September

SEDfIG submission to the DWP Committee on Youth Unemployment and the Future Jobs Fund

The South East Diamonds for Investment and Growth (SEDfIG) have responded to the inquiry into the Youth Unemployment and the Future Jobs Fund, conducted by the Work and Pensions Committee. SEDfIG Chairman Cllr Andrew Finney has underlined the great need for targeted provision of employment opportunities, coupled with training, specifically for young people. The submission highlights evidence from the Diamonds, wherein the FJF was successful in matching new work experience opportunities to young unemployed people, and thereby recommends that the learning and best practice from the FJF should be maximised in any new provision by the government.

Click here to access the full submission.

SEDfIG response to the consultation on the South East Skills Priorities Statement (SPS)

The South East Diamonds for Investment and Growth (SEDfIG) have responded to the consultation on the South East Skills Priorities Statement (SPS) conducted by SEEDA.

Click here to access the full response.

SEDfIG response to the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) consultation

SEDfIG's response to the BIS Regional Growth Fund consultation underlines the need to "prioritise spend on necessary interventions which will give the greatest proportionate return in terms of economic growth". Underpinned by substantial independent research, the response points out that the South East Diamonds "provide the best opportunity for economic growth to aid national economic recovery, provided funding is available to address support needs and overcome infrastructure deficiencies".

Click here to access the full response.

SEDfIG submission of advice to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) 2010

SEDfIG has submitted a series of key suggestions to HM Treasury regarding the much awaited CSR to be announced in October 2010. The partnership highlighted the vital need to boost investor confidence in the south-east through support for telecom infrastructure, commercial and employment space and local/ regional transport schemes in the Diamonds.

Click here to access the full submission.

August

SEDfIG submission of evidence to the BIS Committee on Local Enterprise Partnerships

SEDfIG's submission of evidence to the BIS Committee on LEPs has advocated the need to appreciate the 'polycentric dispersed nature of the south-east economy' when considering LEP proposals from the region. The submission highlights the accomplishments by the partnership in developing strong and sustainable arrangements to work with business and welcomed the proposal to jointly develop and shape the new LEPs arrangements.

Click here to access the full response.

June

FT article on SEDfIG response to Emergency Budget

The ‘Geography tax’ of proposed national insurance exemptions, highlighted by SEDfIG Chair Cllr Andrew Finney, is featured in the headlines of the 23rd June edition of the Financial Times.

The SEDfIG Chair highlights that the reduction in employer NI contributions in areas of the UK outside of the Greater South East is an "ill thought-through tax on geography which stacks the odds against the small businesses" which are key to the economic recovery in the South East.

Click here to access the full article.

SEDfIG response to June Emergency Budget 2010 gets wide coverage

The response of the SEDfiG partnership to the proposals in the Chancellor’s Emergency Budget announce on 23rd June 2010 has featured prominently in trade journals – prominent among them being New Start Magazine and the Regeneration & Renewal website.

Measures contained in the Budget which seek to support economic growth in northern regions could stifle the recovery process in the most productive regions of the UK. SEDfIG Chair Cllr Andrew Finney said, "We need the Government to invest in success, not just tax it, or there’s a real risk the recovery will stall"

Regeneration & Renewal feature SEDfIG response to RDA budget cut

The impacts of the £270m RDA cuts announced by the Treasury are featured in the 1st June issue of Regeneration & Renewal magazine. SEDfIG Chair, Cllr. Andrew Finney points out in the article that the cuts primarily targeted at the Southern RDAs and resultant lack of investment could "starve the UK engine of fuel" and stall economic recovery.

Click here to access the full article.

May 2010

SEDfIG response to RDA budget cuts

The South East Diamonds for Investment and Growth (SEDfIG) have responded to the RDA budget cuts of £270m, announced by the Treasury on 24 May 2010. SEDfIG Chairman, Cllr. Andrew Finney has said that the impacts of these cuts would have a severe effect on businesses in the region and jeopardize economic recovery.

Click here to read the full article published in the Local Government Chronicle.

April 2010

SEDfIG Research Features in E-Gov Monitor

The South East currently accounts for 25.1% (£3.2 billion) of UK business expenditure on research and development, while the region only accounts for 14% of the UK population. What steps are needed to ensure the South East continues to succeed? Steps to ensure the growth of the South East knowledge economy were set out by Michael Coughlin, Lead Chief Executive for the SEDfIG, in an article for E-Gov Monitor. Key barriers need to be overcome, including meeting the 'equity gap' for high growth start-ups, securing the investment needed in sub-regional transport infrastructure and continuing to support world-class knowledge economy assets in the region. Click here to read the full article.

