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.
South West Observatory
The South West Observatory aims to be the
automatic first port of call for intelligence about the South West,
working on the basis that policy making in, and about, the region
should be based on sound evidence
It exists to:
- provide appropriate information on the South West's society,
economy and environment to policy makers
- share good practice, avoiding duplication and co-ordinating
research and intelligence work
- provide an information service to the businesses and public of
the South West.
The South West Observatory has a 'core unit' that coordinates
activity across the Observatory network. The core unit is based in
Taunton, but the different research and intelligence teams (known
as ‘modules’) are housed at a range of organisations across the
region.
The South West Observatory has five modules:
Economy; Environment; Skills and Learning; Public
health and Planning.
The Economy Module is
provided by the South West RDA Economics and Evidence Team. It
draws on the team's expertise to provide objective analysis and
research on the South West economy. The team provides comprehensive
data and information to policy makers and Agency partners in the
South West Observatory network.
Publications include the Economic Profile, regular economic
projections and key data for the South West and its sub-regions.
Also produced are what-if scenarios (known as ‘simulations’) on hot
topics and ad hoc papers on important data releases. For further
information, please contact Eleanor Field at EconomyModule@southwestrda.org.uk,
Economy Module Manager.
There are also seven local intelligence networks: West of
England, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and
Wiltshire & Swindon.