go away to university, some expect to be living outside Cumbria, others are not so sure. Some say they would be happy to study more IF they knew it would help their career, and IF it could be local. Others feel that they hardly need to train at all after they get to 16.

A printed booklet available from Penrith Partnership shows you some local businesses that MIGHT be good places to work in the future. We don't know when, or if, jobs will come up in these businesses, but they all offer training to some of their employees, and will consider helping good young people to get on. If you would like a printed copy please email your request to penrith.mti@eden.gov.uk. The details of the local business can be seen in the Living section of this web site too.

Penrith Learning Partnership

The aim of the overall project will be to foster and establish a culture of learning and development among employers and employees in the Penrith MTI area, in the two predominant sectors of Retail and Hospitality. Focusing on developing those working in these two sectors will enable businesses to improve their product offering; assist in reversing the current trend of retail decline and contribute to the drive to improve the economy of the area and sub-region. The development of a culture of learning will better place businesses and their employees to take up and benefit from the opportunities presented by future local delivery from the new University of Cumbria.

This would build on the activity in the MTI Pride in Penrith Marketing project which works with businesses to help them identify their development needs. Penrith Partnership is also working closely with the Penrith Chamber of Trade and Commerce, who have produced a Raising our Game paper which states the direction the town traders want to see themselves develop over the next few years to enable them to compete with the new large retail development due at the south end of Penrith and with other towns within Cumbria.

Facelift Scheme

Grants are now available to assist with improvement work to the front of business premises within the Penrith Town Centre Conservation Area.

External works to the property frontage including, replacement windows and doors, new signage, painting and improvements to rain-water infrastructure are eligible for grant assistance.

A grant will normally be made to cover the cost of up to 50% of eligible work to a maximum grant of £2,000.

Penrith Masterplan

The Master Plan is ambitious and puts in place a planning and design framework that looks ten years ahead to provide a shared sense of direction for Penrithís future. The next ten years offer a tremendous opportunity to set new standards and realise our vision of Penrith. The Master Plan identifies how to make better use of Penrith's undoubted assets including the speciality shops, historic buildings, townscape and public spaces. We also need to look to build on the very significant investment planned at the New Squares development to better link this area and to make moving within, to and from the town centre more people friendly and attractive to local residents, visitors and cyclists.

There are also major opportunities to promote a new arts centre at the north end of the town centre and to take advantage of the emerging University of Cumbria proposals for Penrith. The Master Plan sets out what we want to achieve and has been endorsed by partners and the Penrith community. This is a once in a generation opportunity to help shape the future of Penrith . I have been very pleased to have seen the high.

The Market Town Initiative will close on 31.03.2008 as will the offices on Bluebell Lane. If you would like to contact Penrith Partnership in the future please call 0777 583 7782 or by email penrithpartnership@live.co.uk.