Cities in South East back Cities Manifesto call for growth incentives

SEDfIG Chairman, Cllr. Andrew Finney, responded to the Cities Manifesto from independent think tank the Centre for Cities, saying: "The Cities Manifesto rightly identifies cities in the South East as some of the UK's most dynamic and buoyant urban areas. It is absolutely essential for any future government to ensure that these areas are given the right freedoms and incentives to flourish and help drive the recovery of the UK economy.

"Recent research by the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) showed that the South East Diamond economies have the potential to deliver over 60,000 new jobs in knowledge based industries by 2015. However, the Diamonds are being held back from fulfilling this potential by deficiencies in transport infrastructure; a lack of support for developing new technologies; and the difficulties growing firms have in accessing finance. "The South East is the powerhouse of the UK economy. The next Government needs to support the areas best set to deliver prosperity."

March 2010

South East Diamonds for Investment and Growth respond to Budget

SEDfIG Chairman and Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Cllr. Andrew Finney, said: "The budget promises a lot, but we need to see more if the South East Diamonds are to reach their full potential. The Green Infrastructure Bank and National Infrastructure Framework are worthy but both will take time to deliver. Major investment in local and sub-regional transport capacity is needed immediately to relieve congestion, particularly on strategic corridors like Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge. And Advance Development Zones are worth piloting, but £120m won't go far.

Worryingly it looks like regional growth funding will have to come out of RDA capital budgets. This puts the South East at a real disadvantage, as SEEDA's budget is a fraction of that of NWDA and OneNorthEast. This is ludicrous, particularly when you consider that the Government's 'New Industry, New Jobs' priority sectors are best represented in the South East. The Chancellor is right on the money in stating the need to strategically invest in the conditions to drive growth. But the Government needs to make sure that early investment flows to the areas best set to deliver prosperity."

SEDfIG - ‘Building a Knowledge Economy’ launched

The ‘Building a Knowledge Economy’ report, commissioned and produced by the SEDfIG is a pioneering study which sets out the potential of key knowledge sectors to drive the economic growth of the south-east. The study identifies emerging national policy initiatives in the knowledge economy sector and its relevance for the SEDfIG, reviews sectoral strengths within the Diamonds, and scopes out potential sectors for future growth. It offers sufficient evidence that inspite of the slow growth forecast in the foreseeable future, support to the highly productive knowledge economy will be increasingly important for future prosperity of the south east and the nation as a whole. In particular, the study underlines a strong need for targeted support to address each of the following – innovation, skills, finance and infrastructure.
This report has been developed by CLES Consulting, in partnership with SEEDA and the Knowledge Economy Group of the SEDFIG. It is divided into 5 self-contained sections:

• Executive Summary – Synthesis of the research findings and recommendations
• Policy Review – Identifies policy initiatives in various sectors of the knowledge economy within the UK and its implications for SEDfIG, together with a narrative on defining the knowledge economy and outlining critical success factors
• Place analysis - of economic performance within the Diamonds, including a review of sector strengths by location and supply side issues including employment, skills and infrastructure.
• Sector analysis – detailed analysis of the sectors outlined for potential growth in the Diamond’s ‘Prospectus for Prosperity’ and HMG ‘New Industry New Jobs’ policy documents; and
• Action plan - outlines a series of development actions for partners and lobbying messages for central and regional policy makers, as well as summarising potential research-paths to drive further strategic thinking and understanding in this area

We will now work with partners and stakeholders, through the SEDfIG Knowledge Economy Group to successfully deliver against these identified priorities so as to maximise the knowledge economy potential of the South East Diamonds.

Address the ‘constant upheaval’ in Skills scenario – SEDfIG Chair
The ever changing skills scenario as part of national policy needs to be swiftly addressed if the ‘Diamonds’ are expected to contribute to 45% of the region’s GVA by 2016. This is one of the key messages outlined in the March 2010 edition of the New Start magazine by Cllr Finney, Chair SEDfIG and Leader of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.

He underlined the three primary challenges to the ‘Diamonds’ which emerged from its recent research on ‘Skills and Employability’ and the necessary actions to be undertaken by the Diamonds so as to build a streamlined skills system which would be responsive to business and learners alike. Click here to access the full article.

