EEDA’s Achievements

  • From 2002-2007, EEDA created or safeguarded 22,500 jobs, helped set up or attract over 6,000 new businesses, assisted 102,000 people to develop their skills within the region, and reclaimed or developed over 175 hectares of brownfield land.
  • From 2005-2007, EEDA has also helped 7,000 people to get a job and helped 26,000 businesses to improve their performance.
  • Following EEDA-led research findings – that major towns and cities will deliver 85% of the job growth to 2021 – EEDA encouraged Peterborough, Luton, Ipswich, Norwich, Colchester and Southend-on-Sea to come together to create Regional Cities East to deliver this vision jointly.
  • EEDA’s ‘Running the Gauntlet’ has become the UK’s biggest business competition aiming to attract high growth companies developing ground breaking technologies. It offers early stage investment of up to £2 million and £300,000 private sector support for selected companies.
  • Finance for Innovation, providing access to finance, is now helping up to 500 high-growth small and medium sized companies each year.
  • Attracted Eisai (one of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies) to locate its European corporate HQ, manufacturing, research and development centre to Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Hundreds of jobs are being created as a result of this move.
  • Invested in enterprise hubs in key sectors across the region, providing support for up to 2,500 businesses each year.
  • Regeneration of Ipswich Waterfront and the development of ‘first site’ (Colchester’s new visual arts centre) and the Orbis renewable energy centre (Lowestoft).
  • Leverage of additional resources equivalent to about 90% of EEDA’s own budget – over the period 2002/03 to 2006/07, totalling £496 million.
  • Secured major investment in two new universities in the region (University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich and the University of Essex’s Southend campus) to supply relevant graduates for industry and provide first class research facilities.
  • Launched the META hotline, providing information and advice for migrant workers and their employers. Migrant workers contribute over £300 million to the region’s economy.

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