Products and Services : Regional Network Coordinators (RNCs)

Action for Market Towns now has a Regional Network Coordinator (RNC) in 3 regions:

East of England; South East; Yorkshire and the Humber.

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The Four Areas of Work

Each RNC has developed a programme of work tailored to the needs of the towns and key partners in each of their regions, so their work varies from region to region; however, we can fit the work in to 4 general categories:

1. Regional Network Meetings (can include sub-regional and local activity)

2. Events (Seminars, conferences)

3. Communications / Literature (calendars, newsletters, websites, email bulletins)

4. Pilot Projects (like the Asset Development Programme; Fund Management Programme; Hertfordshire Prosperity Research Project; Market Towns Week; Welland Food and Tourism Guide)

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The 12 Activities - Tailored to the Needs of your Region

Based on the four existing RNC models, the following 12 points outline what a Regional Network Co-ordinator (RNC) could potentially offer in other regions (depending on identified need):

1. Co-ordination of County-based MT Networks
Set agendas, take minutes, Chair, feedback content through reports, engage other relevant organisations, invite participant towns and agencies, provide presentations about news /issues / information and stimulate discussion around “hot topics”.

2. Pilot and then mainstream innovative projects
For example; Market Towns Week, Asset Development Programme, Food and Tourism Guides, Welland Benchmarking project, etc.

3. Research
Including hot topics and issues.  Current projects include a West Midlands Tourism Benchmarking Project and a Welland Key Performance Indicator Benchmarking Project.

4. Training and Events programme
Co-ordinate and organise around a hot topic, eg; Supermarkets, Environment, etc.  Previous events include: Finding Funding; Focus on... (a particular issue); and A Postcard from... (addressing a particular issue from a town or area).

5. Regional MT Awards programme
Advertise and promote, launch nominations, collate applications, answer questions, provide support to entrants, set up and chair judging panels, organise prize’s and certificates and organisation Award presentation.

6. Annual Regional Event
Organise and deliver a one day regional event, consisting of towns/partnerships/agencies/funders/speakers (may or may not be local).

7. Newsletters
Collate, edit and distribute newsletter promoting regional activity, sharing best practice and event reports.

8. Web sites
Upload information including town profiles, news, funding, minutes and details of sub-regional groups, develop and creating e-networks.

9. Distribute Funding (Fund management and sourcing)
For Development Agencies and others (i.e. English Heritage)
a. Small projects development
b. Asset development
c. Social enterprise
d. Events

10. Support towns through Healthchecks / Research / Consultation
Provide guidance, information and examples of good practice through regional networks.

11. Support and Guidance of towns through previous pilots, for example;
a. Foodchecks
b. Healthchecks
c. Tourism healthchecks

12. Provide support and advice for setting up partnerships
Using experience and information listed in the AMT library and information learned from the MTI pilot project

Nationally, the Regional Network Coordinators form a team that works together across regions to share information and expertise on the current issues that affect our market towns.

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Who are the Regional Network Coordinators?

You can contact our Regional Network Coordinators as follows:

East of England:

Sally Williams; Tel: 07881 827 600; Email: sally.williams@towns.org.uk

South East:

Robyn Woronka; Tel: 07771 962 374; Email: robyn.woronka@towns.org.uk

Yorkshire and the Humber:

Judith Fozzard; Tel: 07818 074285; judith.fozzard@towns.org.uk