February 2010

SEDfIG Chair in New Start magazine on Ecological Footprint
The No-nonsense guide to tackling Ecological Footprint developed by the SEDfIG is highlighted as a ‘collaborative’ approach to carbon reduction by the SEDfIG Chair Cllr Andrew Finney in the February 2010 edition of the New Start magazine.

Cllr Finney, who is also the Leader of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, outlined that everyone is required to play an important part in tackling climate change. He pointed out that the South East region needs to utilise the business opportunities of an expanding ‘green’ market so as to lead the economy out of recession and also contribute to our essential carbon reduction targets. Click here to access the full article.

Launch of the SEDfIG ‘Skills & Employability Strategy and Action Plan’
The Diamonds have commissioned and produced a Skills & Employability Strategy and Action Plan, to define priorities and shape delivery in this important area of work. Our approach seeks to promote stability and consistency in a landscape which changes all too quickly for learners and businesses. It also supports the important work taking place in sub-regions, whilst providing a platform for the Diamonds to work together in tackling common challenges and to work with the emerging Skills Funding Agency and others to ensure our businesses and communities are properly supported to fulfill their potential.

This strategy has been developed by Step Ahead Research Ltd, in partnership with SEEDA’s Research and Economics team, and has been overseen by the SEDfIG Skills and Employability Policy Group and the Learning and Skills Council. The Strategy sets out a range of priorities for delivering change in the Diamonds, alongside supportive actions. We will now work with partners and stakeholders, through the SEDfIG Skills & Employability Group to successfully deliver against these priorities. Click to read the Executive Summary. Click to download the full report.

SEDfIG core authorities deliver 35% of affordable housing in the South East region
A total of 3327 (gross) affordable dwellings were brought forward by the core Diamond Authorities (Basingstoke & Deane, Brighton & Hove, Crawley, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Portsmouth, Reading and Southampton) in the monitoring year 2008-09. This figure accounts for an impressive 35% of the total 9500 (gross) affordable housing delivered across 74 local authorities in the South East region. (Source – LA Annual Monitoring Reports and Draft Regional Monitoring Report 2009, South East England Partnership Board)

Eco-wiki page gets unprecedented visitors
There were 17,761 ‘views’ of our Eco-wiki site between 1st October 2009 and February 12th 2010. The number of visits to the SEDfIG website (www.southeastdiamonds.org.uk) increased eightfold from September 09 to November 09.

December 2009

The Diamonds Partnership, working with SEEDA, have developed an innovative, on-line guide to tackling ecological footprint. The guide provides comprehensive detail of eco-footprint across the Diamond areas, setting out the key components and 'big-hitters' for each Diamond. It also provides supportive guidance, which can be accessed by users at a variety of levels, from quick overview to strategic decision to practical detail. However, the most innovative aspect is its interactive format. All users with an interest in this area of work can sign-up, contribute and share their learning via this site, helping to build a south east network of professional expertise.

SEDfIG and SEEDA feel that this will be a vital resource in building a community of best practice which can help all authorities, businesses and communities in the region meet their ecological obligations and potential. The wider economic picture surrounding this work is also vital, with new low carbon markets expected to increase by 30% to 2015.

November 2009

Leading The Way To Recovery
The South East Diamonds Networking Event was hosted on the afternoon of Monday, 9th November, at St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton. This event brought together leaders and opinion formers from both public and private sector across the south east to consider the strategic issues influencing economic growth prospects within the region.

Keynote speakers included:

Rob Douglas, New Chair of the South East England Development Agency
Andrew Holder, Deputy Agent for Central and Southern England, Bank of England

In addition, there were three workshops based around the following themes:

• Skills for Employability: Delivering growth in the South East Diamonds
• New Industries, New Jobs: Supporting the sectors of tomorrow
• Meeting the Climate Challenge: Working together to provide sustainable growth

These workshops drew upon recent research carried out by the Diamonds partnership and brought together business, local authority and regional agency representatives to examine key challenges facing the region.

Click on the link for a detailed report (500kb pdf).

September 2009

SEDfiG Board Meeting
The South East Diamonds for Investment & Growth (SEDfiG) Board met on Thursday 24th September.

