South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

Association of South East Colleges (AOSEC)

AOSEC is an FE sector membership organisation. Its operational remit extends across the full range of education and training providers. AOSEC proactively participates in the shaping of regional issues; provides a variety of information and support services to key policy makers; is a lead provider of services for post-16 education and training organisations. AOSEC encourages collaborative ventures with a diverse range of partners and engages in 'exciting' young people and adults in the South East to fulfil their full educational and skill potential.

Chief Executive: Catherine Hilton
www.aosec.org.uk.

Business Link South East

Following the Chancellor's announcement in the 2004 Budget, responsibility for the Business Link Service in the region was transferred from the Small Business Service (SBS) to Regional Development Agencies in April 2005.

The Business Links have a remit to reduce the barriers that inhibit businesses ambitions and assist them to operate effectively and achieve their goals. The network in the South East, is available to around 330,000 Small & Medium-sized Enterprises and is an easy to use advice and information service and a gateway to the broadest range of private, public and voluntary business support services.

EEF South

EEF South is the region's leading employers' organisation - the Regional Centre of Manufacturing Excellence - meeting the needs of a wide range of businesses, notably technology, engineering and manufacturing-based companies across London and the South East.

The organisation exists for the benefit of its members and focuses on delivering services that support business success, by employing acknowledged experts in a number of business critical areas, notably employment law, health & safety, environmental management, information & research and business improvement. .

English Partnerships

English Partnerships is the national regeneration agency, helping the Government to support high quality sustainable growth in England.

www.englishpartnerships.co.uk.

e-skills NTO

The e-skills NTO is formally recognised by government as The National Training Organisation for the Information Age, with responsibility for IT, Telecommunications and Call Centres. It addresses the skills issues driven by business exploitation of technology, ranging from basic IT user skills through to leading edge Internet services. With 40 staff, and a turnover of around £5 million p.a., the NTO delivers a portfolio of projects to address the skills issues of UK businesses. Particular progress has been made with programmes encouraging more graduates into industry, transforming the capability of Colleges of Further Education, improving workplace learning, linking vendor qualifications to national standards and undertaking definitive primary research on skills needs.

CEO: Karen Price
www.e-skillsnto.org.uk.

Government Office for the South East (GOSE)

GOSE represents Central Government. GOSE works to influence, contract and develop Government programmes and initiatives at a regional and local level by working in partnership with relevant organisations to meet local needs. Using its knowledge of the region it is able to ensure that Government money is spent on the right projects in the right areas. It is also able to ensure that Ministers are aware of local issues when making decisions.

One of GOSE's main objectives is to support and promote a coherent regional approach to competitiveness, sustainable development, regeneration and social inclusion. To this end GOSE works with a number of regional partners to carry out its work. In particular, it works closely with the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the Regional Assembly. Other partners include local authorities, Learning and Skills Councils, Police Forces, Drug Action Teams, the NHS, Countryside Agency, Business Links, British Trade International and transport providers in the public and private sector.

www.go-se.gov.uk.

Groundwork South East

Groundwork is a leading environmental regeneration organisation, working in partnership to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the profitability of local businesses.

Information and Communications Co-ordinator: Sally Hiscock
www.groundwork.org.uk.

Hampshire Economic Partnership - Building Business Through Partnership

The Hampshire Economic Partnership brings together business and local government to influence government policy and support the economic prosperity of Hampshire and its cities, by:

• identifying and championing the needs and priorities of Hampshire business
• provide an authoritative voice for business
• ensuring that the best decisions are made to deliver sustainable economic prosperity for the area.

HEP is recognised as a strategic partner by the Government Office for the South East (GOSE), the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the South East Regional Assembly. Active support comes from the private sector and local government in Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth, the Learning and Skills Council for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Business Link Wessex, the Chambers of Commerce, academia, trade unions and the voluntary sector.

www.hep.uk.com.

Higher Education South East (HESE)

Higher Education South East was created as a company in 1999 to promote all higher education institutions in the South East region. By encouraging a collaborative ethos, it aims to strengthen their contribution to the economic, social and cultural growth of the region and to influence and shape the regional agenda. HESE is the representative voice of higher education in the South East.

Chief Executive: John Weston
www.hese.ac.uk.

