Boasting 100 miles of coastline and the longest leisure pier in the country, the biggest logistics park in Europe, the UK's largest human-made wetland, 71% of land designated as Green Belt, as well as being home to 32,000 businesses including leading brands such as Ford, Amazon, National Westminster Bank and Olympus, South Essex has a tremendous amount to offer.

Its seven councils – a mix of districts, boroughs, unitaries and county – know this all too well, which is why, some five years' ago now, we put aside political, structural and local differences to work in partnership to deliver more for our communities and businesses together, than we each can individually.