Regional Development Agencies (RDA) and Regional Business Support Organisations
This section provides details of regional organisations which offer support services to companies in relevant regions.
Advantage West Midlands (AWM)
Advantage West Midlands is the regional development agency (RDA) for the West Midlands.
AWM works across Staffordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
AWM’s role is to lead the West Midlands region towards greater economic prosperity. AWM works alongside partners to build upon the region’s many strengths and to find solutions which address its unique challenges.
All the work that AWM does aligns with Connecting to Success; the West Midlands Economic Strategy and contributes to improving the region as ‘a global centre where people and businesses choose to connect’.
AWM leads the development of our region’s business base by attracting international investment, developing key industries, encouraging enterprise and innovation, raising skills levels and co-ordinating the provision of finance and business support to companies.
East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA)
emda works across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, and Northamptonshire to drive sustainable economic development.
The East Midlands' world class businesses and focus on innovation, bringing together cutting-edge research with business and manufacturing capabilities, makes it an attractive region for both international trade and investment.
The region boasts a number of manufacturing success stories, from the world-leading companies such as Rolls-Royce, Bombardier, Mercedes and Toyota, to thriving mid-market enterprises including Cosworth, Mahle and many successful small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which make up most of the 13,000 manufacturing businesses in the region. The East Midlands has a great reputation for innovation in the sector and many of the companies and brands are world renowned for their work. Key research expertise from the region includes rapid manufacturing and process engineering.
Advanced engineering businesses in the region also benefit from the support of our Innovation Network (iNets) and the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS).
iNets are targeted innovation support networks that help to build relationships between business and universities and drive up the level of innovation.
East Of England Development Agency (EEDA)
East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has a clear mission which is to improve the economy of the East of England.
EEDA works across the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
EEDA helps businesses to flourish in the East of England, whether that’s starting-up, growing or competing in global markets. In our global economy, the capability to do business beyond domestic boundaries is critical to economic prosperity.
EEDA is committed to building the capability for international business development through two primary goals:
• to stimulate foreign investment in the region
• to open up global markets for businesses in the East of England.
East of England International (EEI)
EEI supports global businesses in the East of England and delivers UK Trade & Investment's services in the region. The web site outlines the programmes, services and details on our advisers.
The region embraces the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)
HIE is the Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency for a diverse region which covers more than half of Scotland. HIE aims to build sustainable economic growth in all parts of the Highlands and Islands.
Wales Trade International
International Business Wales (IBW), part of the Welsh Assembly Government, is 100% behind ambitious businesses ready to enter global markets and have developed a suite of flexible services to support Welsh Companies.
IBW experienced advisors can help with:
• Identifying and researching potential overseas markets
• Identifying and meeting potential foreign partners
• Managing international projects
• Developing a bespoke export strategy
• Information about the industrial, political and legal situation in a targeted country
The IBW support network is global and helps unearth new opportunities and convert them into real business.
Case Studies
Invest Northern Ireland
Invest Northern Ireland is Northern Ireland’s economic development agency. Their overall goal is to help create wealth for the benefit of the whole community by strengthening the economy and helping it grow.
INI do this by supporting business development, helping to increase export levels, attracting high quality inward investment, and stimulating a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Specifically INI want to increase business productivity and boost Northern Ireland’s Gross Value Added (GVA) per employee, which is around 20 per cent lower that the UK average. GVA is the contribution each employee makes to the economy, and increasing it will help to generate wealth for the benefit of the whole community.
INI offers the Northern Ireland business community a single organisation providing high-quality services, programmes, support and expert advice.
INI principally support businesses in the manufacturing and tradeable services sectors.
Lincolnshire Enterprise (LE)
Lincolnshire Enterprise is an independent, business led partnership between the private sector, local authorities, public bodies, voluntary and community groups across the Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire Enterprise is a key vehicle through which Lincolnshire County Council engages and consults with its partners to champion economic development and regeneration in the county. Lincolnshire Enterprises advises Lincolnshire County Council on the economic development of Lincolnshire, particularly in connection with the investment of government's Single Program funding in the county.
