RDA - ARE WE GETTING OUR FAIR SHARE: THE South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) was established in 1999 with a brief to underpin the long-term economic future of the region.
The key role of the RDA is to help promote and foster conditions that encourage businesses to proliferate, succeed and generate prosperity. It is a very wide and powerful brief. Its activities can make all the difference between a town like Swindon, or a county such as Wiltshire, thriving or floundering.
The South West RDA recognises that the economic and social needs of all areas vary within the region, sometimes dramatically. Members garner commercial intelligence from all over the world, not just in the UK, and use this networking to help south west companies win major contracts.
The RDA is also a standard-bearer for the South West overseas, helping to fly the flag in every corner of the globe for Swindon and the rest of the expansive south west territory.
The ethos cannot be faulted. In practice, however, there are question marks raised by Swindon councillors and at least one of the town's MPs.
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