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Thursday 31st August, 2006
Wiltshire & Swindon Smartplace Programme closes
The Wiltshire & Swindon Smartplace Programme closes at the end of August 06, aims and objectives achieved. The last three years have seen exponential development in broadband and associated ICT, benefits of which have been maximised in businesses and communities across Wiltshire and Swindon through diverse Smartplace initiatives, while targets set to measure success have generally been exceeded.
It is hoped that access centres, which have come to play a dynamic role in local communities, will continue under different management structures, alongside other community capacity building schemes. The need in the business sector for continued assistance in identifying and implementing relevant IT technology has been highlighted. Business Link Berkshire & Wiltshire, now known as Great Western Enterprise, intends to adopt a proactive approach as soon as further funding becomes available.
The final Board meeting on 27 July 2006 brought together representatives from the Smartplace Programme partnership organisations of Wiltshire County Council, Swindon Borough Council, the District Councils of Kennet, Salisbury and North Wiltshire, Trowbridge Town Council, Business Link Berkshire & Wiltshire, the Learning and Skills Council, BT, Westlea Housing Association, and the South West of England Regional Development Agency. They agreed that full-time, effective management had been an essential factor in the success of the complex programme and its projects.
The Programme Manager, Phil Knowling, noted that documentation and processes provided useful reference throughout the Programme and that efficient record keeping and reporting, which were highly commended by funders, helped in day to day management and enabled Board Members to make informed decisions.
Phil Knowling suggested that in all projects and programmes it is important that direction from the Board is unambiguous and that papers providing useful reference are produced and made available in good time.
Headline achievements:
- 99.8% of residential and business premises have access to broadband, representing an investment by BT of £11.5million in exchange upgrades
- It was a notable achievement to have persuaded BT to enable the exchanges in Oxenwood and Wylye; residents’ response reflected their appreciation
- 37% of premises now have a broadband account and take-up is some 5% higher than in other areas in the region
- Over £100,000 of grants have been awarded to SMEs leveraging over £¼ million in ICT investment
- £¼ million of ePods have been deployed to SMEs for employee training
- 6,500 courses have been delivered, representing an investment of around £¾ million in skills development in Wiltshire and Swindon
- 45,000 visits have been made to the 32 Smartplace access centres, representing an investment of £½ million in these communities
These are not insignificant achievements and the objectives of the Programme were largely achieved ahead of schedule.
Phil Knowling and Caroline Thornycroft, the Programme Manager and his Personal Assistant, Andy Poulton, Marc Jenkins, Steve Doman and Ian Glennie, who led the themes, and the other members of the Smartplace Team, most of whom were at the final Board meeting, were thanked for the contributions they had all made to the success of the Smartplace Programme by Cllr Mark Baker, who extended the thanks and best wishes of the Council Leader, Jane Scott.
The Lessons Learned and End of Project Reports, by Theme and written by Theme Champions, may be accessed through this link :
Click here to go to Witshire & Swindon Smartplace Website
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