Organisation Outline:
The South West of England Development Agency was established in 1999. The South West is the largest region in England and one of the most varied. What they do -
their activities, initiative and projects - all contribute to and are shaped by the strategic drivers and objectives set out in the Regional Economic Strategy.
The work is also guided by the cross-cutting principles of sustainable development and equal opportunities. The work programme for 2003-2006 is guided by
these principles and is based on 10 corporate plan themes: support business growth; skills and learning; sites and premises; innovation; participation;
urban and rural regeneration; regional infrastructure; investment promotion; regional projects and policy and partnership.
SWRDA supports inclusive, local partnerships - in urban and rural areas - to focus on the critical issues for their local community. The priorities are to
improve the economic performance of deprived urban communities and address the changing needs of rural economies. Currently five economically important
sectors and three emerging sectors have been identified in the Regional Economic Strategy as being crucial for increasing economic growth: advanced engineering
(including aerospace); food and drink; ICT; leisure and tourism; marine; biotechnology; creative industries; environmental technologies.
The environmental technology sector is an emerging sector in the South West of England. Based on the outcome of a skills review three Training Facilitators
were recruited to assist environmental technology businesses. The environmental technology sector includes: Air Pollution Control; Environmental Consultancy
Services; Water Treatment (including wastewater); Energy Management; Renewable Energy; Noise & Vibration Control; Waste Management / Recovery & Recycling;
Marine Pollution Control; Contaminated Land Remediation; Environmental Monitoring & Analysis; Technology for Sustainable Land Use & Management and Other
Technologies.
SWRDA has been involved in several brownfield regeneration projects for example, Bristol Temple Quay, Dursley (Gloucestershire), Cambourne (mining
area), Ponsharden (Falmouth), a 12.5 ha derelict site at Glastonbury (Morlands and Bailys tanneries) and former railway land in the centre of Radstock.
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