East Border RegionNews and Updates

Welcome to the nineth edition of the East Border Region Ltd Newsletter.

9th Edition December 2013Welcome from the Chair

Contact Us - Meet the Team

The Secretariat of EBR comprises 7 members of staff covering Development, Finance, Project and Administration roles. The team is led by Ms Pamela Arthurs, Chief Executive, Mrs Dette Hughes, INTERREG IVA Programme Manager, Mrs Sharon Digby Communications/Development Officer, Ms Lorraine Stewart, Finance/Personnel Officer, Mrs Joanne McCourt, Assistant Finance Officer, Ms Kenda Somerville, Assistant Finance Officer and Mrs Rachael Harrison, Administrator. Project staff also located at the East Border Region office includes Mrs Lissa O’Malley, Tourism Project/Finance Officer, Mrs Patricia Mallon, Project Manager, iOTA and Mrs Aveen McVeigh, Project Co-Ordinator, iOTA.

Please feel free to contact us or log onto our website (www.eastborderregion.com) for regular updates. East Border Region Ltd2 Monaghan Court Monaghan StreetNewryBT35 6BH

Tel: (NI) 028 3025 2684 (ROI) 048 3025 2684Fax: (NI) 028 3025 2685 (ROI) 048 3025 2685Email: admin@eastborderregion.comWeb: www.eastborderregion.com

9th Edition - December 2013

East Border Region

This project is part financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund through the INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body

Cllr Gerald MallonChairman

In this edition we feature the numerous events that East Border Region INTER-REG IVA projects have hosted over the summer and autumn months. Various events were hosted throughout the region including networking seminars, road-shows and showcase events as well as conferences and best practice visits.

East Border Region is continuing planning for European Territorial Cooperation 2014-2020. During the month of October Pamela, Dette, Alan and myself at-tended the Annual Brussels Open Days during which we hosted a joint seminar with the other four Cross Border Groups entitled “Looking to the Future Post 2013”. I also travelled to the Annual Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) Conference in Berlin during November. The AEBR Conference is an excellent opportunity to share experiences with our Colleagues in Border Re-gions across Europe who all face the same daily challenges in relation to cross border co-operation as we do here in Ireland/Northern Ireland.

The Board of East Border Region have recently commissioned consultants to conduct an ‘Options Study’ in relation to the role of EBR in the forthcoming 2014-2020 funding cycle. EBR are continuing to meet with Government De-partments and other key stakeholders in relation to consultation on the INTER-REG V Programme. I hope that you enjoy reading this edition of the Newsletter and we would wel-come your feedback on its contents and any suggestions you may have for future editions. I am nearing the end of my year as Chairman and I can whole heartedly say it has been a truly enjoyable year. I look forward with interest to the year ahead and wish all members and stakeholders of EBR a Happy Christ-mas and prosperous 2014.

Action for BiodiversityPR Campaign

HEX - #FEBA35

Meath County Council Logo: The aspect ratio of this logo may not be changed.The colors may not be changed from:

Dark Blue: CMYK - 100, 51, 0, 69RGB - 0, 34, 77

Saffron:CMYK - 0, 27, 76, 0RGB - 249, 191, 71

Enquiries to: webmaster@meathcoco.ie

HEX - #021832

HEX - #FEBA35

Meath County Council Logo: The aspect ratio of this logo may not be changed.The colors may not be changed from:

Dark Blue: CMYK - 100, 51, 0, 69RGB - 0, 34, 77

Saffron:CMYK - 0, 27, 76, 0RGB - 249, 191, 71

Enquiries to: webmaster@meathcoco.ie

HEX - #021832

The Action for Biodiversity Project has been busy carrying out a successful PR campaign over the autumn months.The campaign featured a ‘Give an Hour to Nature’ focus linked to the “extra” hour available when the clocks went back. This involved a successful media launch including radio advertising and use of a specifically designed logo at events and on the projects facebook page and website.

Other aspects of the PR campaign yet to be completed include a focus on Alien Invasives, launch of the Louth bird Hide and an emphasis on wood-peckers arriving in the region for first time. The theme of winter wonderland will also be launched using an interactive map to populate with “the best places to see”, a schools Christmas card competition and an e-newsletter will also be issued.

Showcase EventAs the project is coming close to the end of its three year duration a showcase event was held on 20th November to communicate its findings, achievements and future plans with regards to promoting the importance of biodiversity in the East Border Region of Ireland.

The audience of over 80 local authority representatives, conservation project teams and members of the public heard from keynote speaker Conor Kret-sch, Director of COHAB Initiative (Cooperation on Health and Biodiversity), about the importance of biodiversity to human health and wellbeing; as well as members of the Action for Biodiversity Steering Group.

“Over the past three years we focused on three main areas – raising public awareness of biodiversity, training local authorities in the area of biodiversity and protecting biodiversity at ground level,” said Shirley Clerkin. “The out-come was a broad biodiversity training programme, upskilling local authority staff in areas ranging from hedge laying to the removal of alien invasive spe-cies; and the valuable support of over 100 nature conservation projects.

