Employment and Enterprise

The money was received by Bristol City Council as part of its planning gain agreement with the Bristol Alliance and is being invested in local employment, training and enterprise initiatives related to the Broadmead Expansion Project.

Where is the money going?

Some priority projects were agreed following a community consultation in 2004-5:

• Citywide Retail Study to assess impact and opportunities from the Broadmead Expansion Project.
• Business in the Community (BiTC) supported in promoting retail and leisure careers to young people (in schools).
• Social Enterprise Study, a background work funded to support development of a social economy centre.

Neighbourhoods closest to Cabot Circus and Broadmead, including St Pauls, St Judes, Lawrence Hill and Barton Hill, are the priority areas for this funding, along with other deprived communities. Priority groups for training include ethnic minorities, lone parents, over 50s and people with no or low qualifications.

How do we decide how the money is spent?

Projects receiving funding must fit in with the overall Cabot Delivery Plan, support the strategic objectives of the partners involved and benefit existing schemes in our target areas. If projects meet those criteria then proposals are discussed by local partnerships and the Cabot Delivery Group before recommendations are made to Bristol City Council.

Funding to support employment will be used to help local people into jobs at Cabot Circus in time for the opening this autumn. The first of these projects is being set up in early 2008, although some of this money will be kept back to help unsuccessful candidates after the initial recruitment phase.

Agreed priorities are:

• Engagement with target communities.
• First Steps learning leading to retail and hospitality training.
• Learner support, including childcare.
• Pre-employment support, including Information Advice and Guidance.
• Support for Cabot Circus Recruitment in target communities.
• Post-employment support for those gaining jobs in Cabot Circus and Broadmead.

We do not yet know what kind of projects will be eligible for the enterprise funding as decisions have been deferred while a Retail Strategy and Action Plan is completed. Most of this funding is likely to go into supporting smaller shopping areas close to the city centre. The Bristol Partnership's Economic Delivery Group will look at proposals for this later this year.

For more information about Section 106 funding, please contact April Retter at Bristol City Council on 0117 9223088.