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2021 Assurance Framework
Release Status: Draft
Author: New Anglia LEP and Suffolk County Council
Date: 31 March 2015; revised 10 May 2016; revised 14 February 2017; revised 27 February 2018,
revised 27 March 2019, revised 31 May 2019, revised 25 March 2020, revised March 2021.
Location This document is stored in the following location:
Filename
New Anglia LEP Assurance Framework
Location
https://newanglia.co.uk/governance-decision-making-and-faqs/
Revision History - This document has been through the following revisions:
Version
No.
Revision
Date
Filename/Location
stored:
Brief Summary of Changes
1
As above
N/A
2
10/05/2016
As above.
Revisions made to reflect progress on the
LEP’s governance framework and the
processes that underpin this.
3
09/02/2017
As above.
Revisions made in light of the updated
National Assurance Framework (published
November 2016) and to reflect progress on
the LEP’s governance framework and the
processes that underpin this.
4
27/02/2018
As above
Revisions made to reflect progress on the
LEP’s governance framework and the
processes that underpin this.
5
27/03/2019
As above
Revisions made in the light of the updated
National Assurance Framework and to
incorporate new policies and practice
adopted by the LEP.
6
31/05/2019
As above
Minor additions of information on LEP
policies
7
25/03/2020
As above
Revisions to incorporate new programmes,
policies and practices adopted by the LEP
8
31/03/2021
As above
Revisions to incorporate new programmes
and minor additions on LEP policies.
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Authorisation - This document requires the following approvals:
Name
Signature
Date
LEP Chair
C-J Green
31/3/2021
Accountable Body
Louise Aynsley
31/3/2021
LEP Chief Executive
Chris Starkie
31/3/2021
Contents
2021 Assurance Framework
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................................................................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Background and Context ..................................................................................................................... 5
LEP Board Structure ............................................................................................................................ 6
LEP Accountable Body ........................................................................................................................ 9
LEP Decision Making ......................................................................................................................... 10
Transport Board and Skills Advisory Panel .................................................................................... 13
New Anglia LEP Working Groups .................................................................................................... 15
Partnership Working .......................................................................................................................... 18
Stakeholder engagement .................................................................................................................. 19
Local Authority Engagement ............................................................................................................ 20
Cross-LEP Working ........................................................................................................................... 21
Transparency of Decision-Making ................................................................................................... 22
Project and Programme Delivery ..................................................................................................... 24
Growth Deal and the Capital Growth Programme ........................................................................ 27
Getting Building Fund ........................................................................................................................ 31
Growing Business Fund .................................................................................................................... 35
Small Grant Scheme ...................................................................................................................... 38
Growth Through Innovation Fund ................................................................................................ 40
Business Resilience and Recovery Scheme ............................................................................. 42
Growing Places Fund .................................................................................................................... 45
Growing Business Fund – Large Company Grant ........................................................................ 47
Innovative Projects Fund ................................................................................................................... 48
Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund ................................................................................................... 52
Enterprise Adviser Network .............................................................................................................. 55
Voluntary and Community Sector Challenge Fund ....................................................................... 56
New Anglia Apprenticeships Levy Transfer Pool .......................................................................... 57
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Introduction
This Assurance Framework outlines the processes and procedures for decision-making at New
Anglia LEP. The document is an agreement between New Anglia LEP and Government,
underlining the LEP’s commitment to transparency.
It outlines the LEP structure, including our Boards, Sub Boards and Committees. It also explains
the relationships between the LEP and local authorities. It also explains arrangements for the
delivery and oversight of projects, including relationships with delivery partners.
This document should be read in conjunction with a number of associated documents which
provide more detail on the arrangements. For example, the LEP’s Articles of Association and the
legal agreement (Accountable Body Agreement) between the LEP and its Accountable Body,
Suffolk County Council. The Assurance Framework should also be read in conjunction with the:
Growth Deal grant offer letter in which the Department for Communities and Local Government
(DCLG) will set out the degree of flexibility on offer to each LEP and any limited conditions around
use of that funding.
Monitoring and evaluation plan which sets out the local arrangements for output and outcome
monitoring and evaluation of projects.
The LEP and Accountable body will undergo an annual review of the Assurance
Framework and Accountable Body agreement.
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Background and Context
New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership was officially granted permission by ministers to be
established in November 2010.
This followed the submission of a bid to ministers supported by leaders from local authorities and
dozens of individual businesses, as well as business representative groups, MPs and academia.
The newly-appointed LEP board was keen to develop a governance model that was fit for purpose
and provided for efficient decision-making, transparent to all parties, and operated on the basis
of consensus.
The board agreed to establish the LEP as a company limited by guarantee, with its governance
model built into the LEP’s legally binding Articles of Association.
During 2017, board members agreed the LEP’s governance and operations needed reviewing to
keep pace with the expansion of the organisation and its increase in roles and responsibilities. It
commissioned PwC to conduct a review, which was published that summer.
All recommendations of the review were endorsed by the LEP board and in September 2017 an
implementation plan was agreed by the LEP board and put into immediate effect.
In September 2017, Mary Ney published an independent review on behalf of the Government
into governance and transparency of all LEPs and recommendations followed soon after.
New Anglia LEP has accepted and implemented all the recommendations of this review, as well
as the recommendations of the PwC review.
During 2018, the Government published its own review of LEPs. New Anglia LEP has
implemented the recommendations of this review in full. This Local Assurance Framework brings
New Anglia LEP’s governance in line with the recommendations of the LEP Review.
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LEP Board Structure
The LEP board membership, more details of which are set out in the company’s Articles of
Association, is as follows:
Eighteen board members comprising: 10 private sector board members, six local authority board
members and two education sector board members. For the purposes of quorum and voting, the
education sector board members are classified as private sector. Since its inception, New Anglia
LEP has ensured SME representation at board level with a policy of reserving at least one place
on the board for business representatives from the SME community, with a specific remit to
represent that community. This role of SME champion includes liaising with small businesses
groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Institute of Directors (IoD) and
small businesses more widely.
The chair must be one of the private sector board members and the appointment of the chair
must be agreed by the full board, according to our formal election process. The chair serves a
maximum term of three years. The advice states that it is best practice for the LEP deputy chair
to come from the private sector. Our deputy chair is a private sector Board member and serves
for a maximum of three years. Their appointment must be agreed by the full board, according to
our formal election process. Quorum for voting purposes is 50% of members from each of the
public and private sector membership.
Each private sector board member is initially recruited for one year. This can be extended by a
further two years and at the end of this period can be extended by a further three years, making
a maximum length of service of six years.
Recruitment of private sector board members is conducted by an open and transparent process,
with all vacancies extensively advertised.
The role of the chair will include:
• Chair and lead the board to ensure the development and implementation of the Norfolk
and Suffolk Economic Strategy in order to enable economic growth in the region.
• Ensure that New Anglia LEP and the board comply with the published Local Assurance
Framework.
• Set priorities, develop plans, monitor performance, manage risks and ensure sufficient
resources are available to deliver the LEP’s plans.
• Support the development of the effective and inclusive private public sector partnership
to achieve practical outcomes with a consensual approach.
• Promote and inspire confidence in the wider business community and our partners by
demonstrating an understanding of the economy, the area and our stakeholders to
support and attract business growth.
• Formally represent New Anglia LEP in meetings with business and public sector partners
including with Government Ministers, and in the media.
• Work collaboratively with chairs of other LEPs and work closely with the chief executive
and the senior management team to ensure a coherent approach.
The chair’s full job description can be found on our website here.
The rules governing conduct for board members are set out in our briefing document to all
board members. The Code of Conduct to which staff and board members adhere is published
on our website. The New Anglia LEP has adopted the Nolan principles as the core of the code
of conduct. Board members are therefore expected to adhere to these principles, in addition to
their responsibilities as company directors. The seven principles were established by the
Committee on Standards in Public Life, which provides independent advice to the Prime
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Minister on standards of conduct of holders of all public office. New Anglia LEP has a role
description for private sector board members which is used in board member recruitment and
induction. All board members sign a Non-Executive Director Agreement setting out their formal
governance responsibilities.
All board members receive a handbook as part of their formal induction process. This includes all
requirements as set out in the LEP Network Induction Brief June 2019. Board roles are non-
remunerated. Mileage and other direct travel expenses may be claimed at cost, in line with the
staff travel expenses policy.
The LEP is committed to ensuring it reflects the diverse economy and people of Norfolk and
Suffolk. When LEP Board opportunities arise, they are advertised widely in the local press,
through our sector groups, the LEP website, social media and other avenues. We recruit board
and sub-board candidates from a broad range of backgrounds that reflect our sector strengths
and ensure we have members from small business and entrepreneurial backgrounds, as well as
bigger business and organisations from the voluntary and community sector. We provide clear
and accurate information to enable potential applicants to assess their own suitability for the post.
We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation,
faith or disability. LEP board members are recruited through a formal application process, with a
sub-group of the board forming an appointments panel and interviewing the shortlisted
candidates. The interview panel then makes a recommendation to the LEP Board for approval.
The LEP Board has appointed a diversity champion and adopted a Diversity Policy in 2018. The
LEP also has a Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement which sets out the steps New
Anglia LEP has taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place within its
supply chains or in any part of its business. In the New Anglia area, we are committed to removing
barriers that might restrict people and we are proactively working towards positive change.
While all the Norfolk and Suffolk local authorities are members of the LEP company, the Articles
of Association grant local authorities six board positions. Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils and
Norwich City Council and Ipswich Borough Council have permanent seats on the board, with the
other district and borough authorities each nominating a representative, one for each county.
Recognising the importance of all local authorities, the LEP has developed a number of
mechanisms to ensure all local authorities are engaged with the strategy and decision-making of
the LEP. These are outlined later in this document.
The area’s colleges and universities are also members of the LEP company. Two seats are taken
by representatives from this sector. Mechanisms to ensure engagement of all colleges and
universities are also outlined later.
LEP board succession planning
The LEP recognises the importance of succession planning for the role of chair and board
members. Our approach ensures the board is able to move swiftly to fill vacancies at the end of
agreed terms of office or in the event of resignations. The LEP has an agreed policy for the
recruitment of the chair and deputy chair, which is enacted either in advance of the end of the
term of office or in the event of a resignation.
Succession planning for board members is undertaken as follows:
• Private sector. The formal recruitment process for private sector board members
begins in advance of the end of term of office of private sector board members, or at the
point of resignation. The board position or positions are advertised extensively. As part
of the recruitment process, the board will look to broaden the range of expertise on the
board, as well as its diversity. This will include ensuring suitable representation from
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SMEs, a spread of sectoral expertise and increased female representation. The LEP
continues to take proactive steps to ensure a gender balanced board. Women make up
one third of our current board and we have an ambition of equal representation by 2023.
Education sector. The college and universities in Norfolk and Suffolk are all members
of the LEP and are responsible for selecting their board representatives, one for
colleges and one for universities. Each representative serves a three-year term. At the
end of term or in the event of a resignation, a new representative is selected by these
groups.
• Local authorities. Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council as the upper tier
authorities and Norwich City Council and Ipswich Borough Council as the larger urban
centres, have places on the LEP board taken by their leaders. In the event of a change
of leadership, the LEP board seat transfers to the new leader.
The remaining district and borough authorities in Norfolk and Suffolk jointly nominate
representatives for two board seats – one for Norfolk and one for Suffolk. In the event of
a resignation, the local authority leaders in each county are responsible for nominating a
new board member.
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LEP Accountable Body
The Accountable Body for New Anglia LEP is Suffolk County Council. There is an Accountable
Body Agreement which is reviewed annually.
The Accountable Body Agreement sets out the relative roles of the two organisations in relation
to financial and programme management and includes a procedure for dispute resolution.
The LEP works closely with the Section 151 officer and her designated deputy in Suffolk County
Council. The section 151 officer or her designated deputy attend the LEP Management
Committee at which forthcoming board business is discussed. They also have an open
invitation to attend board meetings.
The Section 151 Officer and/or other members of the Accountable Body team are core
members of the LEP Audit and Risk Committee, which meets twice a year or more often if
needed. The Audit and Risk Committee manages LEP external audit arrangements and
identifies, assesses and manages risk from a strategic and operational perspective, assisted by
a detailed LEP Risk Register, which is updated at least monthly. The Section 151 Officer
attends at least one LEP board meeting per year and is available to attend additional meetings
as required.
The Section 151 Officer provides a letter by 28 February each year as part of the LEP Annual
Performance Review confirming the LEP is compliant with its Assurance Framework.
The LEP finance team and Accountable Body staff have shared access to financial information
on Programmes and review financial data on an ongoing basis, with frequent communication
between the teams.
Responsibility for final sign-off on financial decisions ultimately rests with the LEP chair, with a
scheme of delegation in place (and accessible on the LEP website) for sign-off on individual
funding decisions.
Grant agreements for Growth Deal funding are signed off by the Section 151 Officer, who
reviews the full range of documentation for each grant, including the relevant board paperwork
and any additional briefing from the LEP. Another member of the Accountable Body team
reviews and signs off grant agreements for Growing Places Fund, Growing Business Fund,
Small Grant Scheme, Growth Through Innovation Fund and the Business Recovery and
Resilience Fund on behalf of the Accountable Body.
Financial claims for the Growing Places Fund, Growth Deal and BEIS Growth Hub funding are
checked for compliance by the LEP team and passed for payment to the Accountable Body
team, who are able to raise any concerns they have in processing the claims for payment.
