News From Creating Excellence: Core role signalled for centres of excellence

Dominic Murphy, executive director of the south west's £3m centre, Creating Excellence, and a former ODPM adviser, said the learning needed to deliver sustainable communities should run through the core of education.

'The big challenge is to get this into the mainstream and to convince the Learning and Skills Council and others in education that what we're doing is at the core of education - not the periphery,' he told New Start.

'If you look at the skills the Egan review is talking about, they are life skills which you would want to have taught in schools.'

Speaking after last week's launch of Creating Excellence, Mr Murphy said the centre's success would also hinge on persuading organisations involved in regeneration of the importance of staff training.

In a bid to facilitate that process, the centre has launched a 'swap shop fund' which organisations can access to cover the cost of visiting projects across the region.

Similar to the Scottish Centre for Regeneration's 'seeing is believing' fund, it will also pay for one-day secondments to spread expertise and build closer working relationships.

Plans are also afoot to set up bursaries to help smaller organisations, many of which are under financial pressure, make best use of Creating Excellence.

The centre is the third to be launched in England, following the west and east midlands.

Speaking at the launch, paymaster general and Bristol South MP Dawn Primarolo said: 'The launch of Creating Excellence marks a significant step forward for the development of sustainable communities throughout the south west.'

Creating Excellence will offer guidance on the funding process and designing the built environment, and will encourage learning through past experience. Detailed information and researched advice will be offered to anyone working to develop sustainable communities, from architects to community workers.

Article by Austin Macauley (Newstart) austin@newstartmag.co.uk

Related links, downloads and contacts:

More information about SWESA: wendy.hancock@ekos-exeter.co.uk