What we are doing

The South West RDA leads the simplification of business support in South West England, working closely with local authorities, Government Office South West and other partners.  
 
RDA representatives sit on the national Steering Group for the Business Support Simplification Programme (BSSP), and for a number of the government products currently in development.  
 
The Government Office for the South West (GOSW) is also involved, actively promoting BSSP to Local Authorities and their partners and encouraging them, as part of the Local Area Agreement discussions, to simplify their support in line with BSSP principles.

Regional Transition Management Plan

The RDA has been working with regional partners to develop a Regional Transition Management Plan (RTMP) (Microsoft Word Document - 538.11kb) (BSSP Annexes 5 - 8 (Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet - 46.59kb)) setting out how we will move from the current plethora of business support projects and schemes to less than 100 by end of 2010. The first phase of the RTMP has been completed and accepted by the Regional Transition Management Board.

Business Link

The South West RDA has transformed Business Link operations in the South West, creating northern and southern arcs, each managed by a separate Business link Operator.  
 
The Business Link Providers have developed a single business start-up offer for the region and Business Link is at the heart of a number of specialist gateways including the Rural Enterprise, Creative Industries and Social Enterprise.  
 
Business Link will also be the primary access channel providing information, diagnostic and brokerage for a new social enterprise regional business support service. 
 
All businesses wanting business support should visit Business Link for information, an assessment of their support needs and advice on the best products for them. Find out more at: www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest

Update on work so far

Alongside transforming Business Link operations, the RDA has:

• Closed or amalgamated a number of projects. For example, the Competitiveness Improvement Programme, delivered by the West of England Aerospace Forum and the Advanced Engineering Skills Programme have both been incorporated with South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). Supply Chain 21 will also be delivered by MAS.
• Commissioned the social enterprise regional business support service and begun drawing together various funding streams including European and Office of the Third Sector backing.
• Introduced a requirement for European programmes to be compliant with BSSP in relevant Operational Programmes.
• Established BSSP as a standing item on the Regional Assembly Economic Policy Group Meetings
• Organised monthly meetings with GOSW and joint updates to local authorities and business representative groups, including CBI and FSB.

Contact details

Greg Taylor 
Head of Business Support 
South West RDA 
Tel: 01392 229539 
Email: greg.taylor@southwestrda.org.uk