All RDAs across England are closing by March 2012
(see transition and closure section).
With our resources reducing steadily, this page has not been recently updated and the information below may not be current.
If in doubt, please contact us directly.
Working with you
The South West RDA is strengthening its ties with business
through the Regional Business Forum and direct relationships with
key companies; with local authorities, individually and through the
South West Councils with
Westminster and Brussels. We will also work more closely with other
public sector partners, such as the Homes and Communities
Agency, to ensure our joint investments have the greatest
impact.
We will work with our partners to:
- Make sure that our investments support the industrial sectors
that are most important for the future.
Example: Continuing investment in key sectors and technologies
including aerospace (South West England is home to 28% of the UK
sector) and composites.
- Focus on our regional strengths and invest in projects where we
can really make a difference.
Example: continuing support for science parks and innovation
centres including the new SPark science park complex in the
West of England. We are also investing in a nuclear skills academy in
Somerset to ensure the next generation of nuclear power stations
has access to the required high level skills.
- Help tackle climate change by investing in ‘green technologies’
and the environmental services sector.
Example: The South West Bio-heat
programme is helping increase the number of bio-heat
installations and supporting fuel suppliers.
- Meet the challenges of the recession and prepare for the
recovery.
Example: New forms of finance, advice and support services for
businesses, such as the £10m small business loan fund. Building on our
eight Area Action Forces which pool expertise from a range of
public sector agencies to help firms deal with the recession and
avoid redundancies.