The Virtual District of Stratford-on-Avon

"We will draw the Curtain and show you the picture" - Twelfth Night

Stratford-on-Avon District Council entered the Digital Challenge because it provided an opportunity for us to: -

• Review or develop local services, shaping them around the needs of customers, rather than individual service providers.
• Help local businesses especially in key sectors like tourism, by providing increased support and easier access to ICT software tools. This will help them to develop and market their services and increase the skills of their workforce.
• Develop a more competitive knowledge economy by creating an environment in which people and businesses can succeed. This involves developing local networks and increasing access to information. It will encourage greater entrepreneurship and local innovation that, in turn, makes the District more attractive to inward investors.
• Develop the principle that local well-being demands proper investment in lifelong education, building on the skills and knowledge that people gain through experience.

Our submission is built on a foundation of stakeholder and partner consultation and our list of partners continues to grow. It started with BT, and the Council for Voluntary Services, Warwickshire County Council, NHS Warwickshire, Warwickshire Police and the Coventry and Warwickshire Learning and Skills Council who are now our strategic public sector partners. This bid is supported by the Warwickshire Direct Partnership, South Warwickshire Tourism, local educational establishments, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Our approach is supported by Advantage West Midlands. The agency recognises the benefits the programme will bring to the local economy and confirms it will support the delivery of the regional ICT and Economic Development Strategies.

We are very proud that this submission has been prepared and designed by our own team at Stratford-on-Avon District Council, without the need to engage external consultants. This has only been possible as a result of support from our partners. We acknowledge and thank them for all their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment.

The submission document is very big so we have split it into two parts to make it easier for you to view:

• Virtual District of Stratford-on-Avon Part 1
• Virtual District of Stratford-on-Avon Part 2

The winner will be announced in London on the 13th March 2007 - more details will follow as they become available.

For further information about this exciting project, please contact the Change and Performance department on 01789 260470 or email at virtualdistrict@stratford-dc.gov.uk.