Introduction

Regional Development Agencies were created by the government in 1999 to be champions for lasting economic success in each of the nine English regions. We work with others to create long term prosperity by:

• Creating and safeguarding jobs and helping people achieve their potential
• Supporting business and helping it to be more productive and competitive
• Reclaiming under-utilised land and regenerating inactive areas
• Raising skills levels especially in key sectors and in relation to leadership and management.

We apply our understanding of what South West England is about economically, who is doing what, and where our strengths and weaknesses are in order to accelerate success. Much of the time, we work to help make things possible, rather than to do them on our own. 
 
We work with employers and specialist businesses to help them improve skills. We support innovative business start-ups with funding and introductions to partners. We help businesses to turn the knowledge in our universities into commercial advantage through special 'fledgling' business centres. We put initial money into inner-city regeneration projects to spark interest from private investors. We have also invested in extending Broadband availability - a vital piece in the communications jigsaw, enabling rural and far-flung parts of the region to compete economically. 
 
At the highest levels, we also lobby parliament to promote the interests of the region and we look to influence those who can help the economic competitiveness of South West England.  
 
The South West RDA has a staff of around 250 based in offices in Exeter, Bristol, Plymouth, Poole and Truro. Board members are appointed by the Secretary of State and are supported by a five-person Executive Team. Among our staff we have many essential skills and employ people from business, economists, surveyors, environmentalists, planners, engineers, administrators, communicators and marketers.