Financial claims for the Growing Business Fund, Small Grant Scheme, Growth Through
Innovation Fund and the Business Recovery and Resilience Fund are handled directly by the
Accountable Body team.
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LEP Decision Making
The board is the ultimate decision-making body for the LEP. The board operates through a
principle of consensus – that all board members should consent to a decision.
However, there may be occasions where it is not possible to reach a unanimous decision. On
these instances the company’s Articles of Association provides that a decision may be made by
a simple majority.
The LEP board is required to approve the LEP’s significant and strategic decisions, including
annual budget and business plan and the LEP’s Economic Strategy as well as retaining overall
responsibility for risk and performance.
It is also responsible for agreeing bids for funding by the LEP, such as bids to the Local Growth
Fund and subsequent Growth Deal, requests for funding from the LEP and investment decisions
on the Growing Places Fund, other than requests for funding or investment below £500,000 which
can be determined by the Investment Appraisal Committee under delegation from the LEP board.
All decision-making is made on the basis of access to the application, a detailed appraisal and a
clearly argued recommendation with conditions where appropriate.
Delegation of decision making to the LEP chair on any of these areas is permitted through the
prior approval of board members. The LEP board also has a mechanism for taking decisions via
written procedures.
The LEP board is also the decision-making body for areas covered by its sub-boards and working
groups.
Any delegation of decision making by these boards must be agreed by the LEP board. The LEP
has an agreed scheme of delegation which can be viewed on our website (link) and is reviewed
annually. Any decision made in contravention of published powers and processes will be invalid.
LEP Staff
The LEP board is supported by the LEP executive, which carries out the actions agreed by the
LEP board, provides information and advice to support decision-making and conducts operational
activity on behalf of the LEP board. All LEP staff are employed directly by the LEP and directly
accountable to the board through the CEO and senior management team. The LEP CEO’s
performance and remuneration is the responsibility of the LEP’s remuneration Committee. All
new LEP staff are inducted following a standard process, including familiarisation with LEP
policies and processes. LEP staff opportunities are advertised on our website and promoted
widely and the LEP follows standard HR practice to ensure a fair recruitment process.
All staff members sign up to the LEP Code of Conduct and declare any conflicts of interest where
this is relevant to their job roles.
Scrutiny
Independent scrutiny of the LEP is provided by the scrutiny committees of Suffolk and Norfolk
County Councils. Subject to the workload of each committee, the LEP will appear once a year
before each of the scrutiny committees, providing an opportunity for independent scrutiny of the
LEP.
Scrutiny meetings will be publicised in advance on the LEP website, along with the agendas and
minutes of the meetings. In addition to the two annual scrutiny committee meetings, the LEP also
makes itself available to other local authority scrutiny sessions on request.
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Evaluation
The LEP has developed its own evaluation framework, based on central government guidance.
This has been enhanced with a three-year programme of evaluation covering its programmes
and projects, including impact, process and economic (cost benefit) evaluations. This
framework has been shared with other LEPs to help inform their thinking on evaluation.
The LEP now has in place a call-on, call-off list of external providers to support the delivery of
the evaluation framework, bringing independent evaluation and external expertise, and fulfilling
contractual requirements of some of the LEP’s funding. The list of external providers has been
published on the Government’s Contract Finder website.
The programme of evaluation is reviewed and updated on an annual basis. This includes: an
overview of what will be evaluated by when; whether the evaluation will be conducted internally
or externally commissioned; whether the evaluation is a contractual requirement; the chosen
evaluation approach; who is leading the evaluation; who the evaluation will report back to; and
records the data being collected and monitored.
Evaluations play an important role in setting and delivering the ambitions and objectives in the
Economic Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy, demonstrating accountability and providing
evidence for independent scrutiny processes. Good evaluations also contribute valuable
knowledge towards our evidence base, feeding into future strategy development and occupying
a crucial role in determining our future projects, interventions and investments.
Public Sector Equality Duty
The LEP has a duty to comply with its legal duties under Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010,
the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED); and the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties)
Regulations 2011. This requires the LEP to work towards eliminating discrimination,
harassment and victimisation, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations
between people and society. The duty protects people with the following ‘protected
characteristics’: age, disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy
and maternity, and gender reassignment. The aim of the duty is for public bodies to consider
the needs of all individuals in their day-to-day work, in developing policy, in delivering services,
and in relation to their own employees. All committees must therefore take account of equality
issues generally and incorporate equality considerations into their work.
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LEP sub-boards and committees
New Anglia LEP operates a number of sub-committees and panels to support the work of the
board.
Full Terms of Reference, details of membership, plus agendas, papers and minutes for each
sub board and committee are published on the LEP website. Terms of Reference include
common principles of accountability, transparency and fair decision-making, such as ensuring a
quorum for decisions and handling conflicts of interest.
The Investment Appraisal Committee ensures allocation of funding is delivered appropriately
through the LEP’s Growing Places Fund, Growing Business Fund, Small Grant Scheme,
Growth Through Innovation Fund, Business Resilience and Recovery Fund, Capital Growth
Programme, Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund, and other funds as appropriate. It acts on
behalf of the LEP board to ensure the funding allocations support the development of schemes
that deliver the Economic Strategy and are made in accordance with the Assurance
Framework. The Investment Appraisal Committee has delegated authority from the LEP board
to approve funding for projects up to £500,000.
The Growing Business Fund Panel makes decisions on behalf of the Investment Appraisal
Committee on allocations of funding through the LEP’s Growing Business Fund.
The Small Grant Scheme Panel makes decisions on behalf of the Growing Business Fund Panel
on allocations of funding through the LEP’s Small Grant Scheme.
The Growth Through Innovation Panel makes decisions on behalf of the Growing Business
Fund Panel on allocations of funding through the LEP’s Growth Through Innovation Fund.
The Remuneration Committee provides a formal and transparent procedure on behalf of the
LEP board for developing and implementing policy on LEP senior executive remuneration.
The Audit and Risk Committee ensures the development and implementation of the LEP’s
policies on strategic risk management, financial reporting, audit process, system of internal
controls and ensures compliance with the Assurance Framework. This Committee has an
independent Chair.
The Management Committee is the executive management committee of the LEP and
provides oversight of LEP operations, providing assurance that the LEP carries out its business
in a transparent and accountable way.
The committee provides regular updates on the progress of programmes through monthly
reports to the LEP board, provides early warning of issues around risk and performance.
The committee includes the LEP’s management team, the Growth Deal manager, the Finance
and Governance Manager, senior representatives from Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils
and a LEP board member. In addition, the committee includes another representative from
Suffolk County Council representing its role as Accountable Body.
As an internal committee, its agenda, papers and minutes are not published on the LEP
website.
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Transport Board and Skills Advisory Panel
New Anglia Transport Board
The New Anglia Transport Board operates as a formal sub-board of the LEP. It is a voluntary
partnership to provide guidance and leadership to the LEP board on transport issues.
Its membership is defined by its terms of reference, which are updated annually.
The Transport Board has responsibility for overseeing the delivery of the transport infrastructure
elements of the Economic Strategy and Covid 19 Economic Recovery Restart Plan for Norfolk
and Suffolk and the Integrated Transport Strategy. The Transport Board will also have a
representative on the New Anglia LEP Clean Growth Taskforce.
The LEP retains its decision-making function regarding the management of allocated Growth
Deal funds. This is because it is a government requirement that the LEP is accountable for
the overall Growth Deal spend, particularly as this spend must be accounted for on an annual
basis (annualised spend). The Local Transport Body which once had the role of advising the
LEP board on such matters was abolished as part of the Governance Review in November
2018.
Any project or scheme that significantly changes the transport network infrastructure,
whatever its objectives, will be subject to the minimum requirements on value for money
assessment, assurance and evaluation as set out at Annex B to the National Local Growth
Assurance Framework. This will involve proportionate modelling and appraisal in accordance
with Department for Transport guidance and appraisal toolkit, referred to as WebTAG. The
level of detail will be both contingent on and appropriate for the nature and size of the scheme
concerned.
New Anglia Transport Board will provide strategic direction on transport issues on behalf of
the LEP by:
• Acting as a forum for information and expertise sharing, discussion and debate.
• Acting as a powerful advocate for Norfolk and Suffolk on behalf of the New Anglia
LEP.
• Maintaining, executing and monitoring the Integrated Transport Strategy Delivery Plan,
reporting to the Economic Strategy Co-ordinating Delivery Board.
• Directing the formation and work programmes of task and finish groups to tackle specific
topics.
• Producing and executing a stakeholder management plan.
• Producing a high-level work programme summarising individual scheme progress.
• Offering recommendations for prioritisation of projects for delivery and subsequent
monitoring of outcomes.
• Ensuring Clean Growth is embedded in all the discussions and actions undertaken
by the Board.
New Anglia Skills Advisory Panel
The Skills Advisory Panel exists to support the growth of an inclusive economy with a highly
skilled workforce where skills and employment provision meets business need and the aspirations
of individuals. It oversees the development of a skills and employment system to help enable
business growth and enhance the employment and progression prospects for individuals working
and living in Norfolk and Suffolk.
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The Skills Advisory Panels aim to bring together local employers and skills providers to pool
knowledge on skills and labour market needs, and to work together to understand and address
key local challenges. This includes both immediate needs and challenges and looking at what is
required to help local areas adapt to future labour market changes and to grasp future
opportunities. This will help colleges, universities and other providers deliver the skills required
by employers, now and in the future.
The panel provides the collective leadership and a strategic steer for skills and employment
activity across Norfolk and Suffolk to deliver on this objective.
The Skills Advisory Panel:
• provides a strategic steer for the LEP board on the employment and skills agenda
• develops and supports key skills and employment interventions with clear focus areas to
ensure post-16 educational outcomes meet business needs in the New Anglia LEP
region
• lobbies to achieve required freedoms, flexibilities and resources and raise the profile of
the New Anglia LEP region
• collaborates proactively to identify barriers and opportunities in delivering these key
interventions
• galvanises the wider employer base to be involved in skills development
• provides analytical evidence, evaluation and subsequent coordination across the skills
system in line with key strategies such as the Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk
& Local Industrial Strategy
The Skills Advisory Panel chair is a member of the LEP Board. A formal report is presented to
the LEP Board every six months, subject to the ongoing focus of the LEP Board.
Innovation Board
The New Anglia Innovation Board is a sub-group that reports into the main LEP board and is
chaired by a LEP board member.
The Innovation Board has a remit to oversee strategic activity relating to innovation across
Suffolk and Norfolk but with a particular focus on the five main ‘innovation hubs’ – Norwich
Research Park, Hethel Engineering Centre, Orbis Energy, CEFAS and Adastral Park. The
Board is also progressing new initiatives to strengthen the network of innovation centres and
clusters.
Each of the main innovation hubs are represented on the Innovation Board, along with
representatives of the local universities, two local authority representatives (NCC and SCC) as
well as an observer from Innovate UK. The secretariat function is provided by the Innovation
Team at New Anglia LEP.
Inward Investment Board
Following the launch of the Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited brand in September 2019, a new inward
investment service was established in January 2020. It consists of secondments from the two
county councils and is supported by a number of LEP staff, as well as from other partners
across the two counties. Clearly Covid 19 has impacted heavily on the new team’s operations
as well as on the global inward investment scene, with global foreign direct investment flows
down by over 40% in 2020 compared to 2019. A key role for the Invest Norfolk and Suffolk
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team was to develop and agree a new strategic approach and a Delivery Plan was presented to
the LEP board in November 2020. This was fully endorsed. The LEP Board itself will oversee
the performance of the team, but there will be a number of informal arrangements in place, for
example with the three Sector Councils, with the development sector and with local areas.
New Anglia LEP Working Groups
As well as the formal sub-boards and committees, there are a number of officer-led working
groups reporting to the LEP board or relevant LEP sub board.
Economic Recovery Group
The Economic Recovery Group was set up in response to the pandemic, with the main purpose
of overseeing the implementation of the Economic Recovery Restart Plan, to monitor delivery
against the Restart Plan and to provide direction on the development of the Economic Recovery
Renew Plan, building on Norfolk and Suffolk’s Economic Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy.
The Economic Recovery Group is chaired by the LEP’s Chief Executive Officer and includes
representatives from business intermediaries, county and district local authorities, Voluntary and
Community Sector, the Skills Advisory Panel and Further Education representatives as well as
members of the LEP’s Senior Management Team. Meetings are held on a monthly basis.
Enterprise Zone Partnership Groups
The LEP has two Enterprise Zones (EZs). Firstly, the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft EZ which
has been in operation since 2012. Following a Government award in November 2015, the Great
Yarmouth and Lowestoft EZ was extended geographically from 2017. Announced by Government
at the same time, the second EZ designation for New Anglia was awarded, called Space to
Innovate, consisting of ten sites operational from 1st April 2016.
The main LEP board has overall responsibility for the two New Anglia Enterprise Zones (EZ),
day-to-day management and the development of the EZ strategy is being developed in
conjunction with these partnership groups.
Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft (New Anglia) Enterprise Zone Working Group
The group is chaired by the LEP’s Head of Enterprise Zones and Innovation and includes
representatives from the four local authorities responsible for the development of the six sites
within the zone. The group is responsible for the delivery of the EZ delivery plan and regularly
reports back to the LEP board. The work of the EZ is tied into broader support for the energy
sectors as a whole, with a combined marketing strategy which is part of the EZ delivery plan.
There are plans to review and revise the governance and management of the EZ Working Group
to enable a stronger focus on specific sites and projects separately in Great Yarmouth and
Lowestoft.
