View from the team – Our Western Gateway Apprentice
Helping to drive the work of the partnership is a small but dedicated secretariat team. Key member of that team is Tom Burton, the Western Gateway’s first apprentice, who has shared his experiences of working for the Western Gateway.
It is a privilege to work in the interests of the communities that shape the Gateway. Being the Western Gateway’s first apprentice has also proven to be a fantastic opportunity to experience work with organisations across the geography while being supported by a cracking team.
In a normal day, I monitor and analyse reports and other developments from government, industry, and academia, before reporting my weekly findings to my team. These are used to ensure our area can target resources and help to drive policies which can make a positive difference for the people living within South Wales and Western England. This has helped develop my knowledge of the Western Gateway area and provide evidence for the change we believe will be most beneficial.
But it’s not just that – I’ve been lucky enough to venture out and see first-hand the many initiatives helping to stimulate growth within the Partnership. In May, Swansea City Council showcased to my colleagues and I various ongoing regeneration projects in the city, such as the Hafod Copperworks scheme. It was clear to see the challenges faced by communities across our area but also the important work underway to rebuild for the future.
I visited the Active Building Centre (ABC) the following month. It was great to learn about how the ABC are leading the way in finding net zero solutions to retrofit UK homes sustainably in the future, as well as to take part in roundtable discussions.
I was given a tour of the specialist Hartpury College and University by The Director of Business Development. Through engaging with representatives of the digitally innovative institution, we were informed of their exciting proposals for agri-tech and discussed how it could play a significant role in gaining inward investment for the area.
I have been exposed to a whole host of speakers on various topics across the Gateway by attending several events at an early stage of my career. This has ranged from the Cardiff Capital Regional Skills Partnership Conference at ICC Wales in Newport to 3Ci’s Bristol Regional Net Zero Investor Forum. These events have been filled with thought-provoking discussions and there have always been interesting ideas to take away.
At both GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership’s Gloucestershire Net Zero Conference and the Built Environment Network’s Conference in Bristol, I relished the opportunity to represent the Partnership at our stand and engage with members of our Board, as well as external stakeholders. It was fantastic to hear from the Partnership’s Chair and Vice Chair, enabling me to formulate a clear picture of their vision for the Western Gateway area. Attending these events to improve peoples’ understanding of the Partnership and tackling tricky questions from critics head on is fundamental to building our brand.
I nervously laughed when my team informed me that I would be giving presentations within months, rather than years. However, in November, I was grateful to present a SWOT analysis and facilitate a group discussion with Severn Edge partners following the disappointing news that the site had been unsuccessful in its STEP Fusion bid. I’m glad the group was interested by several investment possibilities for the site raised and keen to explore them.
The various options for Severn Edge going into the New Year demonstrates that the Western Gateway continues to take advantage of the many opportunities available. While this year has been great for the Partnership, I am looking forward to what 2023 has to offer.
