Research & Economic Monitoring
The NWDA’s main role is to stimulate economic growth and
regeneration in the Northwest. To develop effective strategies and
plans - such as the Regional Economic Strategy, Corporate Plan and
Business Plan - the NWDA needs up-to-date, accurate and reliable
information to base decisions on.
Research and Intelligence Unit (RIU)
The Northwest's economic observatory, the Research Intelligence
Unit is hosted by the NWDA and provides a full range of research
and economic data about the Northwest for the NWDA, its partner
organisations and businesses in the region.
The RIU holds information to present an accurate and
continuously updated picture of the socio-economic and
environmental structure of the Northwest.
The RIU’s main role is to:
- Provide analysis of data and research
- Produce briefings
- Help disseminate information
- Widen access to intelligence
- Conduct research to fill data gaps
- Answer information and intelligence enquiries
Unit has data mining, web development and Geographical
Information Systems capabilities. It is the Official Census
Repository 2001 and 1991. It holds databases of the region’s
businesses and digital aerial photography covering the entire
Northwest.
The North West RIU is closing down with the agency in March
2012. Click here to view all their
publications.
Economic Representation
As well as undertaking research and producing economic reports,
we have representatives on a number of regional economic bodies,
where our role is to: report on the region’s economy; support the
region’s economy; and raise issues and concerns affecting the
region’s economy.
Regional Economic Forecasting Panel
Funded by the NWDA, the Regional Economic Forecasting Panel
provides economic forecasting using expert analysis of supplied
economic data. The Panel produces three-year forecasts for the
Northwest, updated on a six-monthly basis, and a long-term forecast
consistent with the planning horizon for the Regional Economic
Strategy.
The Panel - which was set up in 2003 and comprises 17 senior
representatives of business, academia and the public sector in the
Northwest - is chaired by Andrew McLaughlin, Group Director,
Communications and Group Chief Economist for Royal Bank of
Scotland.