East Border Region delegation attend Annual Brussels Open Days

A delegation from East Border Region travelled to Brussels in October to participate in the annual Brussels Open Days. During the Open Days East Border Region along with the other four Local Authority Led Cross Border Groups who cover the entire Ireland/Northern Ireland border area hosted a cross border seminar entitled “Looking to the Future Post 2013”.

During the seminar EBR Chairman Cllr Gerald Mallon welcomed the opportunity to dis-cuss the future programmes and the role of the Groups within them “I am delighted to be given this opportunity to present the views of the Cross Border Groups as I strongly believe we are a unique asset to the INTERREG Programme. We are truly commit-ted to cross border co-operation and economic development and are best placed to represent the needs of our Region”.

The five Local Authority Led Groups also hosted an evening reception in the Northern Ireland Office in Brussels which documented the contribution of the groups to cross border co-operation in the Ireland / N Ireland Border Region. Through an informative DVD attendees received a flavour of how INTERREG funding has transformed the Ireland/ N Ireland border area.

Ms Arthurs highlighted the value in attending the annual event “it is vital for Organisa-tions such as East Border Region to ensure we have our voices heard on the Europe-an stage. During Open Days you have the ear of key influencers so it is important we effectively use this platform to highlight our achievements to date and to put forward our proposals for future EU Programmes”.

The proposal put forward by the five groups in relation to the INTERREG V program-ming period is based on each group developing a Strategic Plan which clearly ad-dresses the cross border needs of the region and complements EU and National Strat-egies. The plan would be delivered through a bottom up approach and local delivery would be key to its success. The Local Authority Led Cross Border Groups will con-tinue to input into the consultation process relating to the structure of the INTERREG V Programme both at EU and National level in order to ensure a workable format which addresses the needs of our Region is achieved.

Geotourism Manager John Devaney highlighted the importance of public engagement and awareness of the project and in welcoming the delegation from Kosovo stated that “this was another opportunity to introduce and present this initiative to a new audience”.

The delegation were later treated to a fieldtrip by project Geologist Dr Siobhán Power and Archaeologist Dr Vanessa Ryan

To engage with the public, we placed informative panels at key local nature sites; planned educational, family events to explore and celebrate biodiversity; hosted native tree planting sessions and installed equipment such as wildlife surveillance cameras, telescopes and bird boxes in areas rich in native spe-cies,” she said. At its inception, Action for Biodiversity commissioned independent research into the attitudes and behaviour of 800 people within the East Border Region with regards to biodiversity. The results of an equivalent study carried out in 2013 were revealed at the Monaghan event.

“We were pleased to note an increase in understanding of what biodiversity means to people in the East Border Region (from 35% in 2011 to 47% in 2013),” said Shirley Clerkin. “Importantly, we noted an up-ward trend in people taking personal action to encourage biodiversity in their own back garden. For in-stance, the number of people actively encouraging pollinator species by planting rose from 20% in 2011 to 52% in 2013 and the amount of people setting up bird boxes rose from 7% to 29% in two years.

9th Edition - December 2013 9th Edition - December 2013

32

ASPIRE Project ASPIRE Project receives further funding boost!

The ASPIRE project has really taken off since the last edition of our Newsletter with 27 graduates now in post and recruitment of the remaining 18 well underway with anticipated start dates in early January 2014.

Businesses participating in ASPIRE cover a wide range of sectors including Health Sci-ences, Recruitment, Engineering, Digital media, IT Development, Finance and Technology. All businesses are located across the Council areas of Armagh, Ards, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Newry & Mourne and North Down.

The project recently held a successful graduate induction day during which all 27 graduates currently in post were given the opportunity to meet and network with each other while simul-taneously being informed on the key aspects of how their placement project will roll out.

The resounding success of the ASPIRE project has been recognised by SEUPB and as a result the project has received an additional £468,498 of EU INTERREG IVA funding. This additional funding was granted due to the high levels of over subscription for the project from both businesses and graduates.

STEM II ProjectGreenBiz 2013 The STEM II project recently hosted a jam packed day full of lots of information and advice for busi-nesses on how they can think green, be lean and save money. The one day event involved a conference packed with industry experts, business case studies, exhibitors and advice clinics.

The event which was hosted by David Meade demonstrated to the businesses in attendance that it doesn’t always require a large financial investment for them to start saving money on their energy, waste and water. It can often be small things that can bring about sizeable savings for a business. There are a lot of options available for businesses from no cost and low cost efficiency measures, to renewables, and electric cars. Green Biz aims to ensure that businesses have access to information on the range of measures which they could introduce and the benefits that could result.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan supported the Green Biz 2013: “This is a benefit for the environ-ment and a boost for small businesses. It is an excellent example of how EU funds, supporting councils North and South, are helping small businesses on both sides of the border, save money. This is particu-larly welcome in the current economic climate. Environmentally it will see more efficient use of resources while giving a helping hand towards a low carbon economy. A win win”.

The STEM Project has already worked with over 300 businesses saving them collectively more than £550,000 per annum on their energy, waste and water usage.

