Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the NWDA?
The NWDA is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in
England. All Regional Development Agencies are Government-sponsored
public bodies.
The NWDA 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 the NWDA set up?
All of the Regional Development Agencies, including the NWDA,
were set up by the Government in 1999, with the exception of the
London Development Agency which is a functional body of the Greater
London Authority and was established in 2000.
- Find out more about the NWDA
3. Where is the NWDA based?
NWDA headquarters are in Warrington, although we have staff
working throughout the region.
4. How is the NWDA funded?
The NWDA is funded by central Government and is responsible to
the Department for Business,
Innovation & Skills (BIS), formerly the
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
(BERR).
5. What is the Regional Economic Strategy?
The Regional Economic Strategy is the rolling 20-year strategy
to shape the future economic direction of the Northwest. Although
it covers 20 years, the current strategy has a particular focus on
activities between 2006 to 2009. The strategy 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 strategy, 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.
The NWDA is working with 4NW to prepare a new single
Regional Strategy, which will replace the current Regional Economic
Strategy in 2010 (RS2010) and will cover the economic,
infrastructure, transport, planning, housing, social and
environmental issues and decisions affecting the Northwest.
6. What geographical area does the NWDA cover?
Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and
Cheshire.
7. What does the NWDA do for the business community?
The Economic
Development directorate at the NWDA incorporates a
number of teams dedicated to strengthening the economy of England's
Northwest.
We are involved in:
- Supporting the region’s businesses through the recession so
they are best prepared for growth when the economy recovers
- Developing industry clusters 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
Addressing the problems encountered in locating venture
capital.
8. How is the NWDA assessed?
Our performance is monitored by The Department for Business,
Innovation & Skills (BIS). We meet with key
ministers for ministerial briefings on a regular basis.
We are accountable through our Chairman to the Secretary of
State and our Chief Executive is personally accountable for the
effective and efficient management of public money to Parliament
though BIS.
We produce an Annual Performance Report for BIS, which is
reported against the Business Plan and Corporate Plan.
9. How can I contact the NWDA?
Visit our Contact Us
page.
10 How many staff does the NWDA employ?
Approximately 450.
11. How much money do you spend annually in the region?
The NWDA has a budget of £1 billion over three years - which
comes from the Government and is known as Single Budget. The NWDA
is also responsible for directly influencing £1.2 billion of other
public and private sector investment into the region over the next
three years, to support the delivery of the Regional Economic
Strategy.
We manage the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the
Northwest. We have been allocated €755 million to spend until 2013.
We manage the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in the
Northwest. We have been allocated £75 million to spend until
2013.
12. How do I apply for funding?
13. How does the NWDA decide what to fund?
We fund projects which deliver our strategic investment
priorities, as outlined in the Regional Economic Strategy, Business
Plan and Corporate Plan.
The business products and services we fund are set out by the
Government under the Solutions For Business banner. The NWDA is
taking part in the Business Support Simplification Programme to
make sure the region’s business products and services fulfill
Solutions For Business requirements.
ERDF has four funding priorities, which are split into 11 Action
Areas. RDPE has three funding Axis, of which the NWDA looks after
the funding of Axis 1 and Axis 3. Some of the money from Axis 1 and
Axis 3 is allocated through Sub-Regional Partnerships, the LEADER
Programme and Livestock Northwest.
14. How does the NWDA assess and monitor projects?
High-level project decisions are taken by our Executive
Management Board (EMB), Project Review Group (PRG) and Board. All
our tenders are subject to the criteria laid out in our Procurement
Policy.
The business products and services we offer through Business
Link Northwest have strict criteria that businesses have to meet in
order for them to qualify for funding. All our tenders are subject
to the criteria laid out in our Procurement Policy.
ERDF has a strict application process which includes
successfully completing an Expression of Interest, Concept
Proposal, Development & Appraisal and Independent Appraisal.
Each ERDF Action Area has an Investment Framework which details the
types of activity to be funded and identifies the types of
organisations best placed to deliver such projects.
RDPE is managed by a steering group which includes the NWDA,
Natural England, the Forestry Commission, GONW and an independent third
party chairman. The steering group is responsible for reviewing the
Regional Implementation Plan.