Lantra National Training Organisation

Lantra's aims to raise the levels of skills, knowledge and enterprise of everyone involved in the land-based industries, including: agricultural crops, agricultural livestock, animal care, environmental conservation, equine, fencing, aquaculture, floristry, game conservation, land-based engineering, landscaping, production horticulture, professions allied to veterinary science. Contact Lantra Connect on 0845 707 8007

Chief executive: Peter Martin
www.lantra.co.uk.

learndirect - University for Industry South East Region Office

The University for Industry is the government's flagship for lifelong learning. We provide on-line learning and information services for adults nation-wide under the brand name of learndirect. Our aim is to drive up the demand for learning, help adults improve their employability and businesses to become more competitive. Ufi uses Information Communications Technology to revolutionise where and how learning takes place. We provide courses which enable people and businesses to learn in "bite-sized chunks" on line through the Internet at a pace and at times that suit them and wherever they have access to the Internet - at learning centres, at home or at work.

At regional level we contract with local organisations known as Ufi Hubs who are responsible for running networks of learndirect centres across the region. There are currently over 120 Centres in the South East. The Ufi SE Regional Office is the liaison contact for local partners, providers and stakeholders, working closely with our national Head Office in Sheffield.

Ufi Regional Director for South East: Jenny Clayton
Tel. +44 (0)1483 500 744

www.learndirect.co.uk.

Learning and Skills Council (LSC)

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.

The LSC vision is that, by 2010, young people and adults in England will have the knowledge and productive skills matching the best in the world.

With a budget of £8 billion (2003-04) the Council operates through 47 local offices and a national office in Coventry.

Established in April 2001 our work covers:

• further education
• work-based training and young people
• school sixth forms
• workforce development
• adult and community learning
• information, advice and guidance for adults
• education business links

www.lsc.gov.uk.

Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA)
South East Regional Office

The Learning and Skills Development Agency is the strategic national resource for developing policy and practice in post-16 education and training. We offer research, consultancy, publications, CPD, network and other support to LLSCs, FE colleges, training providers, voluntary and community organisations, and LEAs. The South East Regional Office at SEEDA's SE Village is the liaison hub for both strategic and operational issues, linking closely with our national headquarters in London and other key regional players.

Regional Director for the South East: Mike Cooper
www.lsda.org.uk/regions/home.asp?id=9&newsid=36&link=11.

MLA

MLA South East is the strategic development agency for museums, libraries and archives in the region. It is part of the wider MLA Partnership with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the eight other regional agencies. It supports the largest number of museums, libraries and archives in any English region. The South East region encompasses the historic counties of Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

www.mlasoutheast.org.uk.

Margate Renewal Partnership

Margate Renewal Partnership has been set up to spearhead the regeneration of Margate. The Partnership Board comprises of Thanet District Council, Kent Country Council, the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), the Arts Council England, the Government Office of the South East (GOSE), the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Partnerships and English Heritage. The Partnership aims to create a vibrant town with a mix of traditional seaside attractions and modern and creative quarters.

www.margaterenewal.co.uk

Prowess

Prowess is a network of organisations and individuals who support the growth of women's business ownership. It's work encompasses raising awareness, sharing of best practice, advocacy and information.

www.prowess.org.uk.

The Queen's Awards for Enterprise

The Queen's Awards for Enterprise are the UK's most prestigious awards for business performance. The Awards are presented in three categories: International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development, and are open to all business units that meet the entry criteria.

There is also an Award for individuals, The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion, which celebrates and recognises the activities of individuals who have played an outstanding and significant role in promoting enterprise skills and attitudes in others in the UK. Details of the Awards can be found at www.queensawards.org.uk.

Regional Action and Involvement South East (RAISE)

RAISE is the network of networks for voluntary/community organisations in the south east and enables the voluntary/community sector to influence regional policy wherever it is made or implemented - for the benefit of the people the sector works to help.

www.raise-networks.org.uk.

Research Excellence

Created as a showcase for university excellence in the South East region, the Research Excellence Directory provides details of the latest research underway and contact information for those working at the leading edge of research and discovery in their fields.

With twenty-five universities in the region, each with strengths in specific areas, there is a vast potential to help businesses become more competitive and productive. The site is also intended to provide useful information to overseas businesses looking for potential research collaborations in the UK, or considering locating here.

www.researchexcellence.org.

