The Peak District Partnership Protocol Agreement
The issues raised in the Meridien Pure evaluation (June 2006) into a proposed Single Entry Point for the Peak District (see the Research Material Section) were considered in September 2006 at a consultation workshop with key RAZ partners.
The group considered a number of possibilities for the Pathfinder and agreed that a Partnership Protocol needed to be developed that would effectively join up activities relating to Business and Enterprise within the RAZ. This agreement would have the following elements:
- Performance measurement and evaluation tools.
- Guide the information services we want to ‘buy’ from East Midlands Business
- Indicators to what services are most important to the local area, ensuring that local face to face advice is kept
- Achieve Regional Development Agency (RDA) buy in from an early stage
- Produce a promotional strategy for the region based on a protocol agreement between RAZ partners
- Influence East Midlands Business Ltd and West Midlands Business Link to keep a locally focused approach in rural areas
By using a two pronged action plan, we were able to bring two initiatives into operation at the same time, each supporting the others development.
The first element looked at the Partnership Protocol agreement, the second was Peak Directions.
The Partnership Protocol represents an arrangement between partners within the Peak District Rural Action Zone, and associated networks and organisations, to simplify access to and joint up the promotion of services to support enterprise across the Peak District RAZ. The Protocol is also designed to enable a better understanding and knowledge of what support services are available within the Peak District.
The concept is aimed at removing confusion, in respect of which agency is responsible for the provision of which service, and to enable services to be packaged and promoted more effectively to meet the specific needs of customers, and the sharing of good practice.
The current partners who have signed up to the agreement are as follows:
Derbyshire Dales District Council
East Midlands Development Agency
Derby & Derbyshire Economic Partnership
Peak District National Park Authority
Natural England
Environment Agency
East Midlands Business Ltd
West Midlands Business Link
Staffordshire County Council
Derbyshire County Council
National Farmers Union
High Peak Borough Council
Derbyshire Rural Community Council
Derbyshire Dales CVS
Staffordshire Moorlands CVS
High Peak CVS
Protocol Author
Rob Jones
On evaluating the effectiveness of the Protocol during the phase 2 evaluation carried out in February 2008, Meridien Pure found that:
The Peak District Rural Delivery Pathfinder has successfully negotiated a Partnership Protocol Agreement with partners and associated networks and organisations within the Peak District Rural Action Zone. The protocol has 17 signatories.
By signing, they agree to share economic information, and to jointly promote and deliver services that support enterprise across the Peak District. The protocol forms the ‘umbrella’ for joint working between East and West Midlands partners and an interest in further initiatives once the Pathfinder has come to a close. Thus, through active partnership working, the Pathfinder has helped to strengthen engagement with Advantage West Midlands.
This is important because it recognises that the Peak District RAZ, whilst not a major component of the wider West Midlands economy, is still of fundamental importance to parts of its rural economy. And perhaps more importantly, it provides a vehicle for structured and targeted engagement by West Midlands agencies.
Business Link West Midlands has also drafted a Protocol based on Pathfinder learning and methodology to improve communication and ways of working between Business Link and its partners across the West Midlands. In addition, the Protocol has already attracted interest from parties outside the Peak District. The agreement is currently being adapted and modified to become applicable for Business Link in South Shropshire.
Next Steps & Ensuring Sustainability of Activities
Beyond Pathfinder, the Protocol becomes the primary link, and so sustaining its relevance becomes crucial. This recognises that sustaining the Pathfinder beyond its current incarnation may well only add to the confusion among the target client groups over which agencies are responsible or involved in business support.
It is proposed that the Protocol Agreement be incorporated in future work involving the promotion of rural services that have not been included in the Pathfinder project, such as transport and health.
The Protocol Agreement has been formed to improve rural delivery and its promotion, and is designed to enhance the work of the RAZ by using a joined up, single approach. A key issue now is to ensure that the lessons to be learned from the Protocol model are put into the wider rural regeneration arena.
A copy of the document is available below.
Also present is a copy of a proposed rural / urban Protocol designed to promote effective working between the Rural and Urban areas and City Regions surrounding the Peak District. This Protocol is available for use by any partner organisation or those of other areas who feel that it could be of some benefit to their work.
Peak District Rural Delivery Pathfinder Partnership Protocol 500Kb
