Newport Pride of Place Prospectus: Driving lasting change
Newport Pride of Place Prospectus: Driving lasting change
Alassim Mohamed, Strategic Partnerships Manager for Business in the Community’s Pride of Place programme in Newport, explores the recently published Prospectus from the Newport Pride of Place programme and its role in driving lasting change for Newport’s communities.
On 24 February, the Newport Pride of Place programme1 launched its first Prospectus at the House of Lords. The launch enabled business, community, and government representatives to come together to chart a course of actions that could make a genuine difference to Newport’s people and communities.
Hosted by Lord Steve Bassam, the launch event brought together leaders from some of Newport’s largest employers and most impactful community organisations, alongside Tanya Evans – Strategic Director of Newport City Council, Jessica Morden MP, Ruth Jones MP, and members of Business in the Community’s (BITC) Newport Board, chaired by Professor Simon Gibson CBE.
Funding from Newport City Council, through the Shared Prosperity Fund, supported the production of the Prospectus, which reflects a long-term commitment by local businesses, including founding funders KLA Foundation and University of South Wales, to learn and work alongside diverse local community leaders and the Council.2 It sets out a clear opportunity for businesses and the public sector to contribute time, treasure, and talent to help build a Newport where everyone can thrive.
Funding from Newport City Council, through the Shared Prosperity Fund, supported the production of the Prospectus, which reflects a long-term commitment by local businesses, including founding funders KLA Foundation and University of South Wales, to learn and work alongside diverse local community leaders and the Council.2 It sets out a clear opportunity for businesses and the public sector to contribute time, treasure, and talent to help build a Newport where everyone can thrive.
This Prospectus sets out a clear expectation for businesses to reconsider their role, realign their ambition, and respond with purpose. It marks a transition from observation to contribution, and from intent to action. Our ambition will not be delivered by a few doing a great deal, but by many doing what they can. […] Progress in Newport will belong to those who choose to move – together.”
Professor Simon Gibson CBE, Chair of the Newport Pride of Place programme
Driving lasting local change in Newport
The Prospectus sets out ambitious targets for 2030 and beyond, focusing on areas of the city with the highest levels of deprivation, including Alway, Bettws, Duffryn, Lliswerry, Maindee, Pillgwenlly, and Ringland. The key objectives of the Prospectus are:
The expertise, knowledge, and understanding of Newport City Council and other key stakeholders have been crucial in ensuring the objectives are achievable and focused.
Helping to unlock Newport’s potential
With a commitment to local partnership-building, the Newport Place programme has already delivered real change through revitalising spaces, empowering communities, and creating new pathways to opportunity. On-the-ground and strategic support from local businesses, such as the Celtic Collection, Dŵr Cymru, Principality Building Society, and Wales & West Utilities, as well as UK-wide businesses, like Linklaters and Mott MacDonald, has been harnessed to create new opportunities for local people. To date, the programme has:
The expertise, skills, and support of thousands of local business volunteers have also helped drive inspiring impact across Newport, including:
Next steps for employers
Endnotes
1 The Newport Pride of Place programme started in 2022 as BITC’s first Pride of Place location in Wales. Working with regional and national leaders, the programme is well-positioned to harness the significant opportunities presented by the Cardiff Capital Region Investment Zone, Wales’s designation as the first Marmot Nation, and the Government’s Pride in Place initiative.
2 To help ensure that it reflects Newport’s diverse communities and the existing work being done across the city, the Prospectus aligns with local, Welsh, and UK Government policy. The document was written with due reference to existing local economic and social plans, such as the Council’s latest Placemaking Plan – part of the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme – and Participation Strategy, which will help to ensure future impact is relevant and sustainable.
3 Newport is one of 18 Places currently covered by BITC’s Pride of Place programme, backed by the support of our strategic partner, Aviva, as well as hundreds of influential leaders from the public, private, and voluntary sectors.
