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Eden Business Ambassador Councillor Debra Wicks

Councillor Debra Wicks (Conservative/Hesket Ward) is Eden District Council's Business Ambassador. This new role seeks to help develop communication and engagement between the business community and the Council, and to promote the forthcoming Apprenticeship Grant Aid Scheme.

Councillor Debra Wicks, said: "I am really looking forward to assisting Councillor Malcolm Smith, the Planning and Economy Portfolio Holder in the role of Business Ambassador. I will be speaking to representatives of the diverse range of businesses we have in Eden. In common with other areas of the UK, I am aware of the challenges facing the local economy especially as we make a push for growth. Finding ways of funding that growth is not easy in the current climate, but we have a strong entrepreneurial spirit in Eden and a lot of successful small businesses. I am hoping to learn from their experience and spread their good practice to help other businesses improve.

"This year will not be easy economically, but I am determined to work with our partners to make the best of the opportunities available. We have a clear Economic Development Plan for the next two years and I will be trying my best to see that it is delivered. I recognise the challenges for young people as they move from full time education into the world of work and I will relish the chance to help where I can to improve their chances of an apprenticeship".

Priorities contained in the Council's Economic Development Plan for the next two years include:

Implementing the Penrith Pedestrian Movement project and other activities through the Vitality of Penrith Group.
Hold popular events in Penrith town centre every year
Review and promote regular markets through Eden towns
Marketing the Penrith 'brand' and create a dedicated web site for Penrith
Devising a development Plan for Phase 2 of Eden Business Park
Work with schools and colleges and retain and develop the Newton Rigg Campus.
Working with local employers to identify and address their needs and to support the economy (for example promotion of apprenticeships and an employers' forum).
Developing the rural economy

Business Ambassador's role and function

Primary Role

To assist the Planning and Economy Portfolio Holder in acting as the appointed representative of the District Council, to understand and liaise with the business community of Eden District and to promote the Apprenticeship Grant Aid Scheme with partners.

Requirement

The ability to connect with all parts of the business community and partners; to represent everyone fairly, and to balance local concerns with the political demands of the District Council’s corporate priorities.

Functions

To act as an advocate for the business community and promote appropriate policy responses on behalf of the business community to the Planning and Economy Portfolio Holder and Executive of the District Council.
To promote the Council's Apprenticeship Grant Scheme amongst the business community and work with the Council's appointed Delivery Agent and partners to achieve the targets set out in the Service Level Agreement between the Council and the Delivery Agent.
To act as promoter of the District Council policies amongst the business community and explain the rationale for the development and implementation of District Council adopted policies affecting the business community.
To encourage the establishment of an Eden Business Forum (if supported by the local business community) and support local projects and initiatives developed by the Forum.
Understand the complex business of local government and services provided both by the District Council and others to the business community and use this knowledge to work in partnership with a range of agencies and interests; developing local action and monitoring service standards in relation to the apprenticeship scheme and the Business Forum.
Acquire relevant local intelligence flowing between the business community and the District Council and develop skills to analyse information which in turn can lead to the creation of new policy.