Introduction

The Sherwood Growth Zone took root a decade ago with the Coalfield Task Force, the government panel set up to turn around the fortunes of former coalfield communities. Ten years on, that aspiration for prosperity has leapt from the printed page to real life. This community has traded up its image, from an isolated area that was home to mining and Robin Hood, to a buzzing, beautiful location with healthy prospects in high technology and the knowledge economy.

Below is a list of the key dates in the development of the growth zone, from October 1997 to the present day.