The RDA has to change to adapt to the new responsibilities and expectations of us under the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR). We must also continue to improve our performance and become more efficient and effective. The combination of a challenging vision for the region's economy, a tough financial settlement from Government, and significant changes to our role and responsibilities makes it even more important that we get this right. 
 
The RDA welcomed the National Audit Office's recognition, in its first Independent Performance Assessment in 2006-07, that we were "Performing Well". In response to the NAO's report we agreed an Improvement Programme to address the areas where we needed to develop, including:

• Making our priorities clearer
• Developing our people
• Speeding up and simplifying our processes for handling projects
• Sharpening our offer to business in the region
• Enhancing our engagement with stakeholders, especially with local areas.

Since then we have clarified our vision; recruited four Area Directors to strengthen our engagement with places and local partners; created a new Executive Director post to lead on People and Skills; and embarked on a programme of organisational development to ensure the agency has the skills, people and leadership capacity it needs for the future. Work is also underway on sharpening our offer to business and simplifying our appraisal processes.