‘There are many ways to innovate’ was the key message at the Road Show and project launch of the East Border Region iOTA Programme in Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency on Wednesday 23rd October 2013. Attendees included cross border political and local authority representatives, business support organisations, the SEUPB and higher education colleges and uni-versities. Councillor Alan McDowell, Vice Chair of East Border Region welcomed guests and said “The iOTA Programme is an exceptional opportunity for potential new and small to medium sized enterprises in the East Border Region to develop their innovation capacity and capability by accessing skills, expertise and knowledge”.

iOTA offers a programme of innovation support under two strands, including training, road shows, innovation mentoring and advice, workshops, clinics and master classes.

The iOTA Programme will take the process of innovation to businesses by road shows throughout the region and will seek to enhance understanding of the process of innovation and make local businesses more aware of the benefits of innovation in their businesses.

The Programme is open to individuals, SMEs and micro enterprises within the Region. A total of 7 recruitment roadshows were held across the region.

PLATO EBR Project

CONNECT 2013 Networking Event

Life Sciences Supply Chain Project

Improving the Supply ChainOn the 16th/17th September participants from the Craigavon Borough Council led Life Sciences Supply Chain project took part in the first of two best practice visits. The Life Sciences Supply Chain project aims to establish a cluster of micro, small and medium sized enterprises that have the capacity, capabil-ity and confidence to supply into the life and health sciences sector. This visit to Medilink UK, a national health technology business support organisation to attend a conference entitled “Improving the medtech supply chain” allowed participant businesses, JH Label Solutions, Torc Product Design, Quantum Out-source and Compliance Engineering Ireland to hear about and discuss important current and future aspects and trends within the medical technology and medical device supply chain.

Mourne Cooley Gullion Geotourism Project The Mourne Cooley Gullion project has had a busy action packed summer and autumn with a host of events ranging from Geo –Ambassador training and promotional roadshows to medieval themed Halloween lectures.

Project staff were also delighted to host Officials from the Kosovar Ministry of Local Government Administration and Ministry of European Integration. The delegations aim was to see actual practices of EU cross-border projects on the ground and to aid their officials in managing three cross-border programmes; Kosovo-Albania; Kosovo-Macedonia; and Kosovo-Montenegro. The Geotourism team and representatives of East Border Region Ltd outlined the origins, plans, activities and potential outcomes of the Mourne Cooley Gullion project and highlighted the im-pact of INTERREG funding in the East Border region. Recent and present activities included the Rock Camps Summer Scheme, Geo-Ambassador initiative through the Geotourism Train-ing Programme, the new Schools Programme and plans for a Marketing campaign.

biodiversity in the East Border Region, which no

PLATO EBR’s most recent all-island networking event took place on 4th October 2013 in the Titan-ic Building Belfast involving PLATO participant companies across Ireland including PLATO EBR and PLATO Dublin and PLATO Cork. John McEntegert, CEO of Monaghan County Enterprise Board and Chair of PLATO EBR, welcomed over 100 delegates to CONNECT 2013 and highlighted the range of active groups across the East Border Region and encouraged non-PLATO companies at the event to apply for the Programme. The Theme of this year’s CONNECT 2013 event was Collaborate to Compete which emphasised the importance of creating change together and innovation through collaboration.

The event was not simply a networking opportunity but a rich environment for learning and sharing – promoting opportunities for doing business with partners and for creating new business in new markets. Over 50 structured meetings took place throughout the CONNECT 2013 event between delegates with pre-scheduled networked meetings.

Key sector stakeholder companies also attended the visit including Heartsine Technologies, Intelesens Ltd and Clonallon Laboratories which allowed informal networking amongst buyers and potential suppliers.

This best practice visit has resulted in one participant com-pany having the opportunity to supply into two large life sciences companies.

This additional funding will enable the project to match a further 15 graduates to businesses within the region bringing the total number of businesses and graduates supported through the project to 60 with a total project budget of £2,073,341. Recruitment of businesses for the additional 15 projects has already begun and it is anticipated that graduates will be in post by April 2014.

iOTA Project iOTA project hosts Project Launch and series of Roadshows

East Border RegionRegional Biodiversity Framework

“These developments show that the public are steadily becoming more interested and involved withdoubt has been helped by the hard work of projects such as Action for Biodiversity,” she added. Action for Biodiversity was praised for its efforts by keynote speaker Conor Kretsch of COHAB, “The impetus of this project must be used as an example to further engage with the public and authorities to encourage them to recognise the importance of biodiversity in their own community,” he said. Copies of the East Border Regional Biodiversity Framework were circulated to guests, summing up key project achievements, findings and areas of focus for the future.

Councillor Gerald Mallon, noted the project’s legacy would be to act as a catalyst for change, “Action for Biodiversity has made significant strides in protecting biodiversity in the East Border Region of Ireland for future generations, supporting a vast number of projects at sites of huge natural importance. It has created the first Regional Biodiversity Framework on the Island of Ireland and taken the first steps on moving biodiversity up the ladder of government and public agendas. We now need to do more of the same, to take more action, and make more change,” he said. Action for Biodiversity was named “Biodiversity Project of the Year” in 2012 by Sustainable Ireland.