The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SE LEP) is on a mission to create the most enterprising economy in England. To pursue this, we have brought together high profile leaders from business, local government and further and higher education across Essex, Southend, Thurrock, Kent, Medway and East Sussex. We help to set the priorities for national and local investment, address barriers to growth, support business expansion and create jobs. We're one of the country's 39 local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) - and the largest outside London. Our board is chaired by Peter Jones CBE, who is supported by a vice chair from the business community for each of the county areas of Essex, Kent and East Sussex. In early 2014, we developed our Strategic Economic Plan to boost the region over the next six years. From the summer of 2014, we succeeded in securing considerable Government funding (starting with £442 million) to help finance this plan. Our region - the country’s economic powerhouse - contributes £63 billion a year to the national economy and represents a wealth of business opportunities and investment potential. We have a population of nearly 4 million. We offer a skilled workforce, excellent facilities and a vibrant commercial culture: we have more than 130,000 businesses supporting over 1.3 million jobs. With eight ports, high speed rail links and national and regional airports, we are an economic gateway between mainland Europe, London and the rest of the country - with access to global destinations. We're home to eight major universities with internationally renowned research and teaching strengths. Despite this, however, we have the potential to contribute so much more to the national economy. Our region also has pockets of significant deprivation. This makes it imperative for us to continue attracting investment in order to make this - and keep it - England's most enterprising region. Find out more from www.southeastlep.com