Prior to the D-Day landings, the 508^th trained at Wollaton before being parachuted into Normandy on 6 June 1944. There it suffered heavy casualties and was awarded the Distinguished Unit Badge in recognition of its gallantry and combat action during the first three days of fighting. After returning to Wollaton in July, the regiment then went on to take part in Operation Market Garden, immortalised in the film A Bridge Too Far, and fought in the Battle of Bulge in early 1945.

During their time in England, a close relationship developed between the 82^nd Airborne and the people of Nottingham, which culminated in General Eisenhower announcing the establishment of the Roosevelt Scholarships at the City’s Council House on 26 October 1945. The Nottinghamshire Roosevelt Travelling Scholarship continues to this day and offers young men and women aged between 21 and 30 engaged in trade, commerce or the professions the opportunity to visit the US for a period of up to four months.

The aim of The Wollaton Project is to conduct an archaeological excavation of the site of the former 508^th camp in the grounds of Wollaton Hall to coincide with the 65^th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Over the summer, Trent and Peak Archaeology will carry out a controlled excavation of the site to recover artefacts that will then be put on permanent display at the Hall. It is also intended to produce a television documentary of the excavation that will be screened in both the US and UK.

The Wollaton Project will have considerable tourism benefits for Nottingham, diversifying Wollaton Hall’s visitor offer and placing it on the battlefield tourism trail, while it will also strengthen the existing links between Nottingham and the US and attract increased numbers of overseas visitors to the City.

In order carry out the excavation, the GNP will provide Trent and Peak Archaeology with over £25,000 of Single Programme funding.

More than 70 East Midlands businesses have already participated on the programme, which forms part of emda’s long-term strategy to stimulate high-quality innovation and accelerate regional economic growth.

The HighGrowth East Midlands programme is composed of two different elements:

• Growth Readiness: For businesses that are ready and ambitious for growth.
• High Growth: For businesses that are already growing rapidly.

The Growth Readiness programme provides a six-month package of support which includes diagnosis of the potential for development; a one-day coaching module focused on developing a strategic vision; and plan and five days of individual coaching. The programme is designed to unlock the growth potential of the business and support the development of a strategic growth plan.

The High Growth programme provides 20 days of intensive coaching and a three-day residential masterclass for Managing Directors and Chief Executives, designed by the Nottingham University Business School. This masterclass focuses on ‘Retaining your Competitive Edge’ and the programme also provides training for middle managers within businesses on the subject of ‘Gearing up for Growth’. The High Growth programme aims to help existing high growth companies to sustain their growth in the longer term.

In order to increase the number of places available to Greater Nottingham businesses on both the Growth Readiness and High Growth programmes, the GNP will vire £134,000 of Single Programme funding to HighGrowth East Midlands during the 2009-10 financial year.

Further information on the HighGrowth East Midlands programme can be found at www.hgeastmidlands.com.

A business-focussed organisation that aims to attract and develop new commercial opportunities and services to help companies succeed, Invest in Nottingham promotes the City as top European destination for science, technology, innovation and creativity, and supports businesses wishing to locate and invest within the area.

The five key Nottingham growth sectors, where past economic performance has been strong and is expected to continue, are:

• Science and technology
• Financial and business
• Public sector
• Retail and leisure
• Creative industries

Over the next year, Invest in Nottingham will deliver the following inward investment activity to encourage the further development of these growth sectors:

• Leadership and strategic direction
• Research and sector based offers
• Lead generation
• Enquiry handling
• Key account management

To support the delivery of inward investment activity across Greater Nottingham, during the 2009-10 financial year the GNP will provide Invest in Nottingham with £221,000 of Single Programme funding.

Further information on Invest in Nottingham can be found at www.investinnottingham.com.

A BID is a partnership between a local authority and local businesses to develop projects and services that will benefit the trading environment within the boundary of a clearly defined commercial area. The BID concept was originally developed in the United States, where they have been in existence for some time, and was introduced into the UK by the Government in 2004. By the beginning of 2008, over 60 BIDs had been established across England, Wales and Scotland.

Within Nottingham, a leisure-based BID (the Nottingham Leisure Partnership) has already been established focussing on the development of the City’s evening economy. The development of a second retail-based BID will complement the work of the NLP and will improve the performance of Nottingham’s retail businesses, strengthening the City’s position as a premier shopping destination.

In order to formally establish the BID, a 20 month development phase is required that will culminate in a ballot of local businesses. If successful, the vote will result in the establishment of a BID company for five years that will have the power to levy funding through business rates to implement an agreed strategic plan for the development of the BID area. This may include improving standards of cleanliness, safety and security; improving transport and access services; or the staging of events.

The nine main stages of the BID development process are as follows:

1. Establish shadow board and appoint BID consultant / development director and coordinator.
2. Undertake business survey to identify key priorities for the BID and agree initial projects, business plan and costs.
3. Evaluate values and set draft levy charges.
4. Determine baseline Service Level Agreements and Memorandum of Understanding with partners and local authority.
5. Establish databases, including business listings and levy payers.
6. Develop communications plan and newsletters to support BID campaign.
7. Undertake ballot notification and agree ballot process.
8. Undertake ballot campaign.
9. Establish BID company if vote is yes.

In order to help develop the Nottingham Retail Business Improvement District, the GNP will provide Nottingham City Council with £120,000 of revenue funding over two financial years.

Further information on Business Improvement Districts can be found at the National BIDs Advisory Service: www.ukbids.org

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Nottingham is one of only six UK cities to have been designated as ‘Science Cities’ by the Government.

This designation not only acknowledges Nottingham’s track record in pioneering research and scientific achievements but also recognises the City’s present strengths and future potential to become an international location for scientific excellence.

Science Cities are “cities with strong science-based assets – such as a major university or centre of research excellence – who use these assets as the basis for generating economic success”. The common aim of all six cities is to put science and technology to work for greater local and regional benefits.

Nottingham’s vision for the future is that by 2020 it will be recognised as an international location for scientific, research and teaching excellence.

The three main aims of the Nottingham Science City initiative are to:

• Nurture Nottingham’s role as an international leader in scientific discovery and teaching excellence.
• Stimulate community pride and interest in the City’s scientific heritage.
• Convert science into thriving businesses in Nottingham.

Acting on behalf of the Nottingham Science City partnership, over the next two years Nottingham Development Enterprise will undertake a series of marketing and promotional activities aimed at stimulating community pride and engagement in local science. This will include the following:

• Public Scientific Debates: The hosting of a series of public scientific debates on current scientific issues under the unifying theme of combating climate change.
• Art Exhibition and Competition: The hosting of an art exhibition and competition for adults and school children culminating in a public exhibition.
• Newsletter: The ongoing publication of the quarterly ‘Wavelength’ newsletter.
• Case Studies: The production of six ’science hero’ case studies, focussing on local science sector based businesses.
• Website: The further development of the Nottingham Science City website.
• Events: The delivery of a programme of Nottingham Science City presentations to a wide variety of audiences.
• Media Releases: The delivery of a programme of media releases to gain increased press and media coverage for Nottingham Science City.

To support the promotion of the Nottingham Science City agenda, the GNP will provide over £58,000 of revenue funding to Nottingham Development Enterprise.

Further information on Nottingham Science City can be found at www.science-city.co.uk.