Regional Development Agency (RDA)

Each of the nine regions in England has a Regional Development Agency set up by the Government in 1999 and 2000. These are:

  • The North West RDA;
  • OneNorthEast;
  • Yorkshire Forward;
  • East Midlands Development Agency;
  • Advantage West Midlands;
  • East of England Development Agency;
  • South West of England Regional Development Agency;
  • South East England Development Agency (SEEDA);
  • London Development Agency.

Their primary role is to promote the economic development of their region. They do this through a range of initiatives to encourage and sustainable regeneration, improve business competitiveness, and reduce the imbalances that exist within and between regions. The RDA produced a Regional Economic Strategy, which took an integrated and sustainable approach to the economic development and regeneration of the region by tackling business competitiveness, productivity and the underlying problems of unemployment, skills shortages, social exclusion and physical decay. Each RDA is led by a chair and a board of 15 senior stakeholders from the local public, private and voluntary sector community. A chief executive chosen by the board is responsible for management. The RDA is the lead agency in the production of the new single integrated regional strategy.