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All RDAs across England are closing by March 2012 (see transition and closure section). With our resources reducing steadily, this page has not been recently updated and the information below may not be current. If in doubt, please contact us directly.

National lead role

Each of England’s nine Regional Development Agencies has a “lead role” with individual Government departments, allowing them to liaise with and represent the interests of all RDAs in each particular area.

Nationally the South West RDA holds the lead role for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The key objectives for this role are:

  • To be recognised as the RDAs’ voice, and main point of contact, on DCMS national policy development and issues. To ensure that communication routes are in place to raise the profile of RDA activity. And to provide a mechanism for organisations and stakeholders wishing to engage with, and consult, the RDAs collectively on matters relating to culture and tourism.
  • To develop and enhance critical national initiatives which require co-ordinated action*, and which will further improve the productivity and prosperity of England’s visitor economy.
  • To ensure that the RDAs’ work on economic development is informed by the national perspective and takes full account of the potential contribution that culture and tourism can make.
  • To ensure an appropriate level of engagement by RDAs in order to maximise the economic, social, health and environmental benefits of the London 2012 Games for the UK.


Delivering for DCMS (May 2010) is a document that provides further information about how the RDAs are contributing to the delivery of DCMS’ objectives.

Partners

The RDA focuses regionally on tourism development with its partners, South West Tourism and the Regional Tourism Skills Network (both RDA-funded projects).  In addition, we ensure that the regional perspective is reflected in national policy and strategy, and work within the new regional cultural arrangements (following the Hodge Review into Regional Cultural Infrastructure in 2008).

*such as the development of the England Strategy, Partners for England, Englandnet, Welcome to Britain, National Skills Strategy, 2012 Winning Strategy, Seachange and new regional cultural arrangements.

A tourist sign in Gloucester town centre

Tourists outside Plymouth Aquarium