Developing the enterprise skills of people of all ages within the South West has been identified as a priority for the region by the South West Regional Skills Partnership (SW RSP). 
 
Enterprise skills are crucial to the economic vitality of industries, regions and countries. New ideas and jobs need to be created faster than they are lost in order to respond to the global culture of constant change. 
 
 
The South West RDA is working actively to support this priority. We have provided support for:

• social enterprise through the Regional Infrastructure for Social Enterprise (RISE)
• women's enterprise through the Regional Advisory Group on Women's Enterprise
• older people through SW Opportunities for Older People (SWOOP) and PRIME South West
• Enterprise Week and the Enterprising Britain competition
• encouraging enterprise in Universities through the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP), Shell Livewire and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

All of these initiatives include elements of skills development. 
 
 
The South West RDA is responsible for the delivery and quality assurance of the Business Link service in the South West which provides information, advice and guidance for business start up and development. 
 
The South West RDA are initiating steps towards:

• a regional partnership of organisations involved in enterprise skils delivery, as a central point for enterprise policy to assist in bringing coherence and ease of access to the extensive services available
• engaging Senior Managers in schools and further education colleges to advocate for enterprise as one of the pillars of their education delivery
• working with the EU Convergence funding in Cornwall to develop an approach to enterprise and the proposed University Enterprise Network to develop best practice and extend this out across the region
• developing focused enterprise development programmes in South West RDA Priority Places
• Working with the London 2012 team to pilot an approach to convey the enterprising spirit of the Olympics to students in the South West

For further information please contact: 
Louise Tyrie - Tel: 01392 229372 
Email: louise.tyrie@southwestrda.org.uk