Torbay Development Agency Strategic Investment Framework

ERS was commissioned by Torbay Development Agency to help prepare its Strategic Investment Framework (SIF), in order to secure large scale funding from the South West’s Priority Axis 3 Programme. The SIF provides an opportunity to secure significant long term funding to generate sustainable enterprise, business growth and employment within deprived areas of Torbay to bring about a change in culture and maximise opportunities for growth.

The process undertaken in the development of the SIF has been to:
• develop a robust evidence base, in terms of who and where disadvantaged communities exist;
• define their specific needs;
• develop a corresponding strategy; and
• articulate an implementation plan, and identify the types of projects that would best meet the specific needs of communities identified, whilst complementing other regional and local initiatives.

This submission has been informed by:
• Policy Review – covering major policy and strategic documentation including Priority Axis 3, the Lisbon and Gothenburg Agendas, the Business Support Simplification Programme etc..
• Data Analysis - to provide the most up to date statistical data.
• Mapping - to provide a visual representation of our analysis, such as mapping deprivation in Torbay based on the 2007 Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).
• Stakeholder Consultations - involving extensive consultations with key stakeholders within Torbay.
• Employer Survey – offering insights into barriers to growth, skills requirements and business support needs.
• Community Consultations – involving discussions and workshops with Torbay’s Community Partnerships
• Stakeholder Workshop – bringing together all relevant stakeholders to discuss the basis for the submission.

The submission is ambitious in its scope and scale, but grounded in activities that have good prospects for success given that they have been informed by comprehensive evidence gathering and draw on best practice across the South West and beyond.

ERS Contact: Keith Burge kburge@ers.org.uk 0191 244 6102