South East England Development Agency is Closing on March 31, 2012

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.

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About the South East

The South East is vibrant and multi-faceted. In addition to being the largest manufacturing region in the UK it has one-third of the country’s areas of outstanding natural beauty.

  • Total value of exports 2008-2009 - £40Billion
  • largest increase in exports of any English region in 2008-2009, up by 15%
  • South East residents contributed 15% of total UK GDP in 2007 - £188Billion
  • overseas companies in the region attract around 14% of the total Foreign Direct Investment into the UK.

The South East is home to around 750,000 businesses and 16 universities, including the University of Oxford. This brings a special opportunity – the power to link research-based innovation with business skills to drive economic prosperity. Business opportunities generated by the locus of hi-tech expertise and innovation are supported by the people of the South East who have above average skills and qualifications.

Local transport infrastructure includes: Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, major ports including Dover, Southampton and Portsmouth and access to the Channel Tunnel.

Welcome to this top performing and highly attractive region. To find out more please browse the following:

Related documents:

Profile of the South East of England 2010