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Message from Murray Foster, Chair of Southend Business Partnership
Make sure you do not miss our next Briefing event on the morning of Thursday 15 May, which is being hosted by London Southend Airport at the Holiday Inn Southend. The focus of the event will be around “Growth” including a presentation by LSA. Book now
Three weeks ago our Executive group met at Metal, Chalkwell Hall where we were updated on creative sector, new City Vision & City Day, Devolution, South Essex Digital Programme and rail transport involving presentations from Metal, Southend City Partnership, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Greater Anglia.
Since our last monthly newsletter, our City’s inaugural annual City Day celebration took place on 1 March. This including the launch of the new Southend City Vision, and the event attracted significant footfall, aided by some excellent weather! Having enjoyed the events in city centre, I took the opportunity to visit a couple of community organisations that had organised events on that day, namely Southchurch Hall Inspirational Parkers and also Age Concern Southend-on-Sea . Incidentally, the latter organisation is currently undertaking a major fund-raising project to acquire the ex-Haven’s department store, which they currently lease, in order to improve their sustainability to support our local communities.
Continuing the good news:
It is great to see that Roslin Hotel has been recognised by Times newspaper as being amongst the top 100 hotels in UK. Also, Roslin has secured approval for a further significant enhancement of their facilities.
Regarding the retail sector, B&M have now commenced trading in the former Wilko site at Victoria Shopping Centre, as previously was reported as due to happen.
Turning to further and higher education, congratulations to South Essex Colleges Group for securing the prestigious Innovation & Training Delivery award regarding maritime training.
At our London Southend Airport, with effect from 31 March, there is now an easyJet base with many more destination routes on offer.
Approval has finally been given for the construction of £9bn Lower Thames Crossing! Construction creates supply chain and job opportunities which will also be the case for the nearby London Gateway’s £1bn expansion, which is starting this May.
I am currently digesting the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, made on 26 March, which may create challenges whilst offering opportunities.
Just a heads up: there is an online consultation and Q&A session for businesses regarding the upcoming Greater Essex Devolution being held 3 April – book via this link
In signing off please encourage others to sign up for our free monthly newsletters which provides a wealth of information below.
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Greater Essex Devolution
Online briefing and questions and answer session for businesses
Thursday 3 April 11.45am to 12.30pm (Microsoft Teams)
Please join this online presentation and Q&A session, where Government officials will provide further information on the devolution consultation, explain how to have your say and answer any questions from the business community. This session will offer an opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of the proposal for a Mayoral Combined County Authority and its potential impact on Essex, Thurrock, and Southend-on-Sea.
Book your place
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Southend Business Partnership Briefing
Thursday 15 May 7.30am to 10.30am
Holiday Inn, London Southend Airport SS2 6XG
The focus of the event will be around “Growth” including a presentation by LSA.
- 7.30am - Registration will begin.
- 7.30am to 8.30am Networking, light breakfast, and marketplace.
- 8.30am -The business briefing keynote speakers will start.
- 10.00am Continue networking and visiting the marketplace.
- 10.30am Close
Book your place
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Devolution - the government intends for Greater Essex to have a directly elected Mayor
The Mayor of Greater Essex would be directly elected by residents and would have the power to speak directly to government ministers, secure funding for local projects, make strategic decisions, attract investment, and improve infrastructure.
Under a new Mayoral Combined County Authority, a directly elected Mayor would oversee decisions on transport, jobs, housing, education, healthcare and the environment.
The Mayor would have the power to speak directly to government ministers, secure funding for local projects, make strategic decisions, attract investment, and improve infrastructure.
The Mayor would also take on the current role of Police, Fire, and Crime Commissioner for Greater Essex.
Find out more
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Able Futures Free Mental Health support
Able Futures can give you nine months' advice and guidance from a mental health specialist, to help you manage your mental health at work, so you can enjoy more good days.
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Arriva - Delivering for and on behalf of our clients
Arriva work with organisations in various ways including
- Advising employers, business parks and shopping centres on how their staff and tenants can save money on bus fares, via our free travel club https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/business-travel/employer-travel-club
- Working with organisation who fund travel for volunteers and service users e.g. charities, employability schemes, probation services and job centres, to help them rationalise and centralising their expenses processes, save on administration time and, potentially save them money in the long run
- Working with school, colleges and universities, providing information on cost-effective solutions for students and, helping rationalise and centralise processes around their travel bursary or, where they are helping financially disadvantaged students
- Working with a range of developers, travel planners, councils and the likes on new residential developments, to help them fulfil any obligations they have around sustainable transport
Please do get in contact with Mark Christie if you have any requirements or, have any questions
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Made Smarter Adoption East of England Launching April 2025
A £1.2m grant scheme, made available through an agreement with the Department for Business & Trade, will support SMEs’ adoption of Industrial Digital Technologies (IDT) through impartial advice and guidance, a digital readiness roadmap, and leadership and management development programmes to upskill the workforce.
Interested companies should email madesmarter@norfolk.gov.uk.
Find out more
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Free energy advice
SAVS welcomes new Cadent partnership
- £370,000 fund for Southend community services
- 11 Centres for Warmth to help variety of community needs
Together the partnership will enable individuals to access a variety of resources, help and advice including income maximisation advice, carbon monoxide safety and priority services register information as well as energy efficiency advice.
If you would like to speak to an energy adviser call 07538 608213 or email djames@savs-southend.co.uk
Find out more
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Artist applications open for Southend City Jam 2025
Deadline: Friday 2 May 2025
Southend City Jam, the UK’s largest free street art festival, returns from 29 to 31 August, with applications now open for artists to transform the city into an open-air gallery.
Now in its fourth year, the festival will welcome hundreds of artists from around the world to create large-scale murals on over 100 city centre and seafront walls.
Find out more
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Southend leads full fibre rollout, boosting connectivity across South Essex
Southend-on-Sea City Council, and six other councils, have delivered a new full fibre network, bringing faster, more reliable internet to public services, businesses, and residents across South Essex.
The South Essex Councils (SEC) partnership, comprising Southend, Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Essex County, Rochford, and Thurrock Councils, secured £7.5 million in funding for the scheme. The 280km network was built in three phases, starting in 2020, to futureproof the area's digital infrastructure.
Find out more
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Big Sparks
The Big Sparks Fund will provide grants to residents, businesses and community groups who want to make a positive change within their communities.
A total of £20,000 is available in each of the four neighbourhoods across the city, the fund will be designed and delivered by those that live, work and support residents across the city.
Find out more
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SME Xpo - Powering Scale Up Success
18 to 19 June 2025 Excel London
SME XPO is the UK’s leading exhibition and conference dedicated entirely to ambitious SME founders and decision-makers who are looking to scale up. Take part in the SME XPO 2025 to gain insights, connect with peers, and explore the latest solutions for business growth..
Find out more
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Find out more about the Southend Business Partnership and what we do.
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