Space to Innovate Enterprise Zone Development Group
There is a similar arrangement put in place for the 10 new sites across Norfolk & Suffolk with the
Development Group meeting quarterly.
The group is chaired by the LEP’s Head of Enterprise Zone and Innovation and includes
representatives from the district/borough councils and both county councils responsible for the
development of the 10 sites.
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Each district/borough council has its own project or steering group for its site/sites which is
responsible for the delivery of the EZ site delivery plan. A member of the LEP EZ team is
represented on all of these groups. These feed into the larger Development Group and
subsequently the LEP board.
The membership of the group also includes representatives from key Government departments
responsible for supporting enterprise zones.
New Anglia Small Grant Scheme Panel
The LEP has been successful in its bid to the government to deliver the New Anglia Business
Growth Programme, which includes the Small Grant Scheme (SGS) and was awarded £14.02m
from the European Regional Development Fund. The Small Grant Scheme became operational
in August 2016 and will be running until November 2021.
SGS grants are between £1,000 and £25,000 (Growing Business Fund grants start at £25,000)
with the SGS Panel considering grant applications over £10,000, with the Growth Programme
Coordinator approving grants up to £10,000. Applications go through a Due Diligence process,
undertaken by the LEP’s Due Diligence Officer with the panel members deciding whether to
award grant funding for a proposed project electronically. The panel also meets quarterly to
discuss the grant programme, its processes and eligibility criteria to make sure the programme
achieves its set targets.
The SGS Panel consists of three panel members, one representative from each of the following
organisations: the LEP, Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils. It is a virtual group.
The Growth Programme Coordinator provides monthly reports on the programme to the Growing
Business Fund Panel, Invest Appraisal Committee, Growth Programme partners and other
stakeholders, as well as quarterly reports on the programme to the LEP Board.
New Anglia Growth Through Innovation Fund
The LEP has been successful in its bid to the government to deliver the Growth Through
Innovation Fund (GTI) and was awarded £14.02m from the European Regional Development
Fund. The Growth Through Innovation Fund became operational in April 2020 and will be running
until March 2023.
GTI grants are between £1,000 and £25,000 with a the GTI Panel considering grant applications
over £10,000, with the Growth Programme Coordinator approving grants up to £10,000.
Applications go through a Due Diligence process, undertaken by the LEP’s Due Diligence Officer
with the panel members deciding whether to award grant funding for a proposed project
electronically. The panel also meets quarterly to discuss the grant programme, its processes and
eligibility criteria to make sure the programme achieves its set targets.
The GTI Panel consists of three panel members, one representative from each of the following
organisations: the LEP, University of East Anglia and University of Suffolk. It is a virtual group.
The Growth Programme Coordinator provides monthly reports on the programme to the Growing
Business Fund Panel, Invest Appraisal Committee, Growth Programme partners and other
stakeholders, as well as quarterly reports on the programme to the LEP Board.
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New Anglia Growth Programme Partnership Board
The LEP was awarded £3.9m by Government as part of the Wave Two Growth Hub Programme
and linked to the Norwich and Ipswich City Deals business support package. The programme ran
for one year and consisted of the New Anglia Growth Hub, a business Start-up programme, Small
Grant Scheme and Innovation Vouchers Scheme.
From April 2015 the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (now called the Department of
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) awarded a further £350,000 of funding, as part of the
Growth Deal, which enabled the Growth Hub element of the programme to continue to operate
until the end of December 2015.
Since then, the LEP has secured £14.02 million of ERDF funding to sustain the Growth
Programme until November 2021, including the Growth Hub, Start-up Programme and the Small
Grant Scheme.
The New Anglia Growth Programme Partnership Board provides strategic and operational
oversight of this programme. It is accountable to the main LEP board and provides a monthly
operational report to the LEP board in which it can recommend proposals for change or action.
The Partnership Board has a key role in identifying gaps in business support provision and
supports the development of new programmes where gaps in provision exist. It also provides a
forum to coordinate all aspects of business support in Norfolk and Suffolk to reduce duplication
and to spread best practice, as well as providing a leadership role in the application of resources.
The board is chaired by a representative from the New Anglia LEP and includes representatives
of local and national business support providers, business interest groups, local authorities,
education and the voluntary sector. The group has its own terms of reference.
Careers Inspiration Coordinating Group
The Careers Inspiration Coordinating Group strategically supports and guides the focus of
careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) to young people in mainstream
schools and colleges plus settings such as Pupil Referral Units and SEND schools.
Careers Inspiration is important at all stages of employment, so this group will review this. Initially
the focus of the group is on pupils in Year 7–13 and primarily be centred around the Careers and
Enterprise Company programmes being delivered in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Coordinating Group will:
• provide coordination across the CEIAG landscape with a strategic focus on careers
inspiration in Norfolk and Suffolk
• collaborate proactively to identify opportunities and barriers in delivering the key CEIAG
interventions particularly focussed around the Gatsby benchmarks
• actively report to the New Anglia LEP Skills Advisory Panel on its progress and seek
support with challenges, as well as responding to actions set out by the board.
• interpret, share and/or respond to Labour Market Information and other appropriate
sources of evidence which could impact the choices that young people make.
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Partnership Working
Working with partners is critical to the success of the Local Enterprise Partnership and we have
a range of mechanisms to ensure businesses remain at the heart of our strategy. The purpose
and effectiveness of our stakeholder engagement is under constant review by LEP
management and board to ensure effective delivery. In 2019, the structure and role of a number
of the sector groups was reviewed to support them to deliver more effectively.
LEP Sector Groups
The LEP has established a series of business-led advisory groups covering the key sectors with
potential for growth in the LEP’s local area. These are supported by the LEP’s Innovation and
Sector Manager and Innovation and Sector Development Coordinator.
These groups have historically operated at arm’s length from the LEP board. They are
responsible for developing insight into the priorities and needs of their sector, and championing
action from the LEP and others to support these priorities.
The priorities are essential building blocks for the Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk,
and the sector groups are a vital mechanism for understanding the needs of business and for
the LEP to test its future plans. Where they have the appropriate structures in place, sector
groups have a role to play in supporting the delivery of activities such as taking forward the
Sector Skills Plans.
Following a review of sector group governance, a number of parameters have been put in place
which include that sector groups cannot be a private organisation or membership body, and that
groups must regularly report to the LEP board on achievements.
As part of the work to strengthen our sector group structures, the LEP established three
Industry Councils to represent the three strategic opportunity areas of the Local Industrial
Strategy; Energy, ICT-Digital and Agri-Food. Considered formal sub-boards of the LEP, Industry
Councils are partnerships between the private, public and education sectors and tasked with
coordinating delivery of sector development interventions of the Economic Strategy and Local
Industrial Strategy. Each council is supported by the relevant industry body and has an
enhanced terms of reference to ensure alignment and accountability to the LEP board.
The LEP continues to support other key sectors, through working in partnership, to assist
economic recovery and growth in various key sectors such as the visitor economy, culture, life
sciences and manufacturing.
Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor
The Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor is a partnership initiative between Breckland District
Council, Broadland District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, East Cambridgeshire
District Council, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Norfolk County Council, Norwich City
Council, South Norfolk Council, West Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council and the
private sector. The initiative is hosted by New Anglia LEP.
The Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor initiative is set up to support technology led economic
growth and cluster development in the geography between Norwich and Cambridge – identified
as a Priority Place for growth in the New Anglia LEP Economic Strategy. The initiative has been
funded generally through the pooled business rates with specific projects delivered and
supported by other external funds. The Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor is governed by a
private-public delivery board on which the LEP is represented.
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Stakeholder engagement
LEP annual general meeting
The LEP’s articles of association provide for an annual general meeting which provides a good
opportunity to update all stakeholders on its progress and for the LEP board and executive to
be held to account. Due to Covid-19 the 2020 AGM was held virtually this year and featured
our response to the pandemic, including our Economic Recovery Restart Plan, as well as a
review of the year’s LEP activity and details of its finances.
Communications
The LEP uses a range of communication channels to engage with stakeholders and to promote
its work.
These include: press releases, reactive and proactive media statements, media interviews, the
LEP website, monthly e-newsletters, as well as posts on channels Twitter and LinkedIn. All
marketing and promotion is carried out in accordance with Government branding guidelines.
Furthermore, all legal agreements clearly stipulate this branding requirement as part of any
funding awards made, and we actively monitor compliance with grant recipients.
The LEP has invested more resources in its website so it can more effectively promote its
activities, and improve the visibility and transparency of its work, with details of all Local Growth
Deal projects and other funded projects clearly displayed.
A place brand steering group, bringing together public and private sector partners, was in place
during the new brand development and in the early stages following the launch. A working
group, comprising four private sector LEP board members and representatives from the LEP
executive, continues to meet to ensure focused activity and a clear business location focus. The
group is chaired by the Head of Communications.
Events
The LEP continues to participate in external events, with LEP board members and executive
members taking part in a range of speaking engagements and events during the year in order
to maximise all opportunities to raise the profile of our work.
The LEP chair has also hosted a number of informal lunches across Norfolk and Suffolk to bring
together key businesses and other stakeholders in local areas. The purpose of these is to foster
partnership working in local areas – for example, bringing businesses into close contact with
colleges – as well as updating stakeholders on the work of the LEP. We also encourage female
participation, for example, by hosting LEP women in business events in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The LEP has also played a key role in events to discuss the impact of Brexit on business, as
well as inward investment initiatives including a major trade fair in The Netherlands and in the
Norfolk and Suffolk Careers Festivals. The team also supports the Growth Programme with
strategic communications advice and marketing and communications activities.
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Local Authority Engagement
New Anglia LEP’s board and executive engage extensively with all local authorities covering
Norfolk and Suffolk.
This is often done on a one-to-one basis, by participating in meetings with individual local
authorities. However, there are a number of formal groups in which the LEP participates.
Suffolk Public Sector Leaders Board and Norfolk Leaders Group
The LEP chairman and chief executive are participants in both groups, enabling engagement with
all local authority leaders in the work of the LEP on a regular basis and enabling the LEP to
engage in the wider work of the public sector.
Both groups give the LEP regular opportunities to provide updates on the activities of the LEP
and its key priorities, and the opportunity to receive feedback from leaders as well as to answer
questions from leaders.
Norfolk Chief Executives Group and Suffolk Growth Programme Board
The Norfolk Chief Executives Group and Suffolk Growth Programme Board both have an
important role to support the LEP, in particular the delivery of the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic
Strategy.
These working groups are chaired by local authority chief executives and each group includes
the local authorities from each county. The groups are attended by the LEP CEO or COO.
One of their roles is to provide advice to the LEP, to support the delivery of the Economic Strategy
and ensure it aligns with local plans and vice versa.
Suffolk Growth Portfolio Holders Group
The LEP also participates in this group which brings together the economic development or
growth portfolio holders in Suffolk to oversee plans for growth across the county, to pool and
share expertise.
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Cross-LEP Working
The focus of the Local Enterprise Partnership is on delivering economic growth in Norfolk and
Suffolk.
To achieve this we recognise that working closely with LEPs and partners in other areas on
enhancing supply chains, learning best practices and driving efficiency around procurement will
maximise opportunities for our economy.
Cross-LEP working is particularly relevant for New Anglia LEP as three of our district councils
were previously also covered by the LEP area managed by the business board of the
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. We are therefore working to ensure we
have a strong working relationship with the Combined Authority (CA) to ensure smooth continuity
of delivery for that area. This includes New Anglia LEP and the CA Business Board signing a
memorandum of understanding about joint working.
New Anglia LEP collaborates with other LEPs and CAs on a range of projects and initiatives. We
are members of the Transport East Forum alongside four other LEPs and play an active role in
the Greater South East Local Energy Hub which covers an area involving 11 LEPs.
We also work collaboratively with the four LEPs on the Oxford to Cambridge ARC as part of the
regional Growth Hub cluster and LEP Network regional cluster.
Where relevant, we collaborate across LEPs in developing projects – we are working with LEPs
in the South West and Cumbria on the nuclear sector deal and with GMCA, North East LEP,
Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP, West of England LEP and Coast to Capital LEP on
developing Decarbonisation Academies with the Energy Systems Catapult.
New Anglia LEP also plays an active part in the LEP Network, working with LEPs on areas of
relevance across England. These include attendance at EU Programme network events, and
sector-based themed events such as the Food and Drink Network and leading on consultation
response for the network.
We have been paired with York and North Yorkshire LEP as part of the LEP Peer Review. This
meeting will be chaired by an independent representative and will give the opportunity for
constructive challenge and shared learning.
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Transparency of Decision-Making
New Anglia LEP prides itself on transparency of decision-making.
The LEP has a website which publishes information about its board, sub-boards and committees.
This includes agendas, papers and minutes, membership details, terms of reference and registers
of interests of members.
The website also has details of our Growth Deal and Getting Building Fund projects and their
delivery aims, as well as latest news which keeps visitors up to date with our most recent
announcements and decisions. All LEP communications are delivered in accordance with
Government branding guidelines.
Any calls for capital projects and clear processes on the application and decision-making process
will be made available on our website (i.e. through our Growth Deal Three funding). Information
on all our funding programmes, including Growth Deal (Capital Growth Programme), Growing
Business Fund, Small Grant Scheme, Growth Through Innovation Fund, Business Resilience and
Recovery Fund and Growing Places Fund, is available on our website. All programmes include
clear processes for handling sensitive or confidential information without compromising
transparency and these processes are used to ensure only appropriate information is published.
