Frequently Asked Questions about the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)

1. What is the NWDA?

The NWDA is one of nine regional development agencies (RDAs) in England. It leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:

Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
Matching skills provision to employer needs
Creating the conditions for economic growth
Connecting the region through effective transport and communications infrastructure
Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

2. When was it set up?

The RDAs are Government-sponsored public bodies set up by the Government in 1998, with the exception of the London Development Agency which is a functional body of the Greater London Authority and was established in 2000. The RDAs were set up to help improve the quality of life and economic prosperity in the English regions.

3. Where is it based?

NWDA headquarters are in Warrington, although we have staff working throughout the region.

4. How is it funded?

The RDAs are funded by central Government and are responsible to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

5. What is the Regional Economic Strategy (RES)?

The RES is the rolling 20-year strategy to shape the future economic direction of the Northwest. Although it covers 20 years, the current RES has a particular focus on activities between 2006 to 2009. The RES provides the region with a set of clear priorities in order to grow the economy of the Northwest. The NWDA led the development of the RES, but it belongs to the region. The collective effort of all regional partners is essential to ensure that we deliver the priorities it sets out.

Visit the Regional Economic Strategy pages

6. Where can I obtain a copy of the Regional Economic Strategy?

The RES is available for download from this website or it can be obtained in hard copy or CD-Rom format.

Visit the Regional Economic Strategy pages

7. What geographical area does the NWDA cover?

Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

8. What does the NWDA do for the business community?

The Enterprise, Innovation & Skills directorate at the NWDA incorporates a number of teams dedicated to strengthening the economy of England's Northwest.

It is involved in developing industry groupings to improve specific sectors of the economy, attracting and retaining inward investors, addressing barriers to innovation, encouraging best practice in the business support sector, improving the supply chain for local companies and addressing the problems encountered in locating venture capital. Visit our Business section for more information.

9. How is the NWDA assessed?

The NWDA’s performance is monitored by our sponsors, the DTI. We produce two reports per year, a mid-year and an annual review. These reports provide an assessment of NWDA activity and performance throughout the year. They report on the delivery of our corporate plan objectives, including detailed financial, output and efficiency information.

In addition, the National Audit Office is responsible for carrying out Independent Performance Assessments (IPA) of all the RDAs. The NWDA was assessed in March 2006 and was awarded the highest possible category – ‘Performing Strongly’.