Insider Media Limited

The Midlands’ two regional development agencies (RDAs) were the only two in the country to receive the maximum performance score in an independent survey.

The National Audit Office’s (NAO’s) Independent Supplementary Review assessed the nation’s RDAs in three areas. These were the delivery of programmes and projects that offer high-value added benefits for the region; how effectively the agency was in implementing improvement plans and how effectively the RDA implemented improvements in performance management processes and procedures to reflect the lessons of evaluation.

Both AWM and Emda scored "strongly" in all possible areas.

The Emda’s chief executive Jeff Moore said: “This is a testament to the dedication of emda’s staff and their continued professionalism during these demanding and uncertain times.

“Whatever mechanisms are put in place to promote economic growth in the future it is essential that the wealth of expertise emda, along with the other RDAs, have developed in this area is not lost. We hope that these findings will inform the structures for economic development that finally emerge."

Sir Roy McNulty, chairman of AWM, added: “RDAs know change is coming. We're ready for it and we continue to work with Ministers and officials on how to put this change into practice.

“At such a time it is helpful to have the results of the NAO’s independent assessment of RDAs’ work.

“We hope and believe that these findings should inform whatever future structures for economic development finally emerge.”