The LEP ensures value for money and scrutiny for all projects and programmes through its formal
appraisal processes and this is monitored throughout project delivery.
All project appraisals for the Growing Business Fund are undertaken by independent consultants
before consideration by the Growing Business Fund Panel, which reports into the Investment
Appraisal Committee. Project applications for the Growing Places Fund are considered by the
LEP’s Investment Appraisal Committee following independent due diligence.
Growth Deal projects are reviewed by the LEP’s Strategy team, the LEP Skills Advisory
Panel or the Local Transport Body (as appropriate). All project appraisals are independent
of the promoting organisation or, where this is impracticable, sit outside the management
unit responsible for developing and promoting the business case.
Overall, the LEP’s Head of Programmes is responsible for ensuring value for money and
scrutiny for all projects and programmes. Value for money is assessed by scrutinising project
outputs and deliverables in relation to the requested investment and reviewing the cost
effectiveness of delivery mechanisms. All investment decisions are made with due regard
for statutory requirements, key policy parameters such as local transport objectives and
conditions of funding.
Agendas, papers and minutes published on the LEP website will include all information
appropriate for public disclosure, in line with relevant local authority rules and regulations.
Also published as part of the LEP’s board papers and available on the website is a decision log
which records all the decisions taken by the LEP board and its sub-boards.
The LEP’s statutory annual accounts are published on our website each year, following the LEP’s
Annual General Meeting which is held in the autumn. The LEP’s accounts are also filed publicly
at Companies House and are audited by independent accountants.
The website also provides details of the LEP’s Growth Deal and Getting Building Fund and details
of its ongoing implementation.
Requests under the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations are
responded to by the LEP, in accordance with the relevant legislation.
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The LEP has a company Articles of Association available on its website, which explains our
purpose as well as our duties and responsibilities.
The Conflicts of Interest policy is on the website and is also set out in the Articles of Association.
This sets out a clear process for dealing with any conflicts or potential conflicts of interest that
may arise.
The LEP records all declarations of interest in the minutes of the monthly board meeting. A
register of interests is published on the LEP website and each member’s individual register of
interests is also published on the website.
The LEP also has complaints and whistleblowing policies and provides a clear link to these on
its website. We aim to deal with complaints in the first instance within the relevant team, with
the option for escalation to the LEP CEO or, in rare instances, to external review if needed. The
whistleblowing procedure allows for securely confidential reporting of serious concerns, with a
cascade of options for reporting concerns within the LEP and recourse to the LEP Unit at
MHCLG if required. Assurances to staff who report concerns in good faith are incorporated.
The LEP’s code of conduct is also available on the website.
Most of our key governance documentation can be accessed on a single governance page on
the website, as recommended in the guidance - https://newanglia.co.uk/governance-decision-
making-and-faqs/ .
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Project and Programme Delivery
All capital projects and the LEP programmes have clear processes in place to ensure strategic
fit, value for money and due diligence.
The LEP has in place an appraisal framework which provides a detailed methodology for project
identification, commissioning, appraisal and prioritisation. This helps the LEP and partners to
assess how proposed interventions would contribute to the aims of the Economic Strategy for
Norfolk and Suffolk and demonstrate value for money. The framework is also consistent with
the Treasury Green Book.
The LEP now has in place a call-on, call-off list of external providers who will support the
delivery of independent appraisals of the LEP’s programmes to ensure we have capacity to
deliver programmes effectively.
The LEP funding programmes are:
• Capital Growth Programme
• Getting Building Fund
• Growing Business Fund
• Small Grant Scheme
• Growth Through Innovation Fund
• Business Resilience and Recovery Fund
• Growing Places Fund
• Growing Business Fund – Large Company Grant Programme
• Innovative Projects Fund
• Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund
• New Anglia Capital
• Enterprise Adviser Network
• Voluntary and Community Sector Challenge Fund
• New Anglia Apprenticeships Levy Transfer Pool
The LEP has developed an Investment Plan to prioritise new projects for funding and delivery
which have a close fit with the Economic and Local Industrial Strategy. Alongside this will sit a
Funding Framework which sets out the parameters for approving funding and seeking funding
from external sources. It also sets out a clear process for approving ad hoc LEP funding for
activity outside its own programmes, for example as match funding for key bids.
The application decision-making and delivery processes and governance and accountability of
each of these programmes are described below. There are some key processes and checks
which are common to all programmes, as follows:
Risk management
The LEP actively maintains a Risk Register across all its activity, which is under regular review
by the Management Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee which will take action to
challenge and address any concerns. The LEP seeks to manage and minimise risk in programme
delivery by careful appraisal and scrutiny of potential projects prior to contract, and by constant
monitoring of activity to identify issues.
Data Management
The LEP manages data in accordance with GDPR and the regulations of individual programmes,
in particular the document management and retention requirements of EU Funding.
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As Data Controller and Data Processor, New Anglia LEP is responsible for ensuring that any
customer data and personal data, that it holds is accurate and, where necessary, kept up to
date. Therefore, it is a duty of the LEP to ensure individuals have access rights to their data as
required by the General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679) and Data Protection Act 2018.
In accordance with Article 5(2) of the General Data Protection Regulations, New Anglia LEP
adheres to the principles of the Regulation when storing and processing data.
New Anglia LEP has several contracts with Government departments to deliver a range of
business support programmes and grant schemes, several of which are delivered in partnership
with other organisations and Local Authorities. As part of the operation of these
programmes/schemes, New Anglia LEP processes personal data according to the following
lawful basis:
Article 6(1)(e) of the General Data Protection Regulation: “Processing is necessary for the
performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority
vested in the controller”.
The lawful basis for controlling or processing ‘special category’ data is:
Article 9(2)(g) of the General Data Protection Regulation: “Processing is necessary for reasons
of substantial public interest, on the basis of Union or Member State law which shall be
proportionate to the aim pursued, respect the essence of the right to data protection and
provide suitable and specific measures to safeguard the fundamental rights and the interests of
the data subject”.
Depending on the nature of activities or support provided by New Anglia LEP and its delivery
partners, a range of information may be collected and may be shared with delivery partners and
Government departments for the purposes of reporting and monitoring.
Information Being Shared
As part of the operation of New Anglia LEP’s business support programmes and grant
schemes, a shared Client Relationship Management (CRM) System has been developed by
New Anglia LEP to enable business support and delivery partners across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Its role is to facilitate the delivery, coordination and management of business support services
to customers, support to inward investment opportunities in line with the objectives outlined in
the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Strategy, and contact customers about business support
services that can be accessed through the New Anglia Growth Hub.
Further information can be found in the LEP’s Privacy Policy.
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Withholding, suspending and/or pay back of funds.
In some instances, as a result of project review and monitoring it will be determined that a project
is not going to spend its LEP allocation or there will be an issue with eligibility or relevance of
spend against contract which requires a claw back of funds.
Process
Offer letters relating to financial awards granted through programmes offered by the LEP
determine the circumstances under which funds might be withheld, suspended and/or clawed
back. Project applicants agree to monitor the delivery of their project to ensure its aims and
objectives o are being met and the terms of the Agreement are being complied with.
The LEP and/or the AB will undertake interim or post completion checks to confirm the grant
has been used for the approved purposes and inspect any grant aided activity. The applicant
must on request provide the LEP or the AB with such information, explanations and documents
as may reasonably be required in order to facilitate monitoring and/or to establish the terms of
their Agreement have been complied with.
No financial claim shall be paid unless and until the LEP and/or the AB are satisfied that such
payment is due under the terms of the project Agreement.
While not exhaustive, key circumstances under which the LEP might seek an applicant to pay
back funding include; breaking state aid law, where the applicant fails to comply with our
agreement, commits fraud or a prohibited act, breaks the law or acts dishonestly, misleads the
LEP/SCC, undertakes activity which could affect our reputation, fails to make satisfactory
progress, delivers the project in a negligent manner, uses the grant for purposes other than it
was awarded (such as ineligible expenditure), or fails to achieve an output.
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Growth Deal and the Capital Growth Programme
Background
The LEP has a £290.9m ‘Growth Deal’ with Government to be invested in the region by 2021. It
is estimated to create 54,750 new jobs, 6,800 new homes and generate an additional £628m
public and private investment.
The funding is for capital programmes and projects.
Growth Deal funding (also known as ‘Local Growth Funding’) has been awarded in three
stages:
• Growth Deal One (July 2014): £173.3m
• Growth Deal Two (January 2015): £48.5m
• Growth Deal Three (February 2017): £69.1m
Growth Deal provides funding for the following programmes: Growing Places Fund, Growing
Business Fund and the Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund. Details of these programmes are
included below.
Growth Deal also provides funding to deliver major capital projects that will boost the region’s
skills, drive innovation, target support to help small businesses to grow, and improve transport
and infrastructure. A list of all of the approved Growth Deal capital projects can be found at
https://newanglia.co.uk/growth-deal/
Processes
The Capital Growth Programme was launched in 2017, with a call for projects in October 2017.
Prior to this, capital projects were prioritised by the LEP and local partners for applications to the
Government in July 2014 and January 2015.
New Anglia LEP launched a further call for projects focussed on Skills, Innovation and
Productivity opportunities that meet the strategic priorities of the Economic Strategy for Norfolk
and Suffolk in October 2018.The LEP is likely to take a similar approach to any future call for
projects.
The key criteria used for the October 2018 call were:
That all projects must be:
• able to demonstrate that they address the key focus of skills, innovation or productivity
• fully completed by the end of March 2021
• able to demonstrate their contribution to the delivery of the Economic Strategy through
direct and
in
direct outputs
• state Aid compliant
• able to demonstrate the need for funding and the additionality achieved by the funding.
It will not be possible to support:
• revenue costs
• costs that have been incurred before a grant offer is made
• items that only benefit an individual or sole business
• items that are not directly needed to deliver the proposed work
• loan repayments or contributions to general appeals
• political or religious activities.
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The project application, decision-making and delivery stages are as follows:
Application
The Capital Growth Programme is open to public and private applicants. It is for capital projects
that are strategic priorities for the LEP. The call for projects in 2017 used an Expression of Interest
form, but from 2018 a full application form will be required. This will be sent to prospective
applicant on request, having provided basic information to determine eligibility.
Once the application is received, it is subject to assessment and appraisal, as follows:
Review of Submissions: The initial review of information by the LEP is a prioritisation process to
assess projects against the eligibility criteria and specified focus of the call. Projects that do not meet
the eligibility criteria of the call will not proceed beyond this stage.
Development of projects: Once accepted as a Capital Growth Programme, the project may be
asked to supply further information and evidence in support of its application and any associated
business case. This will enable a detailed appraisal of the project to take place. All projects must
be able to demonstrate that the following key issues have been addressed:
• whether the need for the project has been clearly demonstrated
• evidence of option appraisal and business case
• how well the project meets the priorities of the Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk
• how well the project fits with local and sub-regional plans and priorities
• potential for alternative funding, partnering and joint schemes
• estimated costs with level of detail to reflect the current stage of the project
• potential of the project to contribute to economic growth
• potential of the project to achieve return on investment
• how likely the project is to be successful
• how risks will be managed and mitigated
• economic outputs and impacts created by the project
• how the benefits of the project will be sustained after LEP funding finishes.
• opportunities to scale the project up or down.
Appraisal: A full and independent appraisal of projects will be carried out in accordance with HM
Treasury Green Book
principles of viability, value for money, achievability, affordability and need.
The LEP will appoint external appraisers for this call. A technical appraisal specialist may be sourced
for individual projects if necessary.
The Appraisal process will utilise the Strategic Prioritisation Framework which will consider the
projects Strategic Fit, Deliverability, Additionality and Economic Return. The appraisal process
will also examine the following aspects of the project:
• action is justified with an identified need
• any intervention is likely worth the determined cost
• the proposed objectives deliver suitable benefits
• direct outputs, indirect outcomes and wider impact are reasonable
• options have been properly explored, including the ‘do minimum’
• benefits and cost of each option have been considered and valued
• the selected solution can reasonably be achieved
• any barriers there are to delivery, such as inadequate infrastructure, etc
• level of risk to successful delivery and possible impact
• milestones and performance indicators
• the State Aid position.
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Decision making
• The results of the formal independent appraisal of projects will initially be presented for
consideration by the Investment Appraisal Committee (IAC) which makes
recommendations to the main New Anglia LEP Board.
• The recommendations, and any specified conditions, from the IAC will then be presented
to the monthly LEP Board for a final decision-making.
• Decision, plus conditions if relevant, conveyed to applicant.
Delivery, claims and monitoring
• Bespoke loan/grant agreement set up for each project in conjunction with Accountable
Body legal team.
• Approval to proceed with project agreement authorised by the Section 151 Officer of
Accountable Body.
• Grant agreement confirms payment release mechanisms (retrospective on project spend
and works done).
• Grant agreement incorporates claim form, which should be reviewed by both LEP and
SCC officers to ensure eligibility and compliance with award conditions.
• Payments are subject to standard Accountable Body (SCC) accounting procedures and
systems.
• Ongoing monitoring of project delivery, spend and outputs through to project completion.
Governance
The Growth Deal programme is delivered by the Growth Deal delivery team, which consists of a
Growth Deal Manager and Growth Deal Coordinator employed by the LEP. The team is supported
by the LEP Head of Programmes.
Project approvals are only made through majority decision by the LEP Board following
consideration of the application for funding and the recommendations made by the LEP Head of
Programmes.