Sea Space

New vibrancy and prosperity are being brought to Hastings and Bexhill to help them fulfill their enormous potential as desirable places to live, work, study and visit. The Hastings & Bexhill Task Force, convened by SEEDA, has set up Sea Space to deliver an extensive, ten-year investment programme. This aims to make a significant impact on the fortunes of the two towns by focusing on a small number of large initiatives that will kick-start wider economic development.

www.seaspace.org.uk.

South East Economic Partnerships (SEEP)

Economic partnerships are business-led organisations which bring people from the private, public and voluntary sectors together to create a shared economic development strategy for their sub-region. There are twelve Economic Partnerships in the South East.

South East Economic Partnerships (SEEP) is a network of the twelve chief executives who run the Economic Partnerships. SEEP exists to enable the partnerships to collaborate on common issues and to influence regional economic policy.

SEEP was formed in 1999 to provide a forum for Economic Partnerships to talk to each other and identify opportunities to work together.

SEEP has developed into an effective organisation which has been able to work closely with SEEDA, SEERA and GOSE on a number of economic related issues and initiatives.

Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA)

The Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) funds, supports and champions the new UK-wide network of influential employer-led Sector Skills Councils (SSCs).

The role of the SSDA is to underpin and develop SSCs. In brief it will:

• Assist employers in sectors in bidding to become SSCs
• Fund, support and monitor the performance of SSCs across the UK
• Ensure quality and consistent standards across the network
• Provide minimum cover for essential functions in sectors without an SSC
• Ensure skills provision is designed to meet sector needs
• Ensure generic skills are effectively covered in the work of SSCs
• Promote best practice sharing and benchmarking between sectors
• Provide a website portal for public bodies and individuals to access high quality sectoral labour market intelligence across the UK

www.ssda.org.uk.

SEE-iN

The South East England Intelligence Network (SEE-iN) is a partnership funded organisation and is the regional observatory for the South East. We aim to encourage and facilitate the development of evidence based policy work through the coordination of data and intelligence. The SEE-iN website is a gateway to research and intelligence concerning the South East.

For more information visit us at www.see-in.co.uk or email us at info@see-in.co.uk.

www.see-in.co.uk.

SEEOnline

SEEOnline.net is the interactive regional forum for organisations and the many groups representing those living and working in the South East.
It is there for you to find out what is going on within your area of interest and to share information on issues.

SEEOnline has four main zones defined by broad areas of interest in the region.

• The Community Zone
• The Business Zone
• The Learning Zone
• Broadband Zone

In each of these you will find related topics and information posted by those actively involved or with an interest in that zone.
So, to share your own input with others like you, contributing to the economic, social and environmental development of the South East region.

SEEOnline...your one stop forum for life and work in the South East.
www.seeonline.net.

Southampton Partnership

The Southampton Partnership is a multi-sector/multi-organisation partnership, which has been established as the Local Strategic Partnership for the City of Southampton.

Its broad role is to implement Southampton's Community Strategy, which sets out a shared vision for the future of the city, by promoting or improving economic, social and environmental well-being. It is also responsible for co-ordinating action within deprived communities and neighbourhoods.

www.southampton-partnership.com.

South East Climate Change Partnership

The Partnership was created by a range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations to investigate, inform and advise on the impacts of climate change on the region.

www.climatesoutheast.org.uk.

South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA)

The South East England Regional Assembly was set up in January 1999, having been designated by the Government as the regional chamber for the South East. Its role is to be the representative voice of the region. It provides regional accountability for the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), and has a lead role in areas such as transport and sustainable development. From April 2001 the Assembly will take on strategic planning responsibilities for the region.

The Assembly has one hundred and eleven members, two thirds of them elected councillors, nominated by all of the region's seventy-four local authorities, as well as representatives from social, economic and environmental partners. It is funded by the region's local authorities, and is supported in kind by its members, and GOSE, which has provided valuable office accommodation for the Assembly secretariat in Bridge House, Guildford.

The Assembly meets in full three times a year, and an Executive Committee of twenty-seven meets seven times during the year. All of these meetings are open to the public.

