Presentation to the South West Regional Assembly

Jane Henderson

14 July 2006

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South West of England Regional Development Agency:

What we do and how we do it

Our job is to help create a more prosperous and sustainable future for the region by:

Supporting business creation and growth Encouraging innovation Ensuring the workforce has the right skills Cleaning up sites; providing workspace Regenerating run-down communities Building the communities of the future Developing the rural economy Promoting what is best about the South West Bringing private and public investment into the

region

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Scrutiny protocol

New protocol launched 19 June Builds on learning from previous protocol Focus on joint strategic review RDA Board scrutiny ‘champion’ Reporting of Scrutiny Panel

recommendations to the Board increased flexibility in the selection of

topics extended timetables and deadlines in the

process Topics:

– Quality of employment opportunity – Cities and Regions

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Scrutiny – Sustainable energy

Review just completed very productive

Added value Good constructive discussion Recommendations emerge

from the whole process – apply to a range of actors

Drawing together RDA formal response

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Regional economy: challenges Lowest unemployment rate in England, but ..

Modest growth rates projected but more vulnerable

Reasonable employment growth but redundancies in some sectors

Fewer exporters and less inward investment relative to other regions

Impact of globalisation and newly industrialising countries

Productivity challenge remains critical

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City regions debate LAAs/ LEGIs Questions about the role of regional

institutions Local Government White Paper CSR 2007 European funding Transport

Unfolding agendas

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2005/6 – Key achievements

Progress– RES review

– Priority Sectors

– Business Support

– Strategy alignment

– Aligned planning decisions

– Innovation

– Quality projects

– Sharing good practice/ evaluation

– Regional evidence base

– Integrated new responsibilities

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2005/6 - Outputs

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Disaggregation I indicator End of Year Total

Rural Urban Disadvantaged Areas

1. Job Creation – number of jobs created or safeguarded 6,301

2,646 (42%)

3,655 (58%)

1,400 (22%)

2. Employment Support – number of people assisted to get a job 1,913

1683 (88%)

230 (12%)

176 (9%)

3. Business Creation – number of new businesses created and demonstrating growth after 12 months, and businesses attracted to the region

198 52 (26%)

146 (74%)

70 (35%)

4. Business Support – number of businesses assisted to improve their perfo rmance

8,766 5698 (65%)

3068 (35%)

1,248 (14%)

a. Number of businesses within the region engaged in new collaborations with the UK knowledge base (knowledge base/business collaboration )*

734 * * 22 (2%)

5. Regeneration – public and private regeneration infra structure investment levered (£m/ %private)

£216m (71%)

£32m (75% Private ) (15%)

£184m (70% Private ) (85%)

£107m (71% Private ) (49%)

a. Brownfield land reclaimed and/or redeveloped

93.6 54.8 (49%)

47.8 (51%)

9.7 (10%)

6. Skills – number of people assisted in their skills development as a result of RDA programmes

19,599 18,423 (94%)

1,176 (6%)

2,630 (13%)

a. Number of adults gaining basic skills as part of the skills for life strategy that count towards the skills PSA target

512 * * 53 (10%)

b. Number of adults in the workforce who lack a full level 2 or equivalent qualification who are supported in achieving at least a full level 2 qualification or equivalent

1,330 1,024 (77%)

306 (23%)

18 (1%)

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2005/6 leadership

2012 Games Tourism development Defence procurement Enabling broadband Urban development – The

Way Ahead SPark European funding

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Key meetings at Ministerial level

RDA Chairs:– Prime Minister– Douglas Alexander MP - DFT– Margaret Hodge – DTI

EU Commissioner for Regional Policy John Prescott/Jim Knight at the Way

Ahead Conference Other recent meetings with Ministers

– Shaun Woodward - tourism– Richard Caborn – Sport– Kay Andrews – DCLG– Phil Woolas - DCLG

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Independent Performance Assessment

IPA process managed by the National Audit Office (NAO) on behalf of the government.

Each RDA produces a self-assessment SWRDA's published in June

NAO then publish own assessment of our performance - score

IPA outcomes part of the evidence base for CSR2007

A rigorous 360 degree view of our capacity and performance will help shape and lend impetus to improvement and change

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Looking ahead: continuous improvement

Sharpening our focus Improving relationships with partners

and stakeholders Sense of place: bridging the regional

and the local Connecting with business Smarter processes and evaluation Open communications Developing our people

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Looking forward

European Programmes 2012 Creative Industries Summit CSR07 outcomes SW England campaign IPA outcomes RES Big debates

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Into the future: the RES Debates

Growth within environmental limits

Population change Globalization Energy challenges Regional leadership!