Burngreave New Deal for Communities (BNDfC) has launched an exciting new initiative which is set to help people in Burngreave onto a pathway to training, employment and enterprise.
The Local Economic Development Strategy (LEDS) aims to help close the gap between Burngreave and other parts of Sheffield, join in with the city's growth and guide spending to make sure this happens.
BNDfC will be the driving force behind the initiative but will work in conjunction with other organisations to reduce unemployment, raise skill levels, support local businesses, increase income levels and encourage investment into the area.
To do this plans include promoting access to employment through employability schemes, promoting and encouraging work based training through apprenticeships, developing business start-up grants, promoting Burngreave as a location for new and incoming businesses and refurbishing Vestry Hall to provide a Community Learning Centre for the residents of Burngreave.
A special event which took place to launch LEDS was attended by many of BNDfC's partner organisations who support economic development including Job Centre Plus, Business Link South Yorkshire, Sheffield Futures, Sheffield City Council, Sheffield First for Investment and local voluntary and community groups.
A series of presentations informed these stakeholders about how the strategy will be implemented. Workshops then took place covering issues involved with access to employment, raising skills, business support and capital investment in the local area.
Trywell Kalyata, BNDfC Employment and Enterprise Theme Manager, said: “BNDfC has already developed a range of projects which address these issues but this strategy will help us to clearly demonstrate what we are achieving and how we will continue to do this in the future to help secure commitment in Burngreave from mainstream agencies.”
Rose Ardron, Chair of the BNDfC Partnership board, said: "Local residents and businesses are at the heart of the BNDfC programme to regenerate the area. LEDS sets out how we can benefit from, and contribute to, the growth of Sheffield as a city.
“It has been developed with contributions from the public, private and voluntary and community sectors. We will continue to work with these partners to make sure that the delivery of the strategy meets local needs and priorities.”
All residents in the BNDfC area will be receiving a document outlining the strategy through their door. If anyone requires the full document please contact BNDfC on 279 6932.