University of Essex

School of Entrepreneurship & Business

Entrepreneurship Research Project (including the Extension of Rural Study)

Thames Gateway South Essex and EEDA EEDA Thames Gateway South Essex

Project description

The main purpose of the project was to establish a baseline of information on the key factors that determine and influence the culture of enterprise and innovation in South Essex. The project is expected to inform future activities and interventions performed by national, regional and local agencies. These interventions will provide support that caters for the needs of the sub-regional (Southend, Rochford, Basildon, Castle Point, and Thurrock) community, whilst ensuring that mainstream funding makes an impact on real people to create an entrepreneurial culture in Thames Gateway South Essex. This project focused on key sectors including creative industries, environmental technologies, leisure and tourism, transport and logistics, and rural enterprise.

Outputs and outcomes

  • 50 businesses assisted to engage in collaborations with UK knowledge base
  • Over £21K public investment levered
  • 612 community participants
  • 5 key sectors supported
  • Supported 1 cluster development initiative
  • Carried out 2 capacity building initiatives

Reports

Project details

Funded by

EEDA through TGSEP’s Investing in Communities Programme

Start Date

Oct 2005 (Sep 2006 for Rural Study)

End Date

Mar 2007

Principal Investigators

Prof Jay Mitra

Dr Bill Gleave

Project Manager/Coordinator

Ms Sujun Zhang

Partners

South East Essex College
Anglia Ruskin University
Thurrock Borough Council
Business Link for Essex
Writtle College