If you would like to link to the South West RDA website from your site or need to update current links - please e-mail enquiries@southwestrda.org.uk.

Aimhigher Southwest  
www.aimhighersw.ac.uk 
The Aimhigher programme of activities to widen participation in Higher Education.

Association of Colleges South West 
www.aocsouthwest.co.uk 
AoC SW promotes and supports the interests of all further education (FE) colleges in the region.

Association of Learning Providers 
www.learningproviders.org.uk 
The purpose of the Association of Learning Providers is to influence the education and training agenda. It is recognised as the voice of independent learning providers in the United Kingdom. 

BioApproaches SW 
www.bioapproaches.co.uk 
BioApproaches SW is continually developing and delivering networking for business growth and skills development to address industry-led concerns in the Lifescience sector.

Cogent  
www.cogent-ssc.com 
Cogent is the Sector Skills Council for science based industries.

Connexions 
www.connexions.gov.uk 
Connexions offers a range of guidance and support for 13 to 19 year olds to help make the transition to adult life a smooth one.

Department for Children, Schools and Families 
www.dfes.gov.uk 
Responsible for improving the focus on all aspects of policy affecting children and young people, as part of the Government's aim to deliver educational excellence. 

Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills 
www.dius.gov.uk 
This Department brings together functions from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including responsibilities for science and innovation, with further and higher education and skills, previously part of the Department for Education and Skills.

EnviroSkills SW 
www.EnviroSkillsSW.org.uk 
Help for businesses providing environmental products or services.

Gradsouthwest.com  
www.gradsouthwest.com 
Recruitment and vacancy website for graduates developed through a partnership including the 12 higher education Careers Services in the South West, HERDA and the South West RDA.

Great Western Research 
www.greatwesternresearch.ac.uk 
Promotes collaborations between the highest quality research groups in the South West in order to attract international interest and recognition and to support the growth of the South West.  

Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) 
www.hefce.ac.uk 
The Higher Education Funding Council for England distributes around £6 billion per year of public money for teaching and research and other activities to universities and colleges. 

Higher Education Regional Development Association (HERDA-SW) 
www.herda-sw.ac.uk 
The Association of Higher Education Institutions in the South West.

Hillcroft College 
www.hillcroft.ac.uk 
Hillcroft College a registered charity offering residential learning opportunities to enable women to change their lives through education. 

Improve Ltd 
www.improveltd.co.uk 
Improve is the Sector Skills Council for Food and Drink Manufacturing.

Jobcentre Plus 
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk 
Jobcentre Plus gives help and advice on jobs and training for people who can work and the right financial help for those who cannot.

Leadership South West 
www.leadershipsouthwest.com 
Based at the University of Exeter's Centre for Leadership Studies, Leadership South West is an initiative to improve the uptake and provision of leadership development in South West England.

Learning and Skills Council 
www.lsc.gov.uk 
The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.

Learning and Skills Network 
www.lsneducation.org.uk 
The LSN is one of the two successor organisations of the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). The LSN aims to continue the LSDA's reputation for excellence in supporting education and training.  

Learning South West 
www.learning-southwest.org.uk 
A membership organisation working to support the learning and skills sectors across the region.

Make Your Mark 
www.youngstartsw.co.uk 
Youngstartsw.co.uk has been produced as part of the Enterprise Insight initiative which is designed to inspire young people with the spirit of enterprise.

Marine South West 
www.marine-south-west.org.uk 
Marine South West provides support and advice to aid the development of the sector in the region.

National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship 
www.ncge.org.uk 
The National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) was formed in 2004 with the aim of raising the profile of entrepreneurship and the option of starting your own business as a career choice amongst students and graduates. 

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) 
www.niace.org.uk 
The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education is a non-governmental organisation working to encourage adult learning. 

National Training Awards 
www.nationaltrainingawards.com 
For businesses, organisations and individuals who have achieved lasting excellence and success through training and learning. 

National Union of Students (NUS) 
www.nusonline.co.uk 
The NUS provides services for universities such as training, research and advice for students and individual university's student unions. 

Ofsted 
www.ofsted.gov.uk 
Ofsted - the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills - came into being on 1 April 2007. Ofsted brings together four formerly separate inspectorates. It will inspect and regulate care for children and young people, and inspect education and training for learners of all ages.

People 1st 
www.people1st.co.uk 
People 1st is the Sector Skills Council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority 
www.qca.org.uk 
The QCA lead developments in curriculum, assessments, examinations and qualifications. 

Quality Improvement Agency 
www.qia.org.uk 
The QIA is a non-departmental public body and one of the two successor organisations of the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). Their role is to work across the learning and skills sector to improve performance.

Regional Language Network South West 
www.rln-southwest.com 
Part of a national network set up to promote the importance of using languages in business.

SEMTA 
www.semta.org.uk 
SEMTA (Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance) is the Sector Skills Council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies.

Skills and Learning Intelligence Module (SLIM) 
www.swslim.org.uk 
The Skills and Learning Intelligence Module (SLIM) exists to bring information and intelligence on skills and learning to policy makers and practitioners across the South West. 

Skills for Life SW 
www.skillsforlife-sw.org.uk 
A one stop shop for everyone involved in Skills for Life across the South West.

Skillset 
www.skillset.org 
Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries, which comprise broadcast, film, video, interactive media and photo imaging.

Somerset Education Partnership 
www.somerset.gov.uk/slp 
The Somerset Education Partnership is a collaboration of local organisations committed to post-16 education.

South West Food & Drink Skills Network 
www.swfoodanddrinkskills.co.uk 
The South West Food & Drink Skills Network was set up as a result of intensive research into the needs for basic skills within the food & drink industry.

South West Regional Skills Partnership (SW RSP) 
www.swrsp.org.uk 
Partnership that joins the business and learning community with a common goal - matching individual skills to employer needs in South West England.

South West Science and Industry Council 
www.swsic.com 
The South West Science and Industry Council promotes a stronger understanding of the contribution science and technology can make to the economy of the region .

Third Age Employment Network 
www.taen.org.uk 
Working for better opportunities for mature people to continue to learn, work and earn. 

Tourism Skills Network 
www.tourismskillsnetwork.org.uk 
Established to increase the competitiveness of the tourism industry in the South West of England.

Train to Gain 
www.traintogain.gov.uk 
A service designed to help businesses get the training they need to succeed. Train to Gain is being rolled-out nationally by the Learning and Skills Council across England. It can help businesses improve their productivity and competitiveness by ensuring that staff have the right skills to do the best job.

UFI / learndirect 
www.learndirect.co.uk 
UFI provides e-learning and e-solutions through the learndirect brand.

UnionLearn 
www.unionlearn.org.uk 
Unionlearn aims to help trade unions to become learning organisations, with programmes for union representatives and regional officers and strategic support for national officers.