John Spence, chairman of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SE LEP), has been awarded a CBE for his services to business in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Mr Spence has chaired the business-led partnership covering Kent, Medway, East Sussex, Essex, Southend and Thurrock, for the last two years.

Mr Spence said: ““I am privileged and humbled to be recognized with this honour which reflects a range of activities. I have been blessed with working with some forward thinking businesses and innovative councils who are all working hard to stimulate growth and boost the local and national economy. I would like to pay tribute to their efforts as well.”

SE LEP director Dr Susan Priest, said: “John has worked tirelessly as chairman of SE LEP and in his many other roles to support businesses across the South East, challenging government and others to remove the barriers preventing companies of all sizes fulfilling their potential. I am sure everyone he has worked with and the wider South East business community will join me in congratulating him on a fully deserved honour.”

During his time as chairman, SE LEP has supported the Enterprise Zone in Sandwich, promoted the accelerated introduction of free flowing tolling at the Dartford River Crossing, worked to improve poor or no mobile phone coverage, and developed schemes to support the growth of coastal communities.

It is the largest strategic partnership of its kind outside London, representing 3.9 million people and home to more than 130,000 businesses that provide 1.3 million jobs. The area covered contributes £63 billion a year to the national economy,