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Economic PartnershipEconomic Partnerships

Economic Partnerships have played a key part in engaging with the business sector and providing strategic input to the Regional Economic Strategies from SEEDA and other regional initiatives such as the South East Plan. There are many examples of the key achievements by Economic Partnerships both individually but also across various administrative boundaries that have benefited the South East. All the Economic Partnerships have, however, a number of key attributes in common:

  • EP’s have a successful record of engaging directly with business, something that other public sector organisations find difficult to achieve. Many senior level businessmen and women participate as Board members of each EP; almost without exception the Chair of each EP is a senior business person often from large companies within the area. All EP’s have regular dialogue with employer lead organisations such as the CBI and IOD at a local level.
  • EP’s have a strategic focus rather than a delivery focus. This distinguishes EP’s from other partnerships that are delivery oriented.
  • EP’s operate at a local level and are well able to provide local input from the business sector that has major difficulties engaging with the public sector. This is often due to the mis-understanding of various roles of public sector bodies as well as the fluctuating organisations and policies. There is a view that the public sector has real difficulty in really appreciating what matters to business.
  • EP’s are able to bring together local partnerships in a way that other public sector bodies find difficult. Whilst EP’s currently operate along the county boundaries they are not restricted to administrative boundaries and can develop and participate in cross-regional initiatives.
  • Whilst having a strong business focus EP’s are well placed in terms of engaging with County Councils, most of whom are stake-holders in their respective EP’s. 
Key Achievements of Economic Partnerships

It is not intended to give a detailed list of the achievements of every EP. Rather it is intended to show the added value that EP’s provide by way of a number of examples of individual activity and cross-regional initiatives.