The South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) has once again exceeded its expectations, with new figures published by BERR today showing that its performance had helped boost economic development in South West England.

For the 2006/07 financial year, figures just released show that the South West RDA has:

• Created 5,549 new jobs in the region, and helped 1,936 people to get a job
• Created or attracted 271 new businesses to the region
• Helped 15,898 businesses to improve their performance, and assisted 647 businesses to engage in new collaborations with the UK knowledge database
• Attracted £255.1 million of investment to regenerate deprived areas, 59% of it from the private sector
• Regenerated 86.3 hectares of brownfield land
• Helped 25,348 people in their skills development, including 1,266 through the "Skills for Life" strategy and 497 supported to achieve a level 2 qualification or its equivalent.

Announcing the latest results, the Minister of State for Competitiveness, Stephen Timms, said: "This is another excellent result for SWRDA, which has once again achieved its core targets and improved the overall economic outlook for the region. Working with its partners, it is making a real difference and I am pleased that nationally, as a network, the RDAs have met or exceeded all their targets.

"RDAs play an essential part in improving growth and development, increasing employment opportunities, promoting and assisting re-development of brownfield sites, and working with local partners to regenerate their communities.

"Regional Development Agencies have welcomed the strengthening of their role in driving forward sustainable economic growth, unveiled last week in the Sub-National Review of Economic Development.

RDAs will lead the development of a new, single integrated regional strategy, working closely with local authorities and other partners, which will bring together Regional Economic Strategies and Regional Spatial Strategies.

(JM/SP)