East of England

The East of England has one of the highest long-term economic growth rates in the UK. The region forms part of the Greater South East (alongside London and South East England) and is a net contributor to the Exchequer.

The region has one of the fastest growing populations in the UK, likely to rise to over six million by 2021. Covering six counties (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk), the East of England features diverse characteristics: medium-sized cities and their hinterlands, which increasingly drive economic growth in the region; rural areas, with the premier agriculture, food processing and biofuels locations in the UK; and coastal areas, rich in cultural and natural assets and tourist destinations.

The East of England is the most research and development-intensive region in the UK. There are strong global life sciences and technology clusters and leading corporate research facilities. The region’s ports also provide the UK’s logistics gateway to global markets – with 53 per cent of UK container activity, and rising.

Levels of economic growth vary across the region. London, as a leading global city, has a major effect – most visible through high levels of commuting from the south of the region. Raising productivity and employment rates in under-performing areas (eg the eastern part of the region) is critical to the East of England’s future prosperity and competitiveness. As the region most vulnerable to climate change, EEDA also has a key role in promoting a low carbon economy and reducing the environmental impacts of business while continuing to support their growth.