The Board deliberated the following issues:

• Future broadband / ICT infrastructure provision
• SEDfIG Communications strategy and protocols
• Business Representation on the SEDfiG Board
• Update on SEDfiG Research programmes

SEDfiG acknowledged in the South East Regional Committee Report

The South East Regional Committee appointed by the House of Commons to examine regional strategies and the work of regional bodies have acknowledged the role of the South East Diamonds for Investment and Growth (SEDfiG) in furthering the goals of the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and has welcomed "the working relationships that have been built up between SEEDA, local authorities and other partners in the diamonds for growth areas" (Page 3, Summary).

Their first report of the 2008-09 session acknowledges the argument made by the SEDfiG during the consultation stage that the challenges of the recession should be addressed with a simultaneous focus on long term economic goals for the region (Paragraph 31, 32). It also welcomed the 'place -based' focus espoused by SEEDA, and supported by the SEDfiG partnership (Paragraph 125). Click to read the full report.

August 2009

The SEDfiG partnership welcomes on board its consultants:

• Linstock Communications for managing the ‘Communication, lobbying and profile raising’ function of the Diamonds, and
• Step Ahead Research for delivering its ‘Skills and Employability Strategy and Action Plan’.

We received an immense interest in the above roles and, following an assessment and interview process, the above consultants have been formally appointed.

June 2009

The SEEDA Board heard about the recent achievements of the SEDfIG partnership with a presentation at their June meeting. SEDfIG Chair, Cllr Andrew Finney, and Lead Chief Executive, Michael Coughlin, attended the SEEDA Board meeting to discuss the work of the Diamonds and outline next steps and future plans.

The presentation highlighted the successful partnership working that had developed over the past two years, benefitting from strong support from SEEDA. Future plans to support growth, shaped within the recently launched 'Prospectus for Prosperity', were discussed and debated, as were the policy actions needed to support them.

Key issues raised included the need for business representation within the SEDfIG partnership, building upon the successful links already developed with universities and knowledge economy industries. Business representation and inclusion will now form a key theme for the September meeting of the SEDfIG Board.

The SEDfiG Knowledge Economy Group organised a visit to the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus (HSIC) in Oxfordshire on the 18 June 2009. The visit presented an opportunity to understand the dynamics behind scientific, academic and business innovation through the emerging plans for the development of the HSIC, with input from partners Goodman, the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).
Click to read a note on the HSIC visit.

April 2009

The first ever joint bid for funding between Diamond areas has been successful, attracting £672,000 of European Social Fund support. Developed by Medway, Reading & Basingstoke Councils, working with the Skills policy group and 'Cementaprise' (Milton Keynes / High Wycombe), the 'Eco-Advantage' project will run for the next three years.

The project seeks to deliver skills for climate change, and will involve the establishment of a range of short courses, aimed primarily at unemployed people and the lower skilled. Delivery of these courses will be managed locally, with additional sector specific training developed for those working in the construction, hospitality & retail sector. The programme will support delivery of LAA targets, including those related to NI 161, NI 163, NI 186 and NI 188. Further information available from: irene.heller@medway.gov.uk.

The 'Prospectus for Prosperity' was launched on April 23rd, at the Hilton London Gatwick. The document sets out the collective aims of the SEDfIG partners, framed by three strategic objectives which are:

• To collectively aim to generate 45% of the South East's GVA growth to 2016.
• To deliver 50% of the planned housing growth in the South East by 2026.
• To stabilize ecological footprint by 2014 and secure a 30% reduction by 2026.

The Prospectus will shape the work of the group over the forthcoming years, informing our delivery plans and guiding our work with government and regional agencies. For further details visit the Document Library

December 2008

The second SEDfIG Knowledge Economy workshop was hosted by Eastleigh BC, on behalf of the PUSH Diamond. Attended by a range of universities, small businesses, support services and knowledge economy practitioners, the event saw detailed discussions on how the continued development of the knowledge economy can be supported in the current economic climate. The next event will be held in Basingstoke in 2009, further building towards a report and action plan for supporting the SEDfIG knowledge economies.

October 2008

Council chiefs from across the south east held talks in Reading to see how they can continue to deliver sustainable growth and prosperity in the region, despite the current economic conditions. The conference attracted more than 70 council leaders, Chief Executives, Regional Agency representatives and policy makers. Read the press release for more information on this event.

September 2008

The Reading Diamond played host to business and economic policy makers to explore what makes the knowledge economy of the Diamonds so successful and the policy decisions needed for it to maintain its success in future years. Click on the link to read more about the event.

March 2008

The website www.southeastdiamonds.org.uk was launched at a meeting of the SEDFIG Chief Executives on Thursday 6 March.