SEED Partner Organisations & Project Areas
Kent County Council
Kent County Council is one of the largest local authorities in the country and provides more than 300 services for around 1.4 million residents in the county from social care and education to highway maintenance and community services. In its latest Strategic Statement “Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes”, KCC has pledged to help the Kent economy to grow and make the most of Kent’s unique gateway location between London and mainland Europe. Whilst trading overseas is a proven route to economic growth, KCC is aware that Kent firms are not trading abroad as actively as those in other parts of the South East. Kent County Council co-ordinates the Kent International Business partnership programme to encourage more local companies to access overseas markets through providing more coherent international trade support for the county.
For more information, please visit our website: www.kent.gov.uk and see also www.kentinternationalbusiness.co.uk
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
The Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation which provides a full range of business support services, ranging from networking, business support to representation. Its aims are to build and support an environment that is conducive to business growth and enterprise. Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce can provide direct expert support to local businesses with various aspects of international trade including a full export documentation and certification service.
For more information, please visit our website: www.kentinvictachamber.co.uk
Medway Council
Medway has a thriving business environment. It’s home to a range of businesses that drive local employment and generate economic activity. Medway Council believe in offering the right infrastructure to support businesses and can advise about business creation and generating sustainable growth. They have invested in business support providers, Locate in Kent, and the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. These providers offer local business owners the chance to get expert business advice that is free and impartial.
For more information, please visit our website:www.medway.gov.uk
Essex County Council
Essex County Council provide a business support service in partnership with Let’s Do Business Group which gives Essex businesses up to 12 hours of fully-funded advice. The range of business support services includes, but is not limited to:
- business planning and marketing
- providing connections to key personnel, prospective business partners and support organisations
- identifying potential sources of business funding
- building local supply chains
- recruiting and training a high-quality workforce
- accessing university knowledge and research and development expertise
- evaluating and selecting an ideal business location, property or site.
For more information, please visit our website: www.essex.gov.uk
Opportunity South Essex
Opportunity South Essex is a private‐public Board whose vision is for South Essex to have one of the fastest growing and the most sustainable economies in the UK which provides opportunities for businesses, is attractive to inward investors and benefits local communities. OSE will work closely with the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) to support the realisation of South Essex economic and productivity ambitions.
For more information, please visit our website: www.southeastlep.com
Sussex Chamber of Commerce
The Sussex Chamber of Commerce is a membership organisation which aims to support business growth, champion key issues and drive sustainable economic growth in Sussex. Their mission is to support and develop the growth of the Sussex economy:
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- Grow – open the door to new business opportunities and business growth
- Develop – increase skills and knowledge to develop a brighter and better future
- Discover – unearth export and import prospects as well as local and global growth
- Influence– our campaigns and have a voice at local and national events
For more information, please visit our website: www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
Department for International Trade (South East and East Teams)
The Department for International Trade helps first time or experienced exporters to grow their sales in new markets. It does this through locally-based International Trade Advisers combined with a network of 110 teams located in British Embassies and Consulates overseas. DIT also runs a programme of specialist events in Kent on winning and delivering business internationally plus regular visits to overseas markets and events.
For more information, please visit our website: www.great.gov.uk
Contact details for each part of the SELEP area are listed below:
Kent:
Kent County Council (Invicta House, County Hall, Maidstone, ME14 1XX)
+44 (0)3000417456 international.affairs@kent.gov.uk
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce (Ashford Business Point, Waterbrook Avenue, Ashford, Kent TN24 0LH)
+44 (0)1233503838 exports@kentinvictachamber.co.uk
Medway:
Medway Council (Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR)
+44 (0)1634333333 businessandskills@medway.gov.uk
Essex:
Essex County Council (19 Market Rd, Chelmsford CM1 1GG)
+44 (0)3457430430 economic.growth.team@essex.gov.uk
Opportunity South Essex (South East LEP Secretariat c/o Essex County Council County Hall Market Road Chelmsford CM1 1QH)
+44 (0)3330322946 hello@southeastlep.com
East Sussex:
Sussex Chamber of Commerce (Unit 4, Victoria Business Centre, 43 Victoria Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9LR)
+44 (0)1444 259259 customs@sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk & export@sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
