Business leaders with expertise in finance, healthcare and law are the newest members of the Growing Business Fund Panel.
Jackie Potter, Finance Director at Gough Hotels, Dr Sumathi Sundram, Director of Healthcare at S&V Consultants and Daryl Griffiths, Chief Executive at Burnett Barker Solicitors take the number of private sector members on the panel to ten.
The Growing Business Fund is New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership’s flagship business support programme, offering grants of £25,000 to £500,000 for businesses which want to grow and create new jobs. To date, more than £20 million has been awarded to more than 370 businesses, forecasted to create 2,400 jobs and secure £108m in private investment in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The LEP’s Growing Business Fund Panel makes decisions on allocations of funding on behalf of the full LEP board. The committee comprises a total of ten voting members, all from the private sector. Each Panel Member will be expected to sign a Declaration, in confirmation of their appointment to the Panel and acceptance of the Panel’s Terms of Reference.
Jackie Potter joined Gough Hotels in 2001. Jackie is responsible the financial strategy of the group, which consists of the Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds, Salthouse Harbour Hotel, Ipswich and Southwold Pier. Gough Hotels currently employ 240 people.
Dr Sumathi Sundram has more than 25 years’ experience in the health sector including as a Director of Finance in the NHS. She has also advised on UK health policy through Department of Health resource allocation working groups.
Daryl Griffiths has almost 30 years’ experience in the legal sector. He led a management buyout at Burnett Barker Solicitors in 2016, having risen through the ranks after first joining as a school-leaver back in 1990. He now mentors business leaders on many aspects of everyday business.
Mike Burrows, Chair of the Growing Business Fund Panel, said: “As a panel we consider applications from a broad range of businesses and industry sectors. The specialist knowledge and experience which Jackie, Sumathi and Daryl bring will be invaluable to our work, helping us support more businesses to grow, create jobs and contribute to our economic success. I’m delighted to have them on board.”
Jackie Potter, Finance Director at Gough Hotels, said: “East Anglia is a great place to live and work. I believe a strong economy underpins a region, bringing benefits to all whom live and work there. I volunteered for the Growing Business Fund panel so I could help make a small difference in ensuring we maximise the opportunities the grant monies can bring in supporting, local, successful, growing businesses.”
Dr Sumathi Sundram, Director of Healthcare at S&V Consultants, said: “It’s great to be a part of a fund that supports local enterprises to grow and create jobs. I’m looking forward to working with the panel.”
Daryl Griffiths, Chief Executive at Burnett Barker Solicitors, said: “The opportunity to use my experience to help other businesses in the region to grow was too good to miss. I look forward to contributing to the panel and to encouraging organisations to consider applying for support from the Fund.”
