The SmartLIFE project will deliver networked business centres in three participating regions. These will dispense training, advice and practical technical support to address skills and capacity shortfalls in the construction industry in three North Sea growth areas. Activities include the establishment and delivery of transnational training programmes for modern methods of construction and self-builders and community outreach programmes. It is foreseen that up to 3,500 people will complete these courses and programmes. The project will also cover general growth area management issues and includes a comprehensive communications campaign.

?Smart Lifestyle Innovations For our Environment? is title and basis: The project aims at co-ordinating approaches and delivering national policies for a growth area management. To disseminate the idea, a trans-national network of business and training centres shall provide knowledge and support and increase skills and capacity in the local construction workforce. Further aims are identification and adoption of best practice routes and exchanging trans-national experience in training and sustainable construction. On the long run, this concept shall provide technical support and the financial advice to local people who are engaged in community self-building as well as to expert panels. Yet another aspect is a comprehensive strategy influencing goals and ambitions of current spatial planning policies and practices, thus fortifying and extending the SmartLIFE approach beyond its Interreg lifespan.

Expected Outcomes

Besides setting up two new training centres, a third, existing one will undergo complete refurbishment. Training schemes with a reach of up to 3.500 people and a recruitment drill will directly address the local workforce. In addition to collecting and assorting knowledge and perception, a database with a linked website will provide results, design solutions and a discussion platform for self-builders, authorities and other stakeholders.

Activities

The project has a phased start and a system of work package steps to be provided by the partners in turn. After installing the business centres and setting up a scheme of maintaining their work, the gaps of the national workforce education will be analysed. Training offers will be reshaped on this basis, carrying out will be audited, and accessibility to the training will be enhanced. This proceeding provides experiences for a later general curriculum, as well as a bridge to clearer guidelines for overall spatial planning. Best practice examples in this respect will be presented and a skills and training drive will be launched to raise awareness. Following a general opinion poll in each partner country, more precise research will be under-taken with public involvement. This will address issues surrounding growth area opportunities. It is also part of a robust and transnational communications and marketing strategy to highlight the project itself, the dynamic partnership and its services. And further on, it is part of creating a framework for SmartLIFE to be a self-financing entity after the initial project. Other activities in the publicity field will provide a database, an interactive website (with multi-lingual facilities), promotional packages, and a strategic event management.

Reported Outcomes

The project continues to make good progress. Each partner is making progress with completing work and operating a business centres in their respective countries. In the UK the Business centre is operating since April 2006, defect assessment is going on. In Germany the gran opening was celebrated in Novemer 2006, construction process is alomost completed. In Sweden official opening was on October 6th, 2006, the refurbishment of the business centre in Malmo has been completed. A number of training and education activities have been taking place: In September 2006 a timber frame structure from Pinewood was erected in the practical area in the SmartLIFE centre in the UK, as a learning event for both tutors and students. Discussions with 2 further colleges took place about implementing the pilot timber frame course and the additional modules in 2007. Work has been started on a new full time course for 2007 and on 'Train to Gain' which will allow construction employees to gain while working on site. Over 500 students achieved a SmartLIFE certificate accreditation in July 2006 and over 500 students will take additional modules courses again in 2007. A workshop on sustainable construction regarding the planned model houses of the Hamburg business centre was held in July 2006. A group of students fromCambridge Regional College travelled to Hamburg as part of the exchange programme November to December 2006. Arrangements for a post-funding long-term programme are being made. Significant number of areas for the Community Outreach Programme have been reported as being completed. The community outreach programme is on going. SmartLIFE was represented at Tte 2nd European fair on Education for sustainable development which took place in Hamburg in September 2006 and the NORDBAU fair in Hamburg from 12-15 September 2006. At the fair a 2nd opinion poll took place and 170 visitors were interviewed during the fair. There were workshops in October and November 2006 at the Comberton Village College and Long Road College in Cambridge. SmartLIFE UK also delivered a tailored workshop for women in construction in November 2006. Initiatives in the test panel Vastra Programme are continuing in Malmo. As part of the partner training workshops a workshops for construction waste was held in November in Sweden. A Self-build course took place in October 2006 at the UK SmartLIFE business centre and was attended by 16 people. A ?Green? Self-Build event was held on 2nd December 2006 at the SmartLIFE business centre in Cambridge. There was a full day of lectures and demonstrations plus information on grants available for environmental schemes and renewable technologies. SmartLIFE participated at the seventh Hamburg Colloquium on Housing Projects took place in September 2006. Approximately 700 people attended the colloquium. After the successful pilot tutor exchange between the UK and Germany a student exchange programme has taken place in Cambridge in November 2005. Ten students from Germany and two tutors had the opportunity to visit different construction sites and training centres as well as to experience first-hand British theory lessons and practical training in carpentry and brickwork. A return visit of UK students is planned. The project has adopted a new strap line, "Quality buildings using new skills and innovation" to describe the project. The public website for the project and partner area are now live (www.smartlife-project.net). SmartLife receives interest on European and international level. Project partners gave a presentation at the Sustainable Building Conference in Tokyo in September 2005. 1.700 participants attended the conference dealing with the use of renewable energy, energy efficient buildings and assessment tools for houses. A number or press releases in the U.K., Germany and Sweden have been oublished in the second half of 2006. Also a interviews, articles, a booklet, an information pack and an electronic leaflet have been published. Finally, discussions about the post-funding strategy of the project are going on. One important step has been the establishment of the UK - Swedish cooperation at prime minister level in 2005. A post-funding strategy in the form of a business-plan is being developed. Seminars and workshops at the business centres will be continued after the project's funding end.