Member Article

Southend-on-Sea Sweetens The ‘City’ Deal

Southend-On-Sea has once again proved itself as a location for businesses to invest in, having secured a City Deal with the Government. Aiming to help entrepreneurial businesses flourish and create new jobs, this investment of over £6million will primarily be used to generate a new business hub in the local area, positioning the Borough as a prime location for start-up and growing businesses.

Designed to accelerate the development of start-ups through new resources, this project will give rigorous support to small and medium sized businesses from across the area enabling their growth. Creating and maintaining approximately 555 jobs in total, this new investment will give Southend a boost to build a stronger local economy, through design and innovation.

Providing intensive one-on-one support to help businesses overcome barriers to growth, £1.81million will be used to deliver business advice and funding through partnerships such as the Chamber of Commerce and the University of Essex to help with business research and development opportunities.

Southend-On-Sea Borough Council will be using £1.35million, drawn from their own and Government funding, to redevelop the Central Library, helping create a new space in the city centre to support innovative new start-ups and existing businesses. In addition to this support, Southend-On-Sea Borough Council has committed to address existing empty sites and work with developers to create commercial as well as residential developments – enabling the business community to grow.

Councillor John Lamb, Deputy Leader of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council says: “It is an exciting time for Southend businesses and with this investment we are seeing increased confidence in our professional community. We want to be able to harness the energy and entrepreneurship of local businesses and offer increased support and advice, enabling them to continue to flourish and succeed. This increased investment will do just this and we’re looking forward to helping our business community make the most of these opportunities”.

The funding consists of £2.5million from the central government, £3million in private investment and £670,000 from the local government. The city enjoys international access, major road and rail links to London which have attracted and helped prosper sectors including Aviation, Tourism and Retail, Creative and Cultural.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council .