An independent appraisal of each project is conducted in line with Green Book techniques and
an initial level of due diligence is carried out on the applicant.
Requests for payment are submitted by the applicant as a formal claim process, reviewed by the
LEP. Suffolk County Council pay compliant claims on request by the LEP and have the right to
call in any claims for further review if they have concerns.
Capital projects and programme performance is monitored by the delivery team and reported to
the LEP’s Management Committee, to ensure they are delivered appropriately and within
acceptable risk tolerances.
The Management Committee also monitors the expenditure profile. Performance of the
programme is also reported to and monitored by the LEP board through quarterly
performance reports. The same reports are sent to central Government.
The LEP retains its decision-making function regarding the management of allocated Growth
Deal funds. This is because the LEP requires overall control of the Growth Deal profile to
provide the Government with details of this annualised spend.
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Accountability
Suffolk County Council is the Accountable Body for the programme.
Suffolk County Council provides the legal support to prepare suitable grant documentation for
each approved project.
All loans and grants issued are subject to State Aid rules and are scrutinised by SCC at an early
stage of the process to ensure compliance with available legislation.
Resources
New Anglia LEP Growth Deal Manager (F/T)
New Anglia LEP Growth Deal Coordinator (F/T)
New Anglia LEP Head of Programmes
SCC Finance Team
Suffolk Legal
NB. See Growing Business Fund and Growing Places Fund for the resources for these
programmes.
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Getting Building Fund
Background
The Government has made £900m available through the new Getting Building Fund (GtgBF) for
investment in local, shovel-ready infrastructure projects to stimulate jobs and support economic
recovery across the country. The LEP has been allocated £32.1m from the GtgBF for a wide-
ranging package of projects that will deliver a much-needed boost to the local economy.
In Norfolk and Suffolk, the funded projects are expected to deliver benefits throughout the two
counties, focussing on key sectors including tourism, food production, health and social care
and energy. The funding will enable a number of local market towns to become more resilient.
There will also be direct support to local businesses through extending the Resilience and
Recovery Fund introduced as a result of Covid-19 to support businesses to diversity and grow.
A list of all the approved Getting Building Fund capital projects can be found at
https://newanglia.co.uk/getting-building-fund/
Processes
The Getting Building Fund was launched on 10 June 2020, following a communication from the
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with a call for projects to be
submitted by 18 June 2020.
New Anglia LEP received 70 applications for funding. Following review and assessment of the
submissions, a revised list of projects was submitted to government, comprising 25 projects with
a combined funding request of £72m. MHCLG awarded funding of £32m, covering 13 projects
that met and satisfied the funding criteria. Supported projects included both accelerated projects
to support the growth of the economy and shovel-ready capital projects able to deliver before 31
March 2022.
The key criteria used for the June 2020 call were:
That all projects must be:
• able to demonstrate they are driving up economic growth and jobs and supporting green
recovery.
• fully completed by the end of March 2022
• able to demonstrate their contribution to the delivery of the Economic Strategy through
direct and
in
direct outputs
• State Aid compliant
• able to demonstrate the need for funding and the additionality achieved by the funding.
Examples of projects expected to be supported include:
• Town and city centre modernisation through targeted infrastructure investments unleashing
their longer-term economic potential
• Investment in physical connectivity to improve the functioning of the local economy
• Investment in innovation ecosystem including through improvements to research and
development facilities driving up business productivity
• Improvements to human capital
• Improving digital connectivity to support economic performance, particularly in more
isolated areas.
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It will not be possible to support:
• Projects unable to deliver and spend before 31 March 2022
• revenue costs
• costs that have been incurred before a grant offer is made
• items that only benefit an individual or sole business
• items that are not directly needed to deliver the proposed work
• loan repayments or contributions to general appeals
• political or religious activities.
The project application, decision-making and delivery stages are as follows:
Application
The Getting Building Fund call for projects was opened on 10 June 2020 and closed to
applications by 15 June 2020. Given the short timescales and restricted criteria, applications were
either submitted by local authority partners or extracted from the LEPs Tactical Project pipeline.
Applications were submitted on a template supplied by MHCLG capturing the project outline,
funding requirements, delivery timescales and outputs.
All applications were subject to assessment and appraisal, as follows:
Review of Submissions: The initial review of information by the LEP prioritised projects against
criteria. Crucial amongst the criteria were the strategic fit, both in terms of government support and
local priorities and the deliverability of each project. Projects that did not meet the eligibility criteria of
the call did not proceed beyond this stage. In addition to strategic fit and deliverability, all projects
had to be able to demonstrate that the following key issues had been addressed:
• whether the need for the project has been clearly demonstrated
• evidence of option appraisal and business case
• how well the project meets the priorities of the Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk
• how well the project fits with local and sub-regional plans and priorities
• estimated costs with level of detail to reflect the current stage of the project
• potential of the project to contribute to economic growth
• how likely the project is to be successful
• how risks will be managed and mitigated
• economic outputs and impacts created by the project.
Assessment: Projects were reviewed and appraised by the LEP executive team and projects
meeting the fund criteria were presented to the LEP Board for consideration. Areas assessed
included strategic fit, value for money, deliverability, affordability, additionality and need.
The appraisal process also examined the following aspects of the project:
• action is justified with an identified need
• any intervention is likely worth the determined cost
• the proposed objectives deliver suitable benefits
• direct outputs, indirect outcomes and wider impact are reasonable
• benefits and cost of each option have been considered
• the selected solution can reasonably be achieved
• any barriers there are to delivery, such as inadequate infrastructure, etc
• level of risk to successful delivery and possible impact
• milestones and performance indicators
• the State Aid position.
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Decision-making
• The results of the formal independent appraisal of projects, the high-level list of eligible
projects were presented for consideration by the New Anglia LEP Board by written
procedures on 17 June 2020.
• The LEP Board agreed to support the recommendation of the LEP executive team by 18
June 2020.
• MHCLG considered the submission and provided a settlement grant figure of £32m on 4
August 2020.
Delivery, claims and monitoring
• Bespoke loan/grant agreement set up for each project in conjunction with Accountable
Body legal team.
• Approval to proceed with project agreement authorised by the Section 151 Officer of
Accountable Body.
• Grant agreement confirms payment release mechanisms (retrospective on project spend
and works done).
• Grant agreement incorporates claim form, which should be reviewed by both LEP and
SCC officers to ensure eligibility and compliance with award conditions.
• Payments are subject to standard Accountable Body (SCC) accounting procedures and
systems.
• Ongoing monitoring of project delivery, spend and outputs through to project completion.
Governance
The Getting Building Fund programme is delivered by the Growth Deal delivery team, which
consists of a Growth Deal Manager and Growth Deal Coordinator employed by the LEP. The
team is supported by the LEP Head of Programmes.
Requests for payment are submitted by the applicant as a formal claim process, reviewed by the
LEP. Suffolk County Council pay compliant claims on request by the LEP and have the right to
call in any claims for further review if they have concerns.
Capital projects and programme performance is monitored by the delivery team and reported to
the LEP’s Management Committee to ensure they are delivered appropriately and within
acceptable risk tolerances.
The Management Committee also monitors the expenditure profile. Performance of the
programme is also reported to and monitored by the LEP board through quarterly
performance reports. The same reports are sent to central Government.
The LEP retains its decision-making function regarding the management of allocated Getting
Building Fund financial support. This is because the LEP requires overall control of the
Growth Deal profile to provide the Government with details of this annualised spend.
Accountability
Suffolk County Council is the Accountable Body for the programme.
Suffolk County Council provides the legal support to prepare suitable grant documentation for
each approved project.
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All loans and grants issued are subject to State Aid rules and are scrutinised by SCC at an early
stage of the process to ensure compliance with available legislation.
Resources
New Anglia LEP Growth Deal Manager (F/T)
New Anglia LEP Growth Deal Coordinator (F/T)
New Anglia LEP Head of Programmes
SCC Finance Team
Suffolk Legal
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Growing Business Fund
Background
The Growing Business Fund is a grant fund which has been run by New Anglia LEP since April
2013. The fund was initially supported by the Regional Growth Fund, with £12m awarded from
Rounds 3 and 4 of the funding. In 2015 the New Anglia LEP secured an additional £25.57m by
2021 from the Local Growth Fund through the Growth Deals. The Fund provides grants
between £25,000 and £500,000 to local businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk.
The need for such a programme was identified through feedback from SMEs in the region
which were unable to access 100% of finance for expansion projects through traditional finance
routes. The fund supports the capital costs of expansion by the businesses, up to the maximum
allowable contribution under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 14, 17, and
19, of up to 20% of the costs of the project for small businesses employing fewer than than 50
people.
Medium-sized businesses can receive funding of up to 10% towards the project cost or 20% if
regulated by De Minimis, but no more than equivalent of EUR200,000 around £174,000 (official
exchange rate as of January 2021).
Any previous public sector funding, awards, tax reliefs or benefits regulated by De Minimis
received over a three-year fiscal period must be cumulated in such an award. SMEs based in
an Assisted Area may apply for an additional 10% of funding. Large businesses based in an
Assisted Area of Norfolk or Suffolk may apply for funding for up to 10% of the total project cost
for a new activity in the area.
All successful applicants should create new jobs at the rate of one new full time equivalent (FTE)
job per £20k of grant awarded, although grants can also be awarded to businesses showing
significant growth and increases in productivity without the need for direct job creation. Jobs are
profiled to be created over a period of up to five years, but the majority are anticipated within the
first two years after grant award.
Applicants must secure all match funding from private sources only, including other finance,
company funds or investment. No other public funding is accepted as match funding for the
proposed expansion project.
Under current delivery arrangements the fund is exceeding its job and match funding targets.
Processes
• The Growing Business fund is open to any local business meeting the grant programme
eligibility criteria. Applicants must be an existing SME business or a large business in an
Assisted Area.
• The programme operates on an ‘open call’ basis, encouraging applicants to come forward
at any time of the year.
• Projects must be related to growth of the business and involve new capital costs
• Jobs should be created at the rate of one new FTE job per £20k grant awarded. Cost to
the employer for each new job must exceed £20k to ensure value for money is achieved
and there is no subsidisation of the individual jobs.
• In the case of applications for innovation and productivity measures, projects must clearly
demonstrate growth and an increase in productivity as a result of the grant funding.
• Match funding must come from private sources.
• Businesses must not be pre-revenue or start-ups.
• Projects must be viable, supported by a robust business plan and represent effective use
of public funds, representing good value for money for the investment made.
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• The fund should not be used where sufficient funding already exists, nor on a retrospective
basis.
The project application, decision-making and delivery stages are as follows:
Application
• Enquiry – all enquiries are dealt with by New Anglia Growth Hub
• Expression of Interest Form. Gateway assessment conducted to judge eligibility for
funding, including a business size status, match funding and sector.
• Full application form issued if gateway assessment successful.
• Independent project appraisal, including financial viability assessment conducted by
Finance East, partners to the programme.
• Recommendation for Growing Business Fund panel completed.
Decision-making
• Grant applications are considered by the Growing Business Fund Panel at monthly panel
meetings and electronically in between if necessary. Decision-making reviews financial
position, deliverability evidence of need and fit within public funding realm.
• Decision plus conditions if relevant conveyed to applicant through legal grant award letter
issued by Suffolk County Council as the Accountable Body.
Delivery, claims and monitoring
• Applicant accepts grant offer and project commences. Claim form provided to applicant.
Claims submitted to SCC casework team for approval and payment.
• Payments are made against evidence of expenditure, but without application of an
intervention rate – payments are made on a one-to-one basis, with further project spend
monitored until completion. Payments made through SCC financial systems, approved by
SCC Programme Manager.
• Ongoing monitoring of targeted outputs – job creation and private match funding until
achieved. Monitoring visit completed by SCC Casework team following final claim by
project.
• Clawback procedure in place for failure to achieve outputs or expenditure irregularities.
Governance
The Growing Business Fund is delivered through a casework team of SCC employees seconded
to the LEP including an SCC Programme Manager. The PM is supported in this role by the LEP
Programmes Manager and LEP Head of Programmes.
The LEP’s Programmes Coordinator manages the day-to-day delivery of the programme,
promotes the scheme and engages with key stakeholders and delivery partners.
Project approvals are only made through majority decision by the Growing Business Fund Panel,
which comprises an independent chair, and representation from the New Anglia LEP Board and
Norfolk and Suffolk businesses.
Decisions are recorded in the LEP’s decision log, which is published for every LEP board meeting.
Accountability
Suffolk County Council is the Accountable Body for the programme on behalf of the LEP.
The casework team are SCC employees seconded to the LEP. SCC provides the financial
systems and support to release grant payments to projects, utilising existing financial procedures.
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Payments are approved by the Programme Manager to show a separation of duties between the
assessment and payment stages.
All grants issued are subject to State Aid rules and are scrutinised at an early stage of the process
by the LEP, Finance East, and SCC to ensure compliance with available legislation. Grants must
fall within GBER or De Minimis regulations and only be awarded to SMEs based in Norfolk or
Suffolk or to large businesses based within an Assisted Area in Norfolk or Suffolk. Applicants are
advised that projects are subject to review by the EU and of the implications should an Aid be
considered illegal, including the requirement to repay the funding with interest chargeable.
Resources
New Anglia LEP Programmes Coordinator
SCC Programme Manager (F/T)
Casework Team (6xF/T)
SCC Finance Team
New Anglia LEP Programmes Manager
New Anglia LEP Head of Programmes
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Small Grant Scheme
Background
The Small Grant Scheme (further after – the programme or the SGS) is a grant fund that has
run by New Anglia LEP since August 2013. The programme is currently part of the New Anglia
Business Growth Programme supported by £14.02m from the European Regional Development
Fund. It provides grants between £1,000 and £25,000 to local businesses across Norfolk and
Suffolk.
