South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

South East Partnership for the 2012 Games

In order to realise the potential benefits from the Games and minimise any negative effects the South East established a regional coordinating group, now called the South East Partnership for the 2012 Games (SEP 2012). This group is chaired by Pam Alexander, Chief Executive SEEDA.

SEP is a partnership of six working groups of regional stakeholders that are in existence to maximise the benefits of the 2012 Games. Each of the working groups focus on particular areas of the 2012 Games landscape.

For more information about SEP and its activities, please contact Paddy Herlihy on padraigherlihy@seeda.co.uk.

Sport - led by Sport England South East

• Plans are focusing on increasing participation in sport, physical activity and volunteering, developing opportunities for talented athletes, skills, promoting inclusiveness, investing in facilities and attracting pre-Games training camps.

Business and Foreign Direct Investment – led by SEEDA

• Plans include a business support programme to help businesses bid for Games related contracts, promoting the South East as a place to invest, showcasing the region's strengths in key sectors such as environmental technologies and new media, and engaging young people in youth enterprise.

Visitor Economy - led by Tourism South East

• Plans are underway to maximise the tourism income from the Games and the Cultural Olympiad by enhancing the region's profile and highlighting its sporting heritage, as well as focusing on skills, tourism infrastructure and public realm improvements including improving the sense of welcome at our airports, ports and stations.

Culture and Communities - led by Arts Council England South East and the Government Office of the South East

• Plans include playing a full part in the four year Cultural Olympiad, encouraging social inclusion and increased opportunities for disabled people, engaging young people across the region with the world, increasing healthy living and wellbeing, focusing on volunteering and improving the public realm and sense of welcome.

Transport and Infrastructure (transport and regeneration) - led by South East England Regional Assembly

• Plans cover delivering wireless Broadband access for the region and key public transport infrastructure such as AirTrack and the Thames Valley Strategic Bus and Coach Network, creating a world class Thames Basin Heaths Greenspace and delivering public realm enhancements including improving the welcome at our airports, ports and stations.

Skills, Employment and Education - led by South East Learning Skills Council

• Plans involve inspiring young people to develop their skills, developing employability and business skills to help businesses and encouraging volunteering and progression into learning as a springboard to employment.

The plans will be pulled together into the South East's overall plan – called the South East 2012 Framework by Spring 2007. Each sub group will be consulting with regional stakeholders to develop the plan.