Foreword
The South West Observatory exists to promote evidence-based strategy and decision-making across the Region. It does this by making high quality information readily accessible and promoting a common understanding of the evidence base. State of the South West is a key component of that evidence base.
Co-ordinated and produced by the Observatory Core Unit it also draws together inputs from the Observatory’s thematic modules and a range of other experts from across the region. It provides an authoritative and comprehensive account of the characteristics of the region including its people, economy, environment and social make-up. It describes recent trends and highlights the key challenges and issues faced by the region.
State of the South West is produced in order to inform policy and decision-making at all levels from the regional to the local. The region’s future rests on a wide range of stakeholders and State of the South West, like the Observatory as a whole, is a resource for business, education, the voluntary and community sector and a wide range of regional bodies as much as for the public sector.
This web publication brings together in a single resource wide-ranging information and commentary. Each section is of specialist interest but, together, the different components emphasise the cross-cutting nature and inter-linkage of issues which needs to be understood and addressed.
Information also needs to be timely and up-to-date. This electronic-version of this volume will be periodically up-dated and the web-site itself provides the gateway to the full range of resources provided for the Region by the Observatory.
Professor Martin Boddy
University of the West of England, Bristol
Chair of the South West Observatory Board