Community Initiatives

The Enterprise Hub in the community

Education

Thames Valley Enterprise Hub director Ed Cooper is a board member of the West Berkshire Education Business Partnership, an active and successful charity that works closely with schools, ensuring that students experience elements of the National Curriculum in real business situations.

Staff from the Hub and New Greenham Park have given presentations to schools and have assisted with projects that link schools to businesses.

In addition the Enterprise Hub and Greenham Common Trust have worked with schools that have applied for specialist college status, acting as a sponsor for the Hurst, Clere, Downs and Little Heath schools.

Greenham Common Trust pledged £15,000 to each of five local schools as part of the £50,000 private sponsorship each school needed to apply for further central government funding of up to £500,000 to fulfil the requirements of its particular bid.  The Trust‘s contribution of £60,000 has levered in a further £600,000 for local schools.

The funds are then used to improve the curriculum, facilities and amenities of the school and its other partners in the local community such as primary schools.

• The Hurst Community School, Tadley has achieved special science college status. 
• The Clere School, Burghclere has achieved special technical college status.
• The Downs School, Compton has become a specialist languages college.
• Little Heath School, Tilehurst has become a specialist school in science and mathematics.
• Testbourne Community School, Whitchurch has become a specialist school for the performing arts.

The Enterprise Hub also has close contacts with Newbury College and is working with them to look at the provision of broadband connectivity to rural community learning centres.

In addition, the Enterprise Hub has direct links to Henley Management College and is involved in two EU research projects looking at developing e-learning for the managers of Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SME‘s).

Community Work

The Enterprise Hub is taking a lead on a number of issues that require positive action and some resource in order to make good ideas a reality. Current projects include:

• The Enterprise Hub is leading on a project to deliver broadband connectivity to rural communities using wireless technology. This will provide a broadband service for isolated communities which otherwise would be disadvantaged. Discussions are underway with the Community Council for Berkshire to link this project to their initiatives dealing with rural isolation and deprivation.
  
• On behalf of the Local Strategic Partnership, the Hub has led a major review of Transport provision across West Berkshire that is looking at how to get the best from current resources. The voluntary sector, social services transport, ambulance service, public bus network and private buses are all being investigated and synergies and opportunities for joint working will be developed.

For more information about the work of Newbury Enterprise Hub in the community, call Ed Cooper on 01635 500301.

Related Links

 Greenham Common Trust
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Revision Number: 1.7 Created: 25/02/2005 10:28:31 Modified: 30/01/2006 15:57:58