Email: secretariat@southeast-ra.gov.uk or visit the website at:
www.southeast-ra.gov.uk.

South East Forum for Sustainability (SEFS)

South East Forum for Sustainability (SEFS) is the environmental network for the region. The network is steered by its Policy & Executive Committee which is made up of 12 members. Six permanent (RSPB, National Trust, Friends of the Earth, Wildlife Trusts, CPRE, Transport 2000) and six elected from SEFS' general membership.

It has three seats on the South East of England Regional Assembly (SEERA) and also representatives on the various committees and working parties that draw up policy in the region.

Aims and Objectives:

• To ensure greater environmental accountability in South East regional decision making
• To be an effective focus for influencing regional policy
• To encourage and facilitate networking between organisations with an interest in sustainability and the environment in the South East
• To be inclusive, accessible and encourage environmental voluntary groups from all parts of the region to join SEFS.

sefs.org.uk.

Sport England - South East

Sport England is the strategic lead for sport in England and distributes Lottery and Exchequer money on behalf of the Government. Our goal is to help people to Start, Stay and Succeed in sport at every level, and our vision is to make the South East an active and successful sporting region.

We are working with SEEDA to ensure that sport is a vital element of the Regional Economic Strategy, and that sport contributes to the achievement of SEEDA's objectives via its Cultural Team.

www.sportengland.org.

Surrey Food Links

Surrey Food Links is a new organisation aiming to connect local farmers and food producers to wider markets. Surrey Food Links has been established by Surrey County Council and SEEDA to assist the county’s food producers by linking up the local food supply chain. The not-for-profit organisation will help local food producers capitalise on new business opportunities by forging links with the catering industry, wholesalers, retailers and public sector organisations such as schools and hospitals. It will also assist by arranging promotional events for Surrey ’s food producers, developing training programmes and providing marketing advice. Membership of Surrey Food Links is free of charge in the organisation’s first year. Membership benefits include reduced rates for trade and consumer events, free listing on the Surrey Food Links website and regular updates on industry news and opportunities.

For more information on Surrey Food Links visit the website www.surreyfoodlinks.co.uk.

Taking Stock - South East Mass Balance and Eco-Footprint

Taking Stock is a research project analysing resource flows and creating an ecological footprint for the South East region, providing data on current sustainability as well as action on how resources can be managed in the future.

The project is devised to be a tool for policy-makers to ascertain the impact of their decisions on the South East's sustainability. It will also highlight business opportunities arising over the next 25 years, as more jobs are created from minimising future damage to the ecosystem.

A Steering Group is working with the project team to bring together data and policy-making. The project is funded through a £249,784 grant from Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund, which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services, and by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). It complements more than 40 other mass balance studies being funded by Biffaward.

Taking Stock is led by EcoSys, working with Stockholm Environment Institute at York (SEI-Y) as the lead research organisation. Other organisations working with SEI-Y are University of Manchester's Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology (CURE) and University of Surrey's Centre of Environmental Strategy.

For more information on the project and partners contact Rob Graham at Ecosys (rgraham@ecosys.org.uk ) or visit the project website at:
www.takingstock.org.

Tourism South East

Tourism is a growth industry. It is a key component of the regional economy, worth £10 billion a year - almost eight per cent of GDP - and supports 225,000 jobs.

Tourism South East (TSE) is SEEDA's delivery agent for tourism. It exists to drive major improvement in the management and performance of the sector. TSE works in partnership with local authorities/destinations, bringing together the many organisations, partnerships and businesses that make up the tourism sector so limited resources are used to best effect.

Visit www.industry.visitsoutheastengland.com.

University of Brighton

The University of Brighton is a community of 19,000 students and 2,100 staff based on four campuses in Brighton and Eastbourne. We have one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which contribute to our reputation as a leading post-1992 university.

www.brighton.ac.uk.

West Oxfordshire Network

Improving the Quality of Life in West Oxon.
West Oxfordshire is part of the European LEADER+ programme. It is one of only 25 local areas in England and 53 in the UK.

www.won.org.uk.

UK Trade & Investment South East

International Month - March 2006

Building on the success of past events, UK Trade & Investment and our partners are holding International Month 2006 to help businesses address their concerns and explore their international potential.

www.uktisoutheast.com/internationalmonth.