The SGS covers a gap in the market and there is a clear need for this type of scheme, identified
by an ‘in-depth’ consultation with a wide range of organisations. The SGS is derived from other
successful grant schemes and has been set up to provide an innovative package of
discretionary capital and revenue grant-based support for SMEs, integrated with and
complementary to the other New Anglia Growth Hub products and the Growing Business Fund.
The programme supports SMEs through the provision of grants to assist them to grow and
expand, employ new staff, introduce new products and services, improve productivity or
efficiency, increase their competitiveness etc.
Small businesses employing less than 50 people may apply for up to 20% of the costs of the
project under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 14, 17, 18 and 19.
Medium sized businesses may apply for funding of up to 10% towards the project cost or 20% if
regulated by De Minimis regulations (EUR 200,000 is a maximum amount of all De minimis aid
a business may receive over a three-year fiscal period). SMEs based in an Assisted Area may
apply for an additional 10% of funding.
Successful applicants must be able to explain how their business will benefit from a grant and
what will happen if they do not receive funding. They must also be able to secure the remaining
funding needed for their proposed project from private sources (private finance, company funds
or investment, bank loans etc.). Funding from public sources, e.g. government, local authorities,
lottery funding, is not accepted as match funding for the SGS.
Processes
• The SGS is open to small and medium-sized businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk
meeting the grant programme eligibility criteria.
• The programme operates on an ‘open call’ basis while funding is available.
• Projects must be related to growth or expansion or introduction of a new product/service,
or improvement of productivity/efficiency.
• Match funding must come from private sources.
• Projects must be viable, supported by a robust business plan/ forecast and represent
effective use of public funds, demonstrating good value for money in terms of deliverables
and impact.
• The fund should not be used where sufficient funding already exists.
Application
• Enquiry – all enquiries are dealt with by New Anglia Growth Hub
• Application – assessment conducted by the Growth Hub to judge eligibility for funding
• Assessment – independent project appraisal, including financial viability assessment
conducted by New Anglia’s Due Diligence Officer
• Recommendation for SGS Panel completed.
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Decision making
• Grant applications are considered by the SGS Panel electronically as and when they are
ready.
• Decision and conditions (if relevant) are conveyed to the applicant through a legal grant
award letter (Offer Letter) issued by Suffolk County Council (SCC).
Delivery, claims and monitoring
• Having signed and returned the Offer Letter to SCC, the Applicant may commence its
project.
• Having invested all the project costs, the Applicant may submit only one claim (a claim
form template is part of the Offer Letter) to a Caseworker at SCC for approval and
payment.
• Grant payments are made against evidence of all expenditure through SCC financial
system, approved by SCC Programme Manager.
• Ongoing monitoring of targeted outputs (if apply) – job creation and/or introduction of a
new product/service and/or improvement of productivity or efficiency until achieved. A
possible monitoring visit completed by a Caseworker following completion of the project.
• Clawback procedure in place for not complying with the requirements.
Governance
The SGS is delivered by New Anglia LEP, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (Growth Hub) and
Suffolk County Council.
New Anglia LEP employs the Business Growth Programme Coordinator to manage day-to-day
delivery of the SGS, as well as other elements of New Anglia Business Growth Programme,
promote the SGS and engage with key stakeholders and delivery partners. The Coordinator is
supported by the Administrator, the Finance and Compliance Officer, the LEP Programmes
Manager and Head of Programmes.
All SGS enquiries are dealt with by New Anglia Growth Hub. Due diligence of grant applicants is
completed by the New Anglia Due Diligence Officer.
Grant decisions are only made by majority of the SGS Panel which comprises of one
representative from each of the following organisations: the LEP, Norfolk and Suffolk County
Councils. Offer Letters are issued and claims are checked and paid by a Caseworker at SCC that
is supported by SCC Programme Manager.
Accountability
New Anglia LEP is the Accountable Body for the SGS and the New Anglia Business Growth
Programme as a whole. Our partner organisations Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (Growth Hub),
Nwes, Menta, SCC and others are actively promoting the SGS. SCC provides the financial
systems and support to release grant payments to grant applicants, utilising existing financial
procedures.
All grants issued are subject to State Aid rules and are scrutinised at an early stage of the process
by the Growth Hub, LEP, Nwes and SCC to ensure compliance with available legislation. Grants
must fall within GBER (Articles 14, 17, 18 or 19) or De Minimis regulations and only be awarded
to SMEs based in Norfolk or Suffolk. Applicants are advised that their projects are subject to
review by the EU and of the implications should an aid be considered illegal, including the
requirement to repay the funding with interest chargeable.
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Resources
New Anglia LEP:
- Programmes Coordinator (F/T); GP Administrator (F/T); GP Finance & Compliance
Officer (F/T); Due Diligence Officer (F/T);
- Supported by the LEP’s Programmes Manager and LEP’s Head of Programmes.
Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (Growth Hub):
- 23 F/T staff (14 Business Advisers, 1 Marking and Communications Coordinator, 2 Events
Coordinators, 2 Business Growth Support Advisers, 1 Office Manager, 1 GH Manager, 2
Administrators)
Suffolk County Council:
- 2 Caseworkers – F/T;
Supported by Programme Manager and Finance Team.
Growth Through Innovation Fund
Background
The Growth Through Innovation Fund (further after – the programme or the GTI) is a grant fund
that has run by New Anglia LEP since April 2020. The programme is supported by £2.48m from
the European Regional Development Fund. It provides grants between £1,000 and £25,000 to
local businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk.
The GTI covers a gap in the market and there is a clear need for this type of scheme, identified
by an ‘in-depth’ consultation with a wide range of organisations. The GTI is derived from other
successful grant schemes and has been set up to provide an innovative package of
discretionary capital and revenue grant-based support for SMEs, integrated with and
complementary to the other New Anglia Growth Hub products. The programme supports SMEs
through the provision of grants to assist them to invest in innovation, research and development
so they are able to grow and expand, introduce new products and services, improve productivity
or efficiency, increase their competitiveness etc.
Small and medium businesses employing less than 150 people may apply for up to 50% of the
costs of the project under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 25, 28 and 29.
Successful applicants must be able to explain how their business will benefit from a grant and
what will happen if they do not receive funding. They must also be able to secure the remaining
funding needed for their proposed project from private sources (private finance, company funds
or investment, bank loans etc). Funding from public sources, e.g. government, local authorities,
lottery funding, is not accepted as match funding for GTI funding.
Processes
• The GTI fund is open to small and medium-sized businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk
meeting the grant programme eligibility criteria.
• The programme operates on an ‘open call’ basis while funding is available.
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• Projects must be related to investment in innovation, research and development or
expansion or introduction of a new product/service, and/or improvement of
productivity/efficiency.
• Match funding must come from private sources.
• Projects must be viable, supported by a robust business plan/ forecast and represent
effective use of public funds, demonstrating good value for money in terms of deliverables
and impact.
• The fund should not be used where sufficient funding already exists.
Application
• Enquiry – all enquiries are dealt with by New Anglia Growth Hub.
• Application – assessment conducted by the Growth Hub to judge eligibility for funding.
• Assessment – independent project appraisal, including financial viability assessment
conducted by New Anglia’s Due Diligence Officer.
• Recommendation for GTI Panel completed.
Decision making
• Grant applications are considered by the GTI Panel electronically, as and when they are
ready.
• Decision and conditions (if relevant) are conveyed to the applicant through a legal grant
award letter (Offer Letter) issued by Suffolk County Council (SCC).
Delivery, claims and monitoring
• Having signed and returned the Offer Letter to SCC, the Applicant may commence its
project.
• Having invested all the project costs, the Applicant may submit only one claim (a claim
form template is part of the Offer Letter) to a Caseworker at SCC for approval and
payment.
• Grant payments are made against evidence of all expenditure through SCC financial
system, approved by SCC Programme Manager.
• Ongoing monitoring of targeted outputs (if apply) – job creation and/or introduction of a
new product/service and/or improvement of productivity or efficiency until achieved. A
possible monitoring visit completed by a Caseworker following completion of the project.
• Clawback procedure in place for not complying with the requirements.
Governance
The GTI is delivered by New Anglia LEP, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (Growth Hub) and
Suffolk County Council.
New Anglia LEP employs the Business Growth Programme Coordinator to manage day-to-day
delivery of the GTI, as well as other elements of New Anglia Business Growth Programme
(including the SGS) and promote the GTI and engage with key stakeholders and delivery
partners. The Coordinator is supported by the Administrator, the (GTI) Finance and Compliance
Officer, the LEP Programmes Manager and Head of Programmes.
All GTI enquiries are dealt with by New Anglia Growth Hub. Due diligence of grant applicants is
completed by the New Anglia Due Diligence Officer.
Grant decisions are only made by majority of the GTI Panel which comprises of one
representative from each of the following organisations: the LEP, University of East Anglia and
the University of Suffolk. Offer Letters are issued and claims are checked and paid by a
Caseworker at SCC that is supported by SCC Programme Manager.
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Accountability
New Anglia LEP is the Accountable Body for the GTI. Our partner organisations Suffolk Chamber
of Commerce (Growth Hub), SCC and others are actively promoting GTI. SCC provides the
financial systems and support to release grant payments to grant applicants, utilising existing
financial procedures.
All grants issued are subject to State Aid rules and are scrutinised at an early stage of the process
by the Growth Hub, LEP, SCC to ensure compliance with available legislation. Grants must fall
within GBER (Articles 25, 28 or 29) or De Minimis regulations and only be awarded to SMEs
based in Norfolk or Suffolk. Applicants are advised that their projects are subject to review by the
EU and of the implications should an aid be considered illegal, including the requirement to repay
the funding with interest chargeable.
Resources
New Anglia LEP:
- Programmes Coordinator (F/T); GP Administrator (F/T); GTI Finance & Compliance
Officer (F/T); Due Diligence Officer (F/T);
- Supported by the LEP’s Programmes Manager and LEP’s Head of Programmes.
Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (Growth Hub):
- 23 F/T staff (14 Business Advisers, 1 Marking and Communications Coordinator, 2 Events
Coordinators, 2 Business Growth Support Advisers, 1 Office Manager, 1 GH Manager, 2
Administrators)
Suffolk County Council:
- 2 Caseworkers – F/T;
Supported by Programme Manager and Finance Team.
Business Resilience and Recovery Scheme
Background
The Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic has impacted businesses of all sizes and from all sectors
across the New Anglia region.
The impact of the lockdown enforced on 23 March 2020 to manage the spread of the coronavirus
has been felt directly by individual businesses forced to temporarily or permanently close. Other
businesses remaining operational for essential purposes are struggling to maintain ‘business as
usual’, with staff shortages impacting productivity due to illness and self-isolation and materials
shortages in supply chains.
The Business Resilience and Recovery scheme is designed to support short term business
resilience projects through capital grant and potential loan support and longer term
diversification and recovery through dedicated advice and guidance from a business adviser of
the Growth Hub or an external consultant dependant on the advice required.
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Processes
Scheme criteria (updated October 2020) are as follows:
• Maximum intervention reduced to 40% of eligible costs with each intervention
considered on an individual need and eligibility basis.
• Prioritise projects creating new jobs but recognise this is not an essential requirement.
To achieve the upper level of intervention however, the project should combine need
with job creation. Jobs safeguarded is still accepted as a programme output.
• Funding is not to be used for replacement items and consumables including laptops and
software. CRM & WMS systems may be eligible if part of a wider application that meets
the broader criteria.
• No more than two vehicles of any type to be supported per application.
• No repeat applications, including from linked companies.
• Property purchases or new builds restricted to 10% intervention and no land purchases
to be supported. This is in line with other LEP grant schemes.
• Social distancing projects to be considered only if Covid impact is severe and capital
works were not already planned.
Application
• Enquiry – all enquiries are dealt with by New Anglia Growth Hub.
• Application – assessment conducted by the Growth Hub to judge eligibility for funding.
• Assessment – independent project appraisal, including financial viability assessment
conducted by Finance East.
• Recommendation for LEP panel completed.
Decision-making
• Grant applications are considered by the LEP’s Programmes Team Panel electronically
as and when they are ready.
• Decision and conditions (if relevant) are conveyed to the applicant through a legal grant
award letter (Offer Letter) issued by Suffolk County Council (SCC).
Delivery, claims and monitoring
• Having signed and returned the Offer Letter to SCC, the Applicant may commence its
project.
• Having invested all the project costs, the Applicant may submit only one claim (a claim
form template is part of the Offer Letter) to a Caseworker at SCC for approval and
payment.
• Grant payments are made against evidence of all expenditure through SCC financial
system, approved by SCC Programme Manager.
• Unlike other LEP programmes there is no requirement to support new job creation, but
projects should safeguard jobs wherever possible, and projects should aim to support
measure to incorporate innovation and productivity.
Governance and accountability
The programme will operate on an ‘open-call’ basis.
Initial contact with businesses interested in the scheme will be through the Growth Hub.
Consultancy advice and support on diversification can be provided if required by experienced
local contractors appointed by the business from an approved framework.
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Businesses may be referred to a more appropriate option from the LEP programmes suite,
particularly if projects are more suited to the larger grants on offer from GBF or the smaller Small
Grant Scheme or Growth through Innovation programmes.
