Strategy and Policy
The Northwest Regional Economic Strategy sets out what the NWDA
needs to do to support businesses.
Northwest Regional Economic Strategy
Everything we do is set out in the Northwest Regional Economic
Strategy. Our job is to make the strategy come alive,
to become a reality – which is a huge job. The strategy sets out
what we need to do, but we’ve got a big job deciding how we do
it.
We also need to be clear what the strategy is for and to make
sure it does its job.
To make our job more manageable, the strategy is split up into
bite-size chunks. Business is one
of those chunks. (The others are Skills &
Education, People & Jobs,
Infrastructure and
Quality of Life.)
Within the business section of the Northwest Regional Economic
Strategy, we have a number of jobs to do. We need to help Northwest
businesses strengthen their regional roots, develop their business
knowledge and allow them to be innovative and grow
internationally.
We are currently developing a new single strategy for the
region. Find out more about the new
regional strategy.
Northwest Science Strategy
Investing in science and key sectors plays an important role in
the Northwest Regional Economic Strategy. This work is guided by
the Northwest Science
Strategy.
Enterprise Policy
Our Enterprise Policy focuses on making sure the region’s
businesses adapt well, which will improve business start-up,
survival and growth rates. To achieve this, we are committed to
improving the availability of business finance and influencing
Government policy on small business regulation.
The Agency is also committed to creating an enterprise culture
that encourages businesses to not only take opportunities, but make
them; to see a success as the building blocks for future
successes.
This work is guided by Northwest
Enterprise Strategy.
Enterprise Forums
To support our Enterprise Policy and Northwest Enterprise
Strategy, we have developed a number of private sector-led
enterprise forums.
The Northwest Enterprise Forum acts as a strategic advisory
board to the Agency and Business Link Northwest, and is responsible
for challenging and monitoring the success of enterprise activity
across the region.
Chaired by Robert Davis, Chief Executive of Chester-based EA
Technology, the Forum has a core team of 15 individuals with a
passionate interest in enterprise. Board members are drawn from the
membership of a number of business representative organisations in
the region, including the Confederation of British Industry,
Institute of Directors and Federation of Small Businesses.
The Forum reports to the Agency’s Board once a year as well as
to the Enterprise & Skills sub-committee. This enables
them to provide an update on activities and emerging trends to
influence the future direction for enterprise and enterprise
support across the region.
The NWDA also works with two forums which support
under-represented groups.
The Northwest Women's Enterprise Forum is a strategic advisory
group to help increase the number of women starting up and growing
their own businesses. To support the Northwest Enterprise Strategy,
the Northwest Women's Enterprise Forum has developed a three-year
Action
Plan. The Agency also supports the
Women’s Enterprise Ambassadors Network.
The Ethnic Minority Business Forum Northwest is a policy
advisory group responsible for the development of sustainable Black
and Minority Ethnic business in the region. It provides strategic
leadership and policy advice to the NWDA.
Enterprise Successes
We like to celebrate our enterprise successes through a number
of national and regional award ceremonies. We encourage Northwest
businesses to take part in the following awards:
Support Simplification Policy
The Agency is taking part in a Business Support Simplification
Programme, which is being led by the Department of Business,
Innovation & Skills (BIS) , previously the
Department of Business,
Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR).
The Programme aims to make it easier for individuals and
businesses to understand and get access to government-funded
support, including business
finance and business
advice.
These Government-funded products and services are part of the
Solutions For Business portfolio. The Government’s Solutions For
Business document gives background information on how
business products and services have been simplified.