1. Major transport infrastructure improvement projects: the expansion of the Nottingham’s tram network Lessons from the NET Phase 2 project Will Rossiter Transport-Led Development in the Midlands 2016 Birmingham, October 2016.

2. Overview
Findings from a research project investigating the local economic impact of NET Phase 2
Too early to assess overall impact on Nottingham
Construction phase impacts quantified
Wider impacts addressed qualitatively
Particular focus on procurement
Emphasis on transferability to other projects/localities

3. The extended NET system

4. Economic context – recession and sluggish recovery
Source: NIESR June 2014

5. Youth unemployment
ONS Crown Copyright, ‘Annual Population Survey’, January-December 2004 to January-December From NOMIS

6. Local economic impacts: NET 2 Employment
Locally the works stage of the NET 2 project has supported around 2,900 years of employment;
We can estimate the scale of the economic impact associated with this employment. Locally, the Works stage of the Phase 2 project has generated GVA of £108 million, with a further £61 million regionally;
Work to estimate the local and regional impact of supply chain expenditure is ongoing – but will certainly increase these impact estimates.
Source: ESRB/NTU Calculation based on Tramlink monitoring data

7. Construction employment
ONS Crown Copyright, ‘Annual Population Survey’, January-December 2004 to January-December From NOMIS

8. Emphasis on local economic impact
Unusual emphasis on local impact
Procurement strategy
“Granular” and targeted
Recession accentuated this focus
Evidence of increasing adoption elsewhere
NCC ‘Employer Hub’ has played a key role in realising local impact

9. Training and recruitment
Collaborative approach of the Employer Hub, local colleges, Job Centre Plus in supporting local training and recruitment initiatives undertaken by Taylor Woodrow and Alstom.
Important role in helping to deliver the social benefit from the scheme to local residents.
A key lesson for project sponsors in other regions seeking to maximise the social benefit to local communities associated with major infrastructure projects.

10. Local procurement
The Employer Hub played a significant role in helping local firms access supply opportunities associated with the project.
It will never be possible to procure every input required for a project of this kind locally.
It often made economic sense for prime contractors to procure locally where they could.

11. Wider economic impacts
Extension of labour market catchment areas;
Stimulating inward investment/city image and quality;
Unlocking previously hard to access sites for development;
Stimulating growth through addressing transport network constraints;
Land and property value increases; and
Transit-orientated development.

12. Lessons
The importance of signalling the commitment to local economic impact through the procurement;
Promoter’s investment in capacity to capture local benefit (Employer Hub);
Public funding in enabling training initiatives to facilitate access to employment opportunities by local unemployed; and
Early engagement with schools/colleges to raise awareness of opportunities linked to the project.

13. Lessons
Co-ordination and planning of NET Phase Two, alongside other major transport infrastructure projects;
Skills – generic and specific
Project management/planning
OLHE workers
PFI funding model sustainability?

14. Further information
Will Rossiter Full report: Economic Strategy Research Bureau