Decisions on projects requesting support of up to £50k from the resilience and recovery scheme
will be made on a delegated basis, with a panel of three, from the LEP’s Programmes Team
providing recommendations.
Any other projects will be brought to the board for approval, potentially by written procedures to
avoid delays to decisions.
All projects will receive a formal offer letter from via SCC as the Accountable Body as with all
other grant programmes. The letter will outline all conditions of funding and details of the State
Aid article used to make the award.
Resources
New Anglia LEP:
- Programmes Coordinator (F/T); GP Administrator (F/T); GP Finance & Compliance
Officer (F/T); Due Diligence Officer (F/T);
- Supported by the LEP’s Programmes Manager and LEP’s Head of Programmes.
Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (Growth Hub):
- 23 F/T staff (14 Business Advisers, 1 Marking and Communications Coordinator, 2 Events
Coordinators, 2 Business Growth Support Advisers, 1 Office Manager, 1 GH Manager, 2
Administrators)
Suffolk County Council:
- 2 Caseworkers – F/T;
Finance East
- Providing independent project appraisal and financial viability assessment
Supported by Programme Manager and Finance Team.
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Growing Places Fund
Background
The Growing Places Fund (further after the programme or GPF) is a recycling loan fund which
has been run by New Anglia LEP since 2012.
The fund was designed to address the problems facing stalled developments, by providing
financial support towards costs such as site infrastructure, services or access.
The fund operates predominantly as a loan fund, but some funding is available for smaller grants
to support regionally significant cultural and tourism projects where a GPF grant secures a major
match funding contribution.
Processes
The Growing Places Fund is open to public and private applicants. The fund now stands at a total
allocation of approximately £32 million which has been matched by in excess of £280 million from
public and private sources. The Fund has committed more than £25 million on 28 capital
investment projects and has supported seven sector developments. The fund remains open to
applications and has a pipeline of projects for consideration.
The project application, decision-making and delivery stages are as follows:
Application
• Initial enquiry received. The programme operates on an open call basis with the funding
opportunity promoted through the LEP’s website and wider marketing opportunities.
• Full application completed following discussion with LEP.
• Project appraisal and due diligence conducted by independent consultants.
• Decision or recommendation by the Investment Appraisal Committee to the LEP board
completed.
Decision making
• Projects will be debated by the Investment Appraisal Committee which makes decisions
on amounts below £500k or recommendations to the main New Anglia LEP board for
amounts above this at monthly LEP board meetings. Decision-making incorporates value
for money, ratio of funding to jobs created, security of loan.
• Decision plus conditions if relevant conveyed to applicant
• Bespoke loan/grant agreement set up for each project in conjunction with Accountable
Body legal team and signed off by the Accountable Body.
Delivery, claims and monitoring
• Loan agreement confirms payment release mechanisms (retrospective on project spend
or works done).
• Loan agreement incorporates claim form, which should be reviewed by both LEP and
Suffolk County Council officers to ensure eligibility and compliance with award conditions.
• Payments are subject to standard Accountable Body (Suffolk County Council) accounting
procedures and systems. Expedited payment system (The Clearing House Automated
Payment Scheme (CHAPS)) available, if necessary, to provide rapid payment. Final sign-
off of payment by the Section 151 Officer.
• Ongoing monitoring of targeted outputs and other project outcomes.
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Governance
The Growing Places Fund is delivered through a Senior Programme Coordinator, employed by
the LEP. The Coordinator also delivers case work and is supported in this role by the LEP Head
of Programmes.
Project approvals are only made through majority decision by the LEP’s Investment Appraisal
Committee or Board following consideration of the application for funding and the
recommendation made by the Programme Coordinator.
An independent appraisal of each project is conducted in line with Green Book techniques and
an initial level of due diligence is carried out on the applicant. Deliverability, leverage, regional or
local economic significance and value for money are key areas that any project has to score
highly to gain investment from the fund.
Requests for payment are submitted by the applicant as a formal claim process, reviewed by the
LEP and by Suffolk County Council and signed off by the appropriate officer at Suffolk County
Council on behalf of the Accountable Body.
Accountability
Suffolk County Council is the Accountable Body for the programme.
Suffolk County Council provides the legal support to prepare suitable loan or grant documentation
for each approved project. This support is reimbursed at cost by the programme.
All loans and grants issued are subject to State Aid rules and are scrutinised by SCC at an early
stage of the process to ensure compliance with available legislation. The majority of loans are
issued at or equivalent to a commercial rate of interest to ensure they cannot be considered to
be an Aid. Applicants are advised that projects are subject to review by the EU and of the
implications should an Aid be considered illegal, including the requirement to repay the funding
with interest chargeable.
Resources
New Anglia LEP Senior Growing Places Coordinator (F/T)
New Anglia LEP Head of Programmes
SCC Finance Team
Principal 2021/22 Growing Places Fund operational variances
The fund will be delivered in 2021/22 in accordance with the current procedures and operational
methodology. The only changes to the delivery process are:
• Ensuring future projects support the objectives of the Economic Strategy for Norfolk and
Suffolk.
• Revised annual allocation agreed in order to meet demand.
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Growing Business Fund – Large Company Grant
Background
The majority of applications for grant funding from Norfolk and Suffolk businesses can be
serviced adequately from existing programmes, including the Growing Business Fund, Small
Grant Scheme and the recently introduced Innovative Projects Fund. The Growing Places Fund
has also provided grant interventions of up to £500k to a number of regionally significant
cultural and tourism projects, and projects with a local socio and economic impact.
However, on occasion, some regionally significant projects cannot be supported through
standard grant mechanisms. Usually this is because applicants are classified as large
companies or because the intervention requested exceeds the limits of existing grant schemes.
To enable the LEP to consider occasional applications for funding for projects out of scope for
existing programmes, the LEP Executive has introduced the GBF Large Company Grant
programme.
Processes
Funding for the Large Company Grant programme comprises a budget of £2.5m, secured by
releasing capacity within the Growing Places Fund budget, part of the overall Growth Deal
allocation. The likelihood is that a very small number of projects could be supported, perhaps
three or four from the budget allocation.
Commitment levels will be kept under review and any unallocated funds will be re-allocated to
the Growing Places Fund or the Growing Business Fund to ensure the budget allocation for
each year is fully spent.
Decision making
The programme will be built around the high-level criteria and intent of the existing Growing
Business Fund. This means projects must meet at least the following criteria to be eligible for
any grant support:
• Applicants must be established and growing businesses, substantially based in Norfolk
or Suffolk, or in the case of inward investment projects, with a firm commitment to
relocate to the region and meeting all other criteria.
• Grants must be used to support and invest in the expansion and growth of the business.
• Certain sectors, including primary agriculture, retail, care and health sectors are not
eligible.
• Projects must be expecting to create new jobs, preferably at the ratio of one job per
£20k of grant received. Productivity and innovation measures could also be eligible.
• Jobs created should be full-time and expected to last 12 months or more.
Additional criteria for the new Large Company Grant programme will be very specific. This is
principally because projects will need to meet strict State Aid legislation to be able to be
supported by the LEP.
Projects must therefore be able to satisfy the following:
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• Maximum grant intervention will be a maximum of 15% of the overall project costs. The
preferred award size will be no more than 10%, in line with GBF guidelines for projects
within assisted areas.
• Projects must be designed to increase productivity, and this should be measurable.
• Projects must involve and benefit the local supply chain.
• Inward investments from outside the region may be considered but should meet all other
criteria, including identified capital costs beyond the costs of relocation.
• Projects should not normally be located in an Assisted Area (potentially supportable
under GBF).
Funding priorities
Priority for support will be given to companies at risk of relocation outside of the region.
In addition, projects must broadly reflect the delivery priorities of the Growing Business Fund,
which is designed to support growth and job creation in businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Successful applications must reflect LEP priority sectors and should contribute to the key
objectives of the Economic Strategy.
Governance
Applications up to £500k can be approved by the Investment Appraisal Committee. Requests in
excess of £500k must be approved by the full LEP board.
All successful applications will receive a formal grant offer issued by Suffolk County Council as
the accountable body for the LEP. The grant offer will accommodate standard conditions and
measures, including claiming grant, monitoring and reporting and claw-back of grant if
necessary.
Accountability
As per the Growing Business Fund.
Innovative Projects Fund
Background
An important source of revenue funding comes from our Enterprise Zones. Under the Enterprise
Zone legislation, the LEP is entitled to retain 100 per cent of additional business rates generated
by the zones for a period of 25 years.
Under agreements reached with our local authority partners, this funding is split on each site into
three pots.
• Pot A is retained by the district and county authorities to ensure they are not at a financial
disadvantage from the zone. Without EZ status, they would have ordinarily retained a
portion of the income.
• Pot B is set aside to accelerate development of the zone and is managed by the local
authorities and the LEP.
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• Pot C is ring fenced by the LEP to invest in supporting economic growth and in the delivery
of the LEP’s Economic Strategy.
In January 2017, the LEP board agreed that a portion of funding from Pot C should be set aside
to support innovative projects by external partners to deliver the Economic Strategy and Local
Industrial Strategy. The Innovative Projects Fund (IPF) was created.
The first call took place in August 2018 with an approved annual allocation of £500k. Following
the outcome of the first call, local authority partners in Norfolk and Suffolk indicated interest in
matching New Anglia LEP’s future allocations of the Innovative Projects Fund through their
respective pooled business rates. This resulted in a £1.5 million pot being made available to
prospective projects under a 2019/20 call.
Processes
The Innovative Projects Fund is promoted through the LEPs website and wider marketing
opportunities and networks. The Innovative Projects Fund is open to public and private
applicants located from within the New Anglia LEP area. Preference is that projects bidding for
funds from the 2019/20 Innovative Projects Fund are regional in nature. However, this does not
preclude countywide or locality-based projects from being supported.
As part of the assessment process, projects that can clearly demonstrate direct links to
delivering elements of the Economic Strategy, and, in particular, growth of LEP ambitions,
themes, sectors and key growth locations will be prioritised. For example, projects relating to
energy, agri-food, ICT/ digital and creative industries with clear and demonstrable outputs will
be prioritised.
Cross-sector collaborations, where specialist skills in one sector can drive innovation and growth
in another are of particular interest. Proposals for revenue funding to accelerate the impact of
LEP capital schemes are also considered. Transport feasibility studies are not supported through
this fund.
Additionally, all projects must be:
• State Aid compliant
• Able to demonstrate their contribution to the delivery of the Economic Strategy and Call
Focus through direct and indirect outputs.
• Able to demonstrate the need for funding and the additionality achieved by the funding.
The project application, decision-making, and delivery stages are as follows:
Application
• Initial enquiry received via the Programmes Team.
• Initial project enquiry and applicant contact information is recorded.
• Application form sent to applicant.
• Full application completed by applicant and submitted following discussion with LEP.
Decision making
Once submissions have been received, applicants may be required to respond to queries about
their projects from the LEP programmes team as part of the shortlist process.
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Applications will then be subject to a full appraisal by an independent consultant.
The appraisal will be in accordance with HM Treasury Green Book principles of viability, value
for money, achievability, affordability and need. As such, projects will be scored on a
competitive basis against the following criteria:
• Demonstration of clear fit with the Economic Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy.
• Additionality. How is this more than business as usual? The fund should not replace core
funding.
• Value for money. Can the project demonstrate this is good use of public money?
• Leverage. What additional funding, public or private or in-kind support does the project
generate?
• Impact. What will the project actually deliver and how innovative is the proposal?
• Sustainability. What will happen when the funding ends?
Key areas will be scored 1-5 for each project, with 5 being the highest.
The New Anglia LEP Investment Appraisal Committee (IAC) considers all applications at its
scheduled meetings and determines whether to approve or reject each of the Innovative
Projects Fund applications. A decision plus any conditions (if relevant) will be conveyed to the
applicant.
Delivery, claims and monitoring
All projects approved for funding will be subject to an offer letter and/or agreement drawn up in
conjunction with the LEP’s Accountable Body, Suffolk County Council. The agreement/ offer letter
will include the cycle of anticipated drawdown of funding and the outputs expected to be
generated by the project plus any conditions laid down by the Investment Appraisal Committee.
The process is then as follows:
• Having signed and returned the Offer Letter to SCC, the Applicant may commence its
project.
• Having invested agreed project costs, the Applicant may submit claims in line with its
claim schedule (a claim form template is part of the Offer Letter) to the project caseworker
at the LEP for approval and payment.
• Grant payments are made against evidence of all expenditure through the SCC financial
system, approved by SCC Programme Manager.
• Ongoing monitoring of targeted outputs (if apply) – job creation and/or introduction of a
new product/service and/or improvement of productivity or efficiency until achieved. A
possible monitoring visit completed by the LEP caseworker following completion of the
project.
• Clawback procedure in place for not complying with the requirements.
Governance
The Innovative Projects Fund is delivered by the Project Coordinator, employed by the LEP. The
Project Coordinator is supported by the LEP Head of Programmes.
A partnership arrangement between the LEP’s IAC and the two local authorities has been put in
place to consider eligible applications for funding. An IPF Panel has been created comprising two
private sector members of the IAC and two local authority representatives from Norfolk and two
from Suffolk, selected by their respective leaders’ groups. The two private sector members in
attendance at the IPF panel will have delegated authority from the board to approve projects up
to £500,000.
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Project approvals are only made through majority decision at a meeting of the partnership
between the LEP’s Investment Appraisal Committee and the two local authorities, following
consideration of the application for funding and the recommendation made by the LEP Head of
Programmes, following the appraisal process (outlined above).
