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South West Observatory
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About Us

The South West Observatory (SWO) is a network of experts sharing resources and working towards a common vision that all policy and decision making in and about the region is based on sound evidence.
SWO aims to be the first stop shop for intelligence in, and about, the South West. Access to one part of the network gives access to all of it.

> Click on the tabs below to find out more about SWO, its role and its members, our Social Enterprise Model and the network. For all enquiries about SWO please call 01823-447390 or email enquiries@swo.org.uk.

SWO logo
The South West Observatory

Who is SWO?

  • SWO is a network, whose members work in data, analysis and research for publicly funded bodies, based mostly within the South West.
  • At a regional level, SWO is composed of Modules, providing thematic expertise on the Economy, the Environment, Planning, Skills and Learning, Public Health and Culture. The Modules are teams of experts working within the South West RDA, the Environment Agency, South West Councils, Marchmont Observatory, the South West Public Health Observatory and South West Cultural Executive Board.
  • At a local level, Local Intelligence Networks (LINs), mostly co-ordinated by officers from upper-tier authorities, span the South West from Cornwall to Gloucestershire and provide SWO with its local analysis.
  • The SWO network also extends to Universities South West, South West Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the national Association of Research Observatories (ARO).
  • At the centre of SWO the Core Unit (based in Taunton), a company limited by guarantee, develops and co-ordinates the network to support and enhance the work of its members.

How is SWO Funded?

  • SWO is a network of experts employed or otherwise financially supported by a number of public bodies across the region and its parts.
  • The SWO Core Unit is a social enterprise; a not for dividend company limited by guarantee. It currently receives grant funding from the South West RDA and the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP) as well as generating income from commissions and other services.
  • For a full breakdown of funding, please see the SWO Annual Report available by clicking on the link in the right of this page.  

Who is SWO for?

  • SWO is a shared resource for everyone interested in evidence to support policy and decision making in, and about, the South West.

What does SWO do?

  • SWO promotes the best use of evidence in policy making.
  • As a network, SWO shares expertise on issues and resources relating to data, analysis and research. This creates efficiencies by avoiding duplication, doing once for all, sharing best practice and enabling collaboration and joint commissioning.
  • Through joint working SWO produces publications, and events that support the development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of public policy.
  • Through a networked ‘helpdesk’ and interlinked websites, SWO gives access to, and aids understanding of, information at all levels in the South West.
  • SWO produces the State of the South West report. This collaborative project gives up-to-date analysis of the facts and figures behind life in the region and is the foundation of a shared evidence base for the region and its parts.
  • SWO stimulates debate around evidence-based policy and decision making and has contributed to the better understanding and use of evidence through its Annual Conference, Policy Seminars and technical workshops.
  • SWO continues to develop a new approach to working collaboratively in response to common policy drivers. For instance, SWO supports Local Authorities in the South West by co-ordinating evidence work for Local Economic Assessments.
The South West Observatory Network

The strength of the South West Observatory (SWO) is in its network of experts across themes and localities. We work together, sharing information and ideas, in order to obtain an accurate picture of a variety of issues affecting the South West and its local areas. We share best practice, avoid duplication and get better value for money by pooling resources. Take a virtual 'tour' of the network using this interactive map below (click on the Core Unit / Thematic Modules tabs or on areas of the map to find out more). For additional information see the Network pages by clicking on the link.
Tour the SWO Network
The SWO Social Enterprise Model

The South West Observatory Core Unit was hosted for its first five years by the Regional Assembly which received ring-fenced funding for the Observatory's function from the South West Regional Development Agency. This arrangement came to an end in June 2006 and the South West Observatory (Core Unit) was set up as a company limited by guarantee.

This is a social enterprise model whereby any surplus income cannot be taken out as profits for shareholders, but is re-invested to better pursue the company's objectives.

According to its memorandum and articles of association:
The objectives for which the Company was established, operating in particular within the region of South West England are:
  • the promotion of commerce through provision and interpretation of objective, timely, relevant and reliable information and intelligence for those making policy about and within the Region;
  • the development of a network which: brings together thematic and geographically focused modules to collate, analyse, present and disseminate evidence in and across areas of expertise; supports and enhances the work of individual modules; promotes the use of evidence by helping to ensure that it is timely, relevant, readily accessible and of high quality; and works closely with policy decision-makers in the Region to ensure that the evidence from the Company is understood, placed in context, and appropriately interpreted;
  • the advancement of a shared understanding of the Region and its parts by: developing consistent definitions and approaches to the use of evidence; undertaking cross-cutting analysis and research on key policy areas at regional level and appropriate sub-divisions within it; and; developing mechanisms and providing tools for evidence based policy making;
  • the promotion of efficient and effective collation, analysis, presentation and dissemination of the best available evidence about the Region through encouraging collaboration with and between regional partners and identifying opportunities for reducing duplication.
  • the identification of and, where appropriate, addressing gaps in the provision of information and analysis to help ensure that the Region has an appropriate evidence base for effective decision making; and
  • the idenfication of key issues of future importance to the Region through its analysis of research and intelligence.
The SWO Core Unit.

At the centre of SWO the Core Unit (based in Taunton) develops and co-ordinates the network to support and enhance the work of its members. The Core Unit is a social enterprise - a company limited by guarantee.

Members of the Team

Vinita Nawathe, Managing Director South West Observatory

Rachel Hartnell, Resources Manager

Sarah Hardwick, Network Research Coordinator

Ray Perrins, Research Analyst

Andy Dunne, Communications Officer


Lou Maddocks, Administrator (PT) 

Alastair Higton, Co-ordinator, Association of Regional Observatories (hosted by SWO Core Unit since March 2010)

The SWO Modules (Economy, Environment, Skills and Learning, Public Health, Housing and Planning, Culture)

The Modules provide theme-specific research and analysis about the South West to inform policy and decision making. They are each structured differently, but are all publicly funded in some way.

Coming together under the SWO banner with the local intelligence networks encourages and enables cross-thematic working, and provides a conduit for sub-regional thematic intelligence needs to be understood and met. Click on the tabs under the 'Thematic Module' drop-down option above to access the various module websites.
The SWO Local Intelligence Networks (Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay, Devon, Somerset, West of England, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Swindon, Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole)

Local Intelligence Networks (LINs) provide information and analysis on a range of topics as they relate to their local, sub-regional spatial areas. Each LIN is structured differently but they generally involve local partners in building an understanding of each sub region through a variety of intelligence resources. 
The primary aim of the ten LINs is to ensure that organisations developing and implementing policy within the sub-regions are aware of, and make full and appropriate use of, the best available evidence. As such, LINs work to maintain and develop relationships with local partners, fostering a shared local understanding of the importance of evidence in policy-making. Click on the tabs under the 'Local Intelligence' drop-down option above to access the various LIN websites.

Annual Report Front Cover 2010/11
Click on the logo to request a hard copy of the latest SWO Annual Report 2010/11
> For previous Annual Reports (also available as PDF downloads) click on the link.

Get in Touch!

Contact Us

Locations and Directions (Core Unit, Taunton)