CCR Update

Feb 28, 2022

Regional Skills Partnership (RSP)

The CCR Skills Partnership have been working to develop a new regional 3-year Employment & Skills Plan which will be launched in the Autumn of 2022. To support the all-important engagement process, the CCRSP will be hosting an event later this year and its purpose will be twofold. Firstly, the event will kickstart discussions with employers, stakeholders and providers of post-16 education and training to help identify the skills related challenges that need to be addressed. Secondly, the CCRSP will use the event as an opportunity to promote Welsh Governments Young Persons Guarantee (YPG) to key stakeholders across South East Wales and to encourage collaboration across the region. In this regard, the CCRSP has committed to better understand the regional landscape and scope the current education, employment, training, and wellbeing support / provision available to young people locally and regionally.

For more information on this development contact: regionalSkillsPartnership@newport.gov.uk

Energy Strategy update

The Energy, Transport and Infrastructure team has been very busy on a wide cross-section of projects over the past few months:

  • ECOFlex is beginning to take shape with a working group due to meet on the week commencing the 14th of February.
  • The Energy Company Obligation is increasing in its importance whilst considering the sharp rise in energy prices meaning that many households will sadly fall into the definition of being fuel poor.
  • ECO4 will be implemented on a regional scale for the first time since its inception, ensuring that the entire housing stock within the CCR will be able to apply for the scheme if they meet the flexible eligibility criteria. It is their aim to have a Joint Statement of Intent detailing exactly which households will be eligible by the end of March at the latest.

They have also been working on establishing a Climate Coalition like those who are part of the Place Based Climate Action Network (PCAN), such as the Leeds, Edinburgh and Belfast Commissions. The benefits of establishing a coalition which brings together the public sector, business leaders, leaders from the 3rd sector and academia are key to bridging the knowledge deficit surrounding decarbonisation. It is hoped that the establishment of a coalition such as this will be an essential forum for anything net-zero across the Region. A plan is being put in place to form a Steering Group that will develop into the eventual Coalition by the end of the year.

Media.cymru

The CCR have confirmed £3m of funding for media.cymru, a unique £50m initiative to transform the region’s media sector into a global hub for media innovation and production ensuring it becomes a major driver of the region’s economy. It was the subject of a successful £22.25m UKRI Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) bid, securing £28m of co-funding and in-kind support across the consortium consists of 24 partners – broadcasters, media and technology companies, studios, universities and collaborating partners.

Building on CCR’s strengths as the third largest media cluster in the UK, media.cymru will create a future-focused infrastructure in virtual production, remote editing & connectivity, develop an R&D ecosystem in the region’s media cluster and upskill the workforce to produce a pipeline of innovative companies and talent.

Find out more

Metro Plus

Works are now physically underway on some of the Metro Plus schemes.

In Cardiff, The City Centre East Transport Scheme is now on site with the work focusing on changing Station Terrace, sections of Bute Terrace, Adam Street, Churchill Way and North Edward Street so that they can accommodate:

  • improved bus priority in both directions through the project area,
  • removal of through-traffic and an improvement in air quality.
  • improved pedestrian crossings, public realm, and road safety.
  • a fully separated cycleway.
  • improved sustainable transport connections to Queen Street Station.

Additionally, construction work has begun on the Porth Transport Hub which is aimed at delivering a modern integrated bus and rail interchange for the town as well as creating a taxi rank and cycle stores, installing EV charging points, and providing upgrades to the local Active Travel network. Encon Construction Ltd have been contracted to deliver the scheme with work commencing mid-January. To date the site has almost been cleared of foliage and existing stonework and trial holes have been drilled. All rail related processes are also progressing well.

Anyone interested in the wider Metro Plus programme can find out more via the CCRs recent ‘Talking Transport’ collection, which features audio updates from each of the 10 Local Authorities.