Advantage West Midlands was established in 1999 as one of nine Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in England. RDAs were created by the UK Government to drive sustainable economic development and social and physical regeneration through a business-led approach. Operating at arms length from Government, RDAs have business-led Boards, appointed by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Between 1999 and 2012 Advantage West Midlands invested £3 billion to support sustainable economic development in the West Midlands region, generating a range of outputs, including: - 150,000 businesses assisted to improve their performance; - 10,000 businesses created; - 140,000 jobs created or safeguarded; - 160,000 people assisted to improve their skills; - £2 billion of private sector investment levered in; and - 1,200 hectares of brownfield land reclaimed/redeveloped. The Agency was committed to continually improving its performance and effectiveness. For example: - HM Treasury found that the Agency was one of the most cost-effective of all the RDAs; - the National Audit Office awarded the Agency its top rating for organisational effectiveness in 2007 and 2010; and - the Agency won the coveted Midlands Excellence Award, which recognises organisational performance, in 2011. Most importantly of all, evaluation of the Agency's investment programmes showed that for every £1 invested, it generated a return of more than £8 for the West Midlands economy.