By Claire McAteer Programme Manager, BITC

1. Northern Periphery Programme‘Urban-Rural partnerships for new service solutions’ Partenariat Presentation of a project idea from Northern Ireland By Claire McAteer Programme Manager, BITC

2. Business in the Community Business in the Community is a UK-based membership organisation for successful companies committed to responsible business practice in the environment, workplace, community and economy. BITC has more than 800 member companies (240 of which are based in Northern Ireland)

3. NI context - background to project idea • Changing infrastructure of NI – challenges for all sectors highlighting need to work together in partnership • Recognition that business/education links need to be further strengthened in both rural and urban areas • Key issue: changing demographics & retaining young talent and skills in communities • Building Change Trust project – building on existing rural - urban intervention work • Background Research: urban - rural divide (Enniskillen and Upper Ards )

4. Youth Population Projections (Upper Ards and Enniskillen) : 2001 - 2008

5. Deprivation Analysis Both Enniskillen and Upper Ards fall below the national averages in terms of Educational and Employment deprivation. These factors both point to the shortfall in standards and opportunities on offer to young people in the area.

6. Average Gross Annual Wages

7. Project Idea To develop urban/rural partnerships to map changing demographics, migration trends and employment opportunities and explore cross-sectoral innovative solutions to the growing problem of young talent and skills leaving communities.

8. Proposed Project Activities • Research changing demographics, migration and employment issues, their impact on communities in selected rural / urban areas and the business response • Establish 3 cross-sectoral urban – rural partnerships (1 NI, 2 in other partner countries) • 1 innovative project per partnership developed and implemented to address key issues identified • 2 Reciprocal Educational Study Visits - to include young people in delegations • Delivery of transnational conference to share project learning with other regions

9. Project Outcomes • Research completed on changing demographics, key challenges facing urban -rural communities and business response • Bank of transnational case studies compiled on changing make-up of communities and innovative solutions adopted to retain skills • 3 new cross-sectoral urban-rural partnerships developed and working collaboratively • 3 innovative projects implemented by partnerships • Transnational learning facilitated through reciprocal study visits, interactive project website and use of new social media • Other regions encouraged to explore new solutions to similar community problems through project showcasing

10. Next Steps Development of a preparatory project application to: • Carry out additional research to further refine project aims, objectives and outcomes and identify all local stakeholders • Identify potential transnational partners

11. ….Bringing all the pieces together