EEDA - East of England Development Agency

EEDA and NHS join forces to deliver a healthy economy

22 March 2010

The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and NHS East of England have joined forces in a new agreement to boost the health and wealth of the region.

The agreement enables the two organisations to work closer on priorities which will shape the region’s health and economy over the next decade.

NHS East of England and EEDA aim to make the following programme areas a priority for the benefit of businesses and communities in the East of England:

• Employment and work limiting illness -  getting people back into work
• New market technologies - fostering innovation in healthcare
• Business Support -  research into the link between health and productivity
• Sustainable Development - developing a shared regional sustainability agenda
• Regional intelligence - developing coherent evidence, based on the links between health and the economy.

Richard Ellis, EEDA chair, said:

“There is a critical link between the health of the workforce and a successful regional economy.  By forming a closer partnership with NHS East of England on key programmes we will be supporting businesses and local people right across the east of England.

“The agreement will mean we will be able to develop enhanced and comprehensive evidence that will tell us where our joint investments deliver the most economic benefit to the region.  This is also a massive opportunity continue to help small businesses speed innovative products to market, such as through the pioneering Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) which is already delivering results. 

“We now need employers and businesses large and small as well as local authorities and the voluntary sector organisations to tell us what their experiences are of addressing these issues so we can work together to achieve the growth we need to continue to be globally competitive.”

Karen Livingstone, Director of Strategic Partnerships at NHS East of England, said:

“We have been working with EEDA to formulate the plans we are launching today. We aim to achieve a strong and successful regional economy that harnesses the talents of everyone in the region. Both NHS East of England and EEDA recognise that there is more that can be achieved through even closer collaboration and in particular addressing joint key health issues that impact on our communities and businesses.

“We will ensure that these commitments will be delivered by working with EEDA to establish a regional structure where health and inequality can be addressed with our partners across the region.”

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