Tameside Praised For Recession-Busting Ideas

Tameside Council has won national recognition for its efforts to help the local community, safeguard local jobs and support businesses through the current recession.

The council has been named winner of a national competition – the prestigious Local Innovation Award - for “building economic resilience” and will now be sharing its ideas to help lead improvement across the country.

The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA)  singled out Tameside for its continuous and robust response to the economic downturn with the creation of pioneering initiatives such as Tameside Works First, where the council has worked with its partners to promote the direct commissioning of work to local businesses.

Judges were also impressed with the success of the borough’s Buy With Confidence scheme which encourages residents to use accredited local trades people.

Tameside’s award submission also showcased the council’s and its partners’ work to ensure prompt payment of invoices for small to medium size businesses. Tameside has also been able to demonstrate how it has developed skills and employment opportunities as well as creating the Tameside Business Family  to support local enterprise.

Tameside Council Leader Cllr Roy Oldham said: “It's pleasing to receive this recognition but by no means are we complacent. Tameside Council and our partners remain committed to supporting local businesses and the council budget for the upcoming year is one of hope, growth and strength with strategies in place to continue protecting the local economy.

"We are looking forward to having the opportunity to share what we have learned to help initiate similar improvement programmes across the country."

The ‘Local Innovation Awards Scheme’ recognises of the brightest ideas and most innovative programmes in local government, helping to share creative thinking and enabling other areas to see what is working best, and to review policies and practices. It is jointly led by Government, the Independent Advisory Panel, the Local Government Association  and the public sector.

Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton said: "The winners of the Local Innovation Awards 2010 are fantastic examples of how councils and their partners can come up with imaginative ideas for providing effective services in a tough economic climate.

"We set out to find the best and brightest ideas in the delivery of local services and the standard of entries from across the country was very high. To win Tameside Council had to be creative, innovative and responsive to local problems and needs in the area. Tameside proved to us that by thinking innovatively they could improve people’s lives with efficient and high quality services.

"We know it is now more important than ever that local and central government makes every taxpayer pound work as hard as it can to deliver vital public services effectively and efficiently.”

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Marketing and Communications Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne OL6 6DL  View local map
0161 342 3084
0161 342 3779