SEEDA seeks board members

The closing date for applications is June 26, 2008, and the job starts on December 14. The duration of the appointment is three years.

To serve on an RDA Board, all candidates must demonstrate:

Essential skills and competencies
• Strategic awareness, including a sound understanding of the complex issues affecting the relevant regional economy, with a capacity to identify solutions to address, in particular, the opportunities and barriers to economic growth and development in the region
• Strategic perspective on the issues embraced in the RDAs including an understanding of and commitment to, the principles of sustainable development
• Leadership and the ability to broker difficult decisions
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Strong networking and ambassadorial skills
• Team working skills- respecting the ideas, experiences and contributions of others both within the RDA and amongst external regional and sub regional partners
• Credibility within own sector
• Knowledge and awareness of the barriers faced by socially and/or economically excluded groups, including black and ethnic minorities, together with a commitment to equality of opportunities and diversity

Specialist essential skills and competencies
• Strong record of achievement as a Councillor in addition to a dispassionate non party political approach to RDA ideas and be a sitting councillor
• An understanding of the relationship between local government and the national and regional economies
• Experience of managing organisational change
• Ability to build links across all sectors, focusing on areas of most need for the regional economy
• Awareness of the relationship between local and national government

Desirable skills and competencies
• Innovative thinking
• Diplomacy and commitment to public service
• Awareness of pre-existing sub-national partnerships such as Local and Multi Area Agreements and Local Strategic Partnerships
• In order to contribute to developing and delivering the regional strategy, a broad understanding of one or more of the following:
o planning issues and its role in tackling economic, environmental and social issues
o climate change
o transport policy and/or housing policy (at national, regional and local level)

Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were formally launched in eight English regions on 1 April 1999.

RDAs are non-departmental public bodies with a primary role as strategic drivers of regional economic development. They are key partners in delivering Government policy to strengthen and grow regional economies focusing on specific regional priorities. They support business development and competitiveness by encouraging public and private investment having responsibility for significant investment of over 2 billion in total each year. RDAs work with partners to improve levels of education, learning and skills, and will become increasingly strategic in enhancing their region's environment and infrastructure guided by the principles of sustainability.

RDAs are business led organisations. Their role will shortly be broadened by gaining responsibility for drawing up the Single Integrated Regional Strategy, bringing together sustainable economic development and regeneration; spatial planning, housing transport and climate change action. They are to become the Regional Planning Body.


The changes proposed for the RDAs' role and for the Regional Framework in which they will operate are set out in the 'The Review of sub-national economic development and Regeneration' (SNR July 2007) and the subsequent consultation on its implementation "Prosperous Places" published in March 2008.


Corporate Responsibility

Board members are appointed by the Secretary of State in line with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioned for Public Appointments.

The Board has corporate responsibility for ensuring that the Agency fulfils the aims and objectives set by the Secretary of State and for promoting the efficient and effective use of staff and other resources by the Agency.

RDAs are separate legal entities and for legal purposes the Board of an RDA is the RDA. Members collectively therefore have responsibility for everything done by, or in the name of, the RDA.

Board members are required to follow the Seven Principles of Public Life published by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

For further information and to apply please visit www.rdaappointments.co.uk. All applicants are encouraged to apply via this process. Alternative contact: Anna Kingdom on 01256 383745