The Government has announced that all Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including SEEDA, will close by 31 March 2012.
Responsibility for economic development and regeneration in England is being passed onto successor bodies, including Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and central Government departments
Our objective is to ensure a professional and cost effective closure by this date. We have pledged to work closely with our partners, contractors and stakeholders to ensure that the past and future economic benefits of key programmes and assets continue to deliver the greatest economic value for the South East and value for money for the taxpayer.
Please click here for more details about our closure plan, transition arrangements and successor organisations.
In action: Kent and Medway
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Kent and Medway is one of the most exciting regions in the UK at the moment. It includes North Kent, which is within Thames Gateway - Europe's largest regeneration project that stretches along the Thames Estuary and includes the areas of Dartford, Gravesham (collectively known as Kent Thameside), Medway and Swale. Thames Gateway Kent is one of the South East’s eight diamonds for investment and growth.
Other areas of priority for SEEDA in Kent and Medway included Ashford – another of the Government’s growth areas – Dover and Margate in East Kent.
Within this region, SEEDA provided catalysts to business growth and innovation through the innovation and growth teams and "Diamond" areas. View the map for more information.
Key facts
- Around 1.6 million people live in the Kent and Medway sub region, which is almost 20% of population in the South east region. Medway (which comprises Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester and Strood) is the largest urban conurbation in the sub-region housing one quarter of a million people (Source: Mid-year population estimates).
- The economic structure of the subregion is more orientated towards the public sector than the South East, with around 29% of all employees working in the public administration, education and health sector (Annual Business Enquiry 2007).
- Headline GVA per head in across Kent and Medway was £15,398 in 2006, compared to £20,152 for the South East. (ONS: Regional, sub-regional and local gross value added)
- Manufacturing accounts for 9.1% of employment in Kent and Medway and 10.4% of employment in the Thames Gateway districts compared to 8.5% for the South East. (Source: Annual Business Inquiry, 2007).
Key sectors
Kent and Medway encompass one of the areas in the UK which has a huge economic potential. It is already home to a large number of companies spanning a variety of industries, including creative industries, retail (including warehousing and distribution), pharmaceutical companies as well as various ports, universities and airports.
