Why Teesside's steelworkers are looking to Wales
There are many things you might like about Wales - its fantastic beaches, its rugby history, even Dame Shirley Bassey.
But there's something else that's getting some admiring looks from England.
It's called the .
I've come to South Wales to find out more about it.
I'm writing from my hotel room in Cardiff (no trouser press, but TWO packs of Clotted Cream shortbread since you ask).
It's the first stop in my tour because just a few minutes walk from here is the organisation behind ProAct.
It is the , and ProAct is its attempt to help the country's manufacturing businesses through the Recession.
This is how it works.
A company that needs help applies to the scheme.
If successful, they can qualify for two types of help.
They can get up to £2,000 per worker for training, and another £2,000 per staff member to subsidise wages.
That help can keep the company afloat, and prevent redundancies.
And the training element ensures its workers have up-to-date skills to help the company compete for new business when the recovery kicks in.
The Welsh Assembly Government says .
The cost to date is £19m but the Welsh say that's worth it to keep people off the dole and to protect the country's economy.
And the trades unions in England agree.
At this year's Labour Conference, I heard them constantly singing its praises and asking the UK Government to look at something similar.
So far though there's no English equivalent.
Although the Government has put money into training, it has refused to subsidise wages.
And in the North East, the lack of a ProAct equivalent has rankled with workers at Redcar's steel plant in particular.
.
It would be naive to say that's transformed its fortunes, .
But workers in Teesside say the UK Government has not shown the same willingness to help out in Redcar.
There'll be more about this in the on Sunday.
But I'm off now to interview the Welsh First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, before heading off to the steelworks in Port Talbot, and a company in Llantrisant which says ProAct has made a huge difference.
By the way if you're curious about the awards ceremony I went to yesterday - .
Slight disappointment for all that Joanna Lumley couldn't make it to pick up her prize. (Curiously Barack Obama also failed to turn up).
But amongst those there was Jane Asher, although I've yet to work out why.
The top award was probably that given to the Rev Ian Paisley for lifetime achievement - who'd have thought that would have happened a decade ago.
One curious decision though. There was no award for Politician of the Year.
The idea was that nobody deserved the prize in this year of expenses shame, but surely there was one politician somewhere who deserved some recognition?
Perhaps you can give me your nominations. I promise I won't veto any for Lord Mandelson!
I'm Richard Moss, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Political Editor for the North East and Cumbria. Welcome to my irreverent - but hopefully insightful - northern take on reporting politics for Look North and the Politics Show.
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