Terry Conder of the Essex Economic Partnership outlines what the immediate future may hold for Essex firms

There are several good opportunities for the Essex economy to expand and grow coming up this year.

The launch of the Small Business Service (SBS), the launch of the Essex Technopole and the start of trans-Atlantic flights from Essex will all act as catalysts for growth.

It is the Essex Economic Partnership's (EEP) role to maximise these opportunities and minimise any possible threats.

The SBS, a subsidiary of the EEP, will be launched in April. It gives us an excellent opportunity to ensure that our small and medium sized businesses are provided with the support and advice that they need to make a real difference to their operation.

We are determined to see the SBS launched on a sound footing and operate according to the needs of business, not Government.

This year will also see the launch of the Essex Technopole. A technopole is a consotium or network of innovation and technology transfer agencies that work together to promote a city or region and to improve the capacity of the city or region to innovate.

A successful technopole will ensure that Essex is at the forefront of new technology and will help attract high-tech business to the area, bringing quality well-paid jobs with them.

It is very good news that scheduled trans-Atlantic flights are starting from Stansted to Newark, and we need to make the most of the opportunity these flights provide to increase tourist rates into the county and to show visitors what a great place Essex is to live and work.

Essex has so many attributes and we need to start shouting about them. The new initiatives beginning this year will all provide several opportunities for us to actively promote Essex.

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