Clearly the Covid-19 pandemic has had a massive effect on society and the economy
but with the right investment, the East of England can build upon our existing
strengths, enabling us to do even more to support the nation's economic recovery
and be a leading light in tackling the climate emergency.
To achieve the offers we are making, we require greater investment overall, for this
investment to be targeted to the right places, and to have greater local flexibility to
ensure investment is prioritised towards our greatest economic opportunities.
Given the good historical track record of return on investment from spending in the
East of England to date, increased investment in our region will generate wider
benefits for the UK as a whole. For example, New Anglia LEP's Growth Deal from
Government of £223.5m has led to the creation of 3,005 jobs, 2,189 new learners,
802 new homes and £676.4m of matched funding.3
Our region's partnerships have already delivered many successful outcomes at a local
level, in terms of economic outcomes, outcomes for our people, for our
communities, and for our places. For example, Stansted Airport College - an
innovative partnership between London Stansted Airport (MAG) and Harlow College
supports learners to gain the skills needed by the aviation, leisure, and hospitality
sectors. In 2021, 25% of Extended Diploma students achieved top Distinction
grades.4