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“Dramatic changes ahead, but still great opportunities
for business” - RDAs’ Chairman
18 March 2010
There are dramatic - even worrying - times ahead, but
still great opportunities awaiting those businesses best able to
take advantage of a new economic climate.
Growth levels may well not return soon to what they were, while
small business will continue to provide the bedrock for much of the
country’s prosperity.
These are just some of the messages England’s RDAs’ incoming
Chair, Sir Harry Studholme, is set to share with business leaders
today (Thursday 18 March) at the British Chambers of Commerce
annual conference in London.
Sir Harry will also say that RDAs are “uniquely placed to
provide a one-stop shop for the government’s interface with and
support for business”, to make sure that public sector support is
“timely, strategic, relevant and supportive.”
The relationship between business and society is a two-way
street, Sir Harry will say, as we have “learnt to our cost, over
the last year or so, the interdependence between business and
government and the vital relationship that the consumer and voter
have with both.”
“These experiences demonstrate that social responsibility is not
just a fad - but sound business sense.”
Looking ahead to the rest of 2010 and beyond, Sir Harry will
offer a series of broad rather than precise predictions.
The business landscape will “remain complex” with “small
businesses remaining hugely important…even though the wider economy
is dominated by very large international firms.”
Debt repayments and rising energy and commodity prices means
“there is a risk we will not get back to the growth levels we have
enjoyed through much of the last 10 years” but there are “enormous
business opportunities” in creating and supplying a low carbon
economy.
Sir Harry Studholme is Chairman of the South West RDA and takes
over from Sir Roy McNulty as ‘Chair of Chairs’ for England’s RDA
network on 1 April.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For all media enquiries or to request an interview, please
contact:
James Harper, England’s RDAs, on 01392 229547 or james.harper@southwestrda.org.uk
Geri Silverstone, England’s RDAs on 020 7968 0610 or gerardsilverstone@rda-secretariat.com
About the RDAs
- The RDAs are business-led organisations set up by Government in
1999 to promote sustainable economic development in England. They
work with key public and private sector regional partners to
increase the economic performance of the regions and reduce social
and economic disparities within and between regions.
- The RDAs take it in turns to manage the collective work of the
RDA network for a six-month period. From 1st April 2010, the South
West RDA will take over as Chair of Chairs for the RDA national
network. This means that the South West RDA will represent the
network to Government and other stakeholders on a wide range of
issues.
- For more information on England’s Regional Development Agencies
please go to www.englandsrdas.com.