15 October 2009
NWDA Annual Conference and AGM
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) will today
(15th October) host its 10th Annual Conference and AGM at
Liverpool’s BT Convention Centre.
The event will provide an opportunity to review the NWDA’s
response to the economic downturn and demonstrate how the
multi-million pound support package put in place by the Agency is
benefiting the region’s businesses. It will also outline the
region’s future challenges and priorities as it moves from
recession to recovery and review some of the Agency’s key
achievements over the last 10 years since its establishment in
1999.
NWDA Chief Executive Steven Broomhead will outline some of the
Agency’s achievements over the last 12 months and event host,
broadcaster Jim Hancock, will interview the NWDA’s new Chairman,
Robert Hough, on the region’s future challenges and priorities.
Guest speakers at the event include Barbara Spicer, Chief
Executive of Salford City Council, who will talk about the
renaissance of Salford and key projects underway to regenerate the
area, and Sir Phillip Craven MBE, President, International
Paralympic Committee, who will highlight how the Agency has been
working alongside London 2012 to fully exploit the opportunities
generated by the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said:
“The last 12 months have been challenging for the regional and
national economy, and the Agency’s swift response to the downturn
has been crucial in providing businesses with the support and
finance they need to weather the challenging economic conditions
and prepare for recovery.
The Agency continues to add significant value to the regional
economy and today is an important opportunity to demonstrate the
impact of these and other schemes in the region. Independent
research by PricewaterhouseCoopers released during the year found
that for every £1 invested by the NWDA, an average of £5.20 of
economic output was put back into the regional economy, which is
strong evidence of our ability to deliver real economic
benefits.
Despite the challenging climate, the region has continued to
make good progress over the last year in delivering on its
priorities and the Agency is committed to working with partners to
ensure that we maintain this momentum and emerge from the downturn
stronger than before.”
The NWDA achieved excellent results in 2008/09, exceeding all
its output targets. In 2008/09, Agency led or supported projects
and programmes created or safeguarded 26,600 jobs, created 5,840
new businesses and assisted 29,980 businesses, supported 1,103
businesses to engage in new collaborations with the region’s
knowledge base, assisted 27,275 adults with vocational
training/education, reclaimed over 300 hectares of brownfield
land.
-ends-
For further information please contact Sarah Moston, Press
Officer on 01925 400552 or 07810 528 471 or Sarah.Moston@nwda.co.uk
Presentations and films shown at the AGM will be available at
www.nwda.co.uk/agm09
following the event.
For further information and to view all press releases visit us
at www.nwda.co.uk/press
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (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
communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life