Requests for payment are submitted by the applicant as a formal claim process, reviewed by the
LEP and by Suffolk County Council and signed off by the Section 151 Officer at Suffolk County
Council.
The performance of the Innovative Projects Fund is monitored by the LEP’s Management
Committee, to ensure it is delivered appropriately and within acceptable risk tolerances.
The Management Committee also monitors the spend profile. Performance of the
programme is also reported to and monitored by the LEP board through regular board
reports.
Accountability
New Anglia LEP is the Accountable Body
SCC provides the financial systems and support to release grant payments to grant applicants,
utilising existing financial procedures.
Suffolk County Council provides the legal support to prepare suitable grant documentation for
each approved project. This support is reimbursed at cost by the programme.
Resources
New Anglia LEP Project Coordinator (P/T)
New Anglia LEP Head of Programmes
SCC Finance Team
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Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund
Background
The Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund is used to co-invest with local authority partners in joint
delivery projects on Enterprise Zone sites. The fund is aimed at supporting local authority
partners delivering Enterprise Zone sites in their borough or district and is for capital
expenditure only.
The fund is designed to deliver a return on commercial terms, generating a long-term return on
investment.
The key objectives of the Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund are:
1. To create a fund that supports economic growth while generating an income to help to
support the long-term economic growth objectives of the LEP.
2. To provide financial support on a co-investment model to enable local authority partners to
develop opportunities on EZ sites.
3. To establish sustainable revolving funds so that funding can be reinvested to unlock further
development, and lever in private investment.
New Anglia LEP considers opportunities to invest to support the delivery of essential
development required to unlock growth on Enterprise Zone sites, bringing forward delivery.
The intention is that finance obtained from the fund will attract a 14-20-year return on the capital
investment. The intention is not to generate a substantial return, but to help to sustain the LEP
interventions targeted at supporting the local economy.
The assessment criteria will ensure the developments selected for forward investment will
prioritise schemes that deliver early.
The Growth Deal ends on 31 March 2021 and all EZAF investments need to be in place and the
investment committed by this date.
Processes
The New Anglia LEP has developed its Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund in line with the
Government’s objectives and has developed a process and a set of criteria to select appropriate
schemes. The programme operates on an ‘open call’ basis, but within controlled eligibility.
All potential investments must meet the following broad criteria:
• Schemes must be for capital investment (not revenue).
• Schemes should contribute to the LEP’s strategic objectives contained in the Economic
Strategy.
• Schemes must be in the New Anglia LEP and located on an EZ site.
• Schemes will need to demonstrate investment readiness with no barriers or constraints
in relation to land ownership, planning and other approvals.
• Applicants must be a local authority partner with 50% or more of the investment funding
secured through an appropriate mechanism.
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Applicants are invited to discuss potential projects with New Anglia LEP ahead of their
submission.
Application
Expressions of Interest are invited to allow early discussions with LEP staff to ensure eligibility
and value for money etc have been considered projects prior to application stage.
Once submissions have been made applicants may be requested to respond to queries about
their applications as part of the consideration and short-listing process.
Short-listed schemes will be required to submit further details of financial profile and output
projections to enable detailed scheme appraisals to be completed. Full details of any
information required will be confirmed with each applicant.
All schemes that pass an initial eligibility assessment are further assessed to determine their
suitability to receive Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund investment.
Decision making
The decision-making process for the Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund includes:
• That projects will be debated by the Investment Appraisal Committee, which makes
recommendations to the main New Anglia LEP Board, at monthly LEP Board meetings.
Decision making incorporates strategic fit, value for money, additionality, deliverability.
• Decision plus conditions, if relevant, conveyed to applicant.
• Bespoke investment agreements set up for each project in conjunction with the
Accountable Body legal team. Approval of project only by the Accountable Body team at
SCC.
Delivery, claims and monitoring
• The investment agreement/contract will include formal signature requirements; revenue
share and return arrangements, agreed milestones for delivery linked to the release of
funds; and claw back arrangements in case of delay or lack of delivery.
• The investment agreement incorporates a claim and monitoring form, which should be
reviewed by both LEP and Suffolk County Council officers to ensure eligibility and
compliance with award conditions.
• Payments are subject to standard Accountable Body (Suffolk County Council) accounting
procedures and systems.
• Ongoing monitoring of spend and outputs.
Governance
The Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund is coordinated by the Enterprise Zone Accelerator Fund
Coordinator and the Enterprise Zone Advisor, both employed by the LEP. The two posts are
supported by the LEP’s Head of Programmes.
Project approvals are only made through majority decision by the LEP board following
consideration of the application by the Investment Appraisal Committee and the recommendation
made by the LEP Head of Programmes.
An independent appraisal of each project is conducted in line with Green Book techniques and
an initial level of due diligence is carried out on the applicant.
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Requests for payment are submitted by the applicant as a formal claim process, reviewed by the
LEP and by Suffolk County Council and signed off by the Section 151 Officer at Suffolk County
Council.
Programme performance is monitored by the LEP’s Management Committee to ensure they are
delivered appropriately and within acceptable risk tolerances.
The Management Committee also monitors the spend profile. Performance of the
programme is also reported to and monitored by the LEP board through regular board
reports.
New Anglia Capital
Background
New Anglia Capital was formed to provide an equity investment option to early stage and pre-
revenue SME’s looking to grow and create jobs in Norfolk and Suffolk and increase the network
of angel investors. NAC operates as a subsidiary of New Anglia LEP, with funding allocated
from repaid loans issued through the Growing Places Fund.
Key objectives
• To facilitate increased investment in early stage and pre revenue companies in Norfolk
and Suffolk.
• To consider providing equity investment where co-investment is offered by local angel
investors.
• To grow the network of angel investors in both Norfolk and Suffolk.
Governance
Investments are considered by the New Anglia Capital board which comprises six members, at
least three of whom are also LEP board members. New Anglia LEP officers act as observers
and advisers on the board. NAC provides updates to the LEP board with a full report on
investments and outcomes twice a year. All investments are subject to full independent due
diligence.
Anglia Capital Group (ACG) was appointed as the support organisation for New Anglia Capital
following a competitive procurement exercise in August 2014.
ACG were appointed to help deliver two principal outputs:
• To generate deal flow including suitable investment opportunities for NAC to consider
co-investing in
• To grow and manage a sustainable network of angel investors in the region
Due to the encouraging growth and continuing deal flow the contract with ACG has been
extended.
ACG is now regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This allows ACG to become pro-
active in arranging investments and supporting angels, thus accelerating its objectives and
increasing its outputs as outlined above.
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Investments
NAC maintains a portfolio of investments (19 at December 2020). Maximum investment for
each company is £250k. All investments are expected to exit within three to five years of
investment, with returns reinvested into the NAC investment fund.
Enterprise Adviser Network
Background
The Enterprise Adviser Network (EAN) is an important programme that supports schools to
develop a careers strategy and encourages skills interventions to support the achievement of
the Gatsby benchmarks. The Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) operates the EAN
across the Country in partnership with LEPs, recruiting senior business leaders to work
voluntarily with secondary schools and colleges as ‘Enterprise Advisers’ (EAs). The EAN is
recognised as an important initiative that will strengthen the links between the business and
education community in order to drive young people’s aspiration and work readiness in line with
the requirements of the local economy.
Objectives
EAs work strategically with senior leaders in schools and colleges, supporting them to develop
and enhance their business engagement plans. The aim is to improve the quality and
consistency of careers, work-related and enterprise education delivered to students and to
broker activities with businesses and enterprise providers. The volunteers will bring their wealth
of knowledge and experience of the world of work to help develop a comprehensive action plan
for careers education, fully supporting young people aged between 11 and 18.
Resources
EAs are supported by a team of Enterprise Co-ordinators (ECs), full-time employees of the
network who establish the connections with the businesses and the schools and report to the
CEC.
Of the LEP’s 10 ECs five cover Norfolk and five cover Suffolk. The team of ECs are managed
by the EAN and Careers Hub Manager. From September 2020 all Educational Establishments
in the EAN will also be part of the expanded New Anglia Careers Hub to fully meet all
Benchmarks.
The EAN is a national programme and the LEP has responsibility for the engagement in Norfolk
and Suffolk. Currently the programme is funded via CEC, matched by LEP funding up to August
2022. Future funding is under review with CEC and the LEP is looking at alternative sources to
ensure its continuation post August 2022. The LEP’s contribution comes from Enterprise Zone
Pot C income.
Monitoring
The programme is monitored on a monthly basis through reports and meetings with CEC, as
well as the LEPs Programme Performance meetings. Driving up quality and considering the
best way to measure impact and sharing best practice is a key focus for the team during 21/22.
A toolkit of materials and best practice for each of the eight Gatsby Benchmarks to support
schools and the EAs is in development.
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The LEP will work with the two county councils and the CEC to interrogate data and evidence
available on the opportunity area and the careers hub to explore and test the impact the
different parts of the network are delivering.
Accountability
New Anglia LEP is the accountable body.
The LEP’s match funding was approved by the LEP board which receives quarterly reports on
the programme’s performance.
The LEP’s polices on procurement and financial control are followed.
The LEP’s Head of Strategy oversees the EAN team and the programmes performance.
Quarterly claims are submitted to CEC and are signed off by the LEP’s COO.
A Careers and Inspiration Coordinating working group makes recommendations for the effective
allocation of a careers hub fund to support Educational Establishments with achieving the
Benchmarks.
Recommendations for the Hub Fund spend are reviewed by the LEP’s CEO and COO under
the LEP’s delegation policy.
Voluntary and Community Sector Challenge Fund
Background
In the period 2014-21 the New Anglia LEP Board has approved funding of £1.5 million from the
Growing Places Fund to develop the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCSE) Challenge Fund.
By working in partnership with the Norfolk and Suffolk Community Foundations, the programme
has been able to support ready for work and employment initiatives developed by VCSE
organisations operating across both counties.
The VCSE Challenge Fund has:
• Worked through the VCSE to stimulate employment opportunity and training for the
furthest to reach from the labour market. The programme recognises the VCSE is often
best placed to initially engage with this audience and support them through the most
challenging early steps into employment.
• Encouraged innovation in the VCSE around employability and skills.
The LEP has a current allocation of £250,000 to the VCSE Fund for both 2019/20 and 2020/21.
The model deployed includes annual grants of £20,000 each year awarded to VCSE applicants,
with the facility to award further investment of £25,000 later in the project to the best performing
projects to help them to scale up and sustain their activity and deliver more outputs.
Processes
The decision-making process for the allocation of grants involves an application process
overseen by the Norfolk Community Foundation in partnership with the Suffolk Community
Foundation. This includes:
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• Using the extensive Community Foundation networks to advertise the opportunity to
potential VCSE organisations and a call for applications.
• Applications being assessed by Foundation staff.
• Applications considered by an appraisal panel.
• A decision then conveyed to the organisation and contract established.
• All projects are then carefully monitored by the Community Foundations to optimise
delivery and potential for ‘good news’ stories for LEP publicity.
Governance
Decisions on individual awards are delegated from the LEP Board to an awards panel
comprised of representatives from the LEP and community foundations.
New Anglia Apprenticeships Levy Transfer Pool
Background
Apprentice numbers have dropped significantly in recent years due to apprenticeship reforms
making businesses more cautious, new standards not being available and/or more training
being focussed on existing staff members. Intervention is required in order to boost the number
of apprenticeship starts, particularly amongst SMEs, which make up the vast majority of
employers in the area.
Companies with a pay roll in excess of £3m per year must pay the apprenticeship levy at a rate
of 0.5% of wage bill, which can only be used to fund apprenticeship training. After a slow start,
many larger employers are using the levy to invest in training. However, it is also evident that
many levy payers are not using their full allocation, in some cases by a significant amount. If
this allocation is not spent after two years, the allocation is retained by Government and lost
from the region, instead of being invested in apprenticeship training.
Proposed levy transfer process
The New Anglia LEP Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Programme allows firms to allocate up to
25% of their levy to other firms. These funds can then be transferred to support the training
needs of SMEs across Norfolk and Suffolk. This will retain several million pounds of training
funding locally and pay for the training of hundreds of additional apprenticeships.
Any preferred use of funds – certain apprenticeship standards, sectors or locations – can be
identified by the firm allocating its levy to the scheme.
Levy payers (in and outside of the LEP area) with unspent levy need to be identified and
encouraged to allocate some/all of funds available. Any preferred use of their funds needs to be
identified at this stage, e.g. certain apprenticeship standard, sector, geography.
The LEP or an endorsed partner will then source businesses direct or through an
apprenticeship provider that have potential apprentices looking to ‘receive’ the funds. An
introduction will be made and if all parties, including the training provider, are happy with the
match, then funds can start to be transferred.
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Having LEP endorsement of the process has the aim of raising the profile and being an
impartial broker.
Link to the Economic Strategy and Local Industrial Strategy
The Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Strategy stresses the need to step up efforts to promote and
support the delivery of high-quality apprenticeships providing clear entry routes into focus
sectors, directly producing the skills and capabilities the Norfolk and Suffolk economy needs.
The Local Industrial Strategy reinforces this. Lack of intervention at this stage will not allow this
to happen.
Governance
The pool has been developed by the LEP working alongside Norfolk and Suffolk County
Councils as a tri-partner project.
There is regular reporting into the Skills Advisory Panel, the LEP board, the New Anglia Learner
Providers group and Youth Pledge stakeholder meetings.
