SEEP collectively and each individual EP is “The voice of the economy for the South East”

Context

The twelve economic partnerships in the South East have four common roles:

1. Ensuring a strategic dialogue between SEEDA, GOSE, SEERA and local partners on key economic issues facing South East England.
2. Providing a business led economic development input to relevant policy debates.
3. Through the Local Area Agreements ensuring that the objectives and activities of the RES and other regional economic strategies are translated into local actions, bringing specialist knowledge to bear on their implementation.
4. To promote policies for the sustainable development of their own local economies and foster the sense of “place” that makes the south east such a vibrant and diverse region

Each economic partnership works with all key stakeholders and has, over the last ten years, developed effective networks and engagement with business.  If the partnerships’ review concludes that SEEDA will cease to fund economic partnerships it is likely that it will take 3-4 years for these networks and engagements with business to be re-established by a new organisation.

The South East Economic Partnerships provide the following services:

1. An effective engagement with business –all EPs have a high level of business engagement on their Boards, task groups, and through initiatives and projects. EPs maintain databases of local businesses which have been actively involved with the Partnership.
2. Strong engagement with local authorities and the voluntary sector – in all cases EPs have been actively involved with Local Area Agreements and will maintain and increase this involvement as new LAAs and possibly MAAs evolve. In their engagement with LAAs the EPs seek to ensure that the aims and objectives of the RES are effectively implemented. 
3. A unique interface between businesses, local authorities and regional agencies – EPs are in the unique position of being able to understand business needs and articulate these in the most appropriate manner at regional and national levels, and conversely can obtain business views and input to strategies, initiatives and consultations from local, regional and national government. 
4. A mechanism for ensuring that the objectives of the RES and South East Plan are translated into local actions.
5. Opportunities for all key stakeholders to be involved in strategic dialogues on key economic issues facing the region and sub region. 
6. Effective input at sub regional, regional and national levels to local economic strategies, consultation opportunities, initiatives and setting of priorities. 
7. Efficient working across administrative boundaries and the ability to facilitate working with local organisations, local authorities and business. Cross boundary working initiatives are already in place in Kent and Medway, East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Gatwick Diamond, Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), Oxford/Cambridge Arc, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and South Midlands, and Thames Valley.
8. As part of its contribution to the RES implementation SEEP has brought together relevant economic partnerships and key stakeholders in the development of strategic frameworks for (1) the Inner South East (2) Coastal areas, and (3) the rural spatial contours debate and consultation paper.
9. The EPs have been actively involved in the RES and South East Plan.

Contribution to Proposition by Economic Partnerships.

It is the view of SEEP overall and each individual partnership that the new working arrangements for partnerships must ensure the continued economic prosperity of the South East within the framework of the Regional Economic Strategy.  The Economic Partnerships and SEEP have a critical role to play in this.

The role of economic partnerships in the future structure should be developed to enhance the business led networks which have been developed over the last 10 years.

The aim of the economic partnerships, both individually and collectively, will be to:

1. Provide effective engagement with business which can only be achieved by having partnerships of an appropriate size and influence to attract the involvement of local businesses.
2. Ensure partnership structures have strategic capability and provide economic policy advice, engage business and provide partnership frameworks which deliver the economic needs of the area.
3. Deliver, through LAAs and other mechanisms, economic development initiatives for the benefit of the local area and the region in general -partnerships should have the structure/involvement to accommodate this.
4. Work with other key stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient resources to deliver the economic needs of the area. Develop the concept of “funding balance sheets” to leverage funding to meet the economic needs set out in the RES.
5. Build on, and where appropriate develop, effective collaboration and cross boundary working, not only within the SEEDA area but with adjoining areas such as South Midlands, South West and London.
6. Provide a conduit for SEEDA, GOSE and SEERA to understand and work with key stakeholders at sub regional level.
7. Provide a visionary, business led approach to economic development in local areas with partnerships adding value and overall strategic perspective.
8. Understand the local economic needs and business concerns and articulate these to relevant regional and national bodies.
9. Work with local authorities in the preparation of local development strategies and facilitate the effective use of resources.
10. Build on and improve task/special interest groups which engage businesses.
11. Have the flexibility to provide different structures which relate to different business needs.
12. Establish close alignment with Business Link.
13. Provide through SEEP the facility to learn from best practice, develop region wide initiatives such as the study to asses the impact and economic benefit of migrant workers and to provide an effective networking forum for SEEDA.

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