New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Board Meeting

Wednesday 23

June 2021

10.00 - 12.30pm

Via MS Teams

Agenda

No. Item

1. Welcome from the Chair

2. Presentation from Christine Luxton, Carton Marshes, Suffolk Wildlife Trust

3. Apologies

4. Declarations of Interest

5. Actions / Minutes from the last meeting

Strategic

6. Skills Advisory Panel Progress Update Update

BREAK – 15 Mins

7. New Anglia Growth Hub Progress Report Update

Operational

8. Government Review of LEPs – confidential Update

9 Chief Executive’s Report Update

10. June Programme Performance Reports – including confidential reports Update

11. Operating and HR Policies - confidential For Approval

12. Board Forward Plan Update

13. Any Other Business Update

Public

New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Unconfirmed)

May 2021

Present:

Kathy Atkinson (KA)

Kettle Foods

Sam Chapman-Allen (SC)

Breckland Council

Claire Cullens (CC)

Norfolk Community Foundation

David Ellesmere (DE)

Ipswich Borough Council

C-J Green (CJG)

Brave Goose

John Griffiths (JG)

West Suffolk Council

Matthew Hicks (MH)

Suffolk County Council

Pete Joyner (PJ)

Shorthose Russell

Dominic Keen (DK)

Britbots

Helen Langton (HL)

University of Suffolk

Steve Oliver (SO)

MLM Group

Corrienne Peasgood (CP)

Norwich City College

Andrew Proctor (AP)

Norfolk County Council

Johnathan Reynolds (JR)

Opergy

Sandy Ruddock (SR)

Scarlett & Mustard

Alan Waters (AW)

Norwich City Council

Attendees

Tim Green (TC)

Cefas - For Item 2

David Carlin (DC)

Cefas - For Item 2

Shan Lloyd (SL)

BEIS

Mark Ash (MA)

Suffolk County Council

Vince Muspratt (VM)

Norfolk County Council

Chris Dashper (CD)

New Anglia LEP – For Item 11

Julian Munson (JM)

New Anglia LEP – For Item 6

Lisa Roberts (LR)

New Anglia LEP – For Items 7 & 9

Chris Starkie (CS)

New Anglia LEP

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW)

New Anglia LEP

Helen Wilton (HW)

New Anglia LEP

Actions from the meeting: (26.5.21)

Developing the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Renewal Plan

A representative from Ipswich or Norwich to be added to the ERG membership

Welcome from the Chair

CJ Green (CJG) welcomed everyone to the meeting including Tim Green (TG) Chief Executive of

Cefas and David Carlin (DC), Cefas’ Science Director.

Presentation from Tim Green & David Carlin, Cefas

TG provided the board with an overview of the work of Cefas which forms part of DEFRA and is a

world leading marine science centre currently employing 500 staff.

TG highlighted the ongoing work and current key impacts including assisting Government with

research into fishing sustainability and assessing fishing quotas, marine pollution, sustainable energy

production and the testing of waste water for Covid variants.

TG thanked the board for their investment in the new building in Lowestoft and provided a virtual tour

of the facility. The board was invited to visit and hold a meeting there in the future.

The board also received details of the training and skills development schemes and plans for

developing knowledge in this key sector going forward.

Johnathan Reynolds (JR) asked where the LEP can work best with Cefas going forward to add the

most benefit.

DC noted that the region had the potential to rival the traditional centres such as Southampton but the

opportunities such as the development of the ABP site at Lowestoft and Sizewell provided the scope

to showcase capabilities for marine science in the East.

Helen Langton (HL) asked for their thoughts on the marine academy. DC confirmed that Lowestoft

would be used as a centre for training and creating high value, sustainable jobs and build on the

relationships with partners such as the UEA and UoS to create a marine focussed economy.

CJG thanked DG & TC for attending and for proving the presentation and expressed the continued

support of the board for the work of Cefas.

TG and DC left the meeting

Apologies

Apologies were received from Tim Whitley and Jeanette Wheeler

Declarations of Interest

None

Actions/Minutes from the last Meeting

The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting held on 31

March 2021.

CJG reviewed the action log and confirmed all been updated.

New Anglia Innovation Board

Julian Munson (JM) presented the board with an update on the work of the Innovation board

noting the significant impact which innovation has within the region. In order to successfully

deliver on the strategic objectives the four workstreams have been defined with key activities

under each being delivered.

- Improve the innovation infrastructure in Norfolk and Suffolk by supporting key strategic

projects

- Increase the level public and private sector investment in innovation - supporting

businesses in the bidding process and in accessing funding

- Support the innovation ecosystem in Norfolk and Suffolk, developing and promoting

innovation clusters.

- Assist and develop the best talent for delivering innovation at the scientific, technical

and business levels.

Further details of progress and delivery can be found in the delivery plan circulated with the

papers.

JM reviewed the proposed next steps which include raising the national profile of the key

innovation programmes and activities and continuing to showcase the innovation assets via

the Innovation Prospectus, Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited campaigns and DIT HPOs.

A new Innovation Framework will also be developed to provide an updated, strategic overview

of all innovation related activity across Norfolk and Suffolk,

Work will also continue to strengthen links across the Industry Councils and Skills Advisory

Pane and there will also be strong engagement with the new Clean Growth Taskforce

Claire Cullens (CC) noted that Strategic Development Fund application process had very tight

timescales both in the bid and the delivery and noted there would be benefit of tying in with

the Innovation board.

JR noted the importance of bringing in the public sector to work with SMEs in innovation and

also the need for the LEP to map the funds being made available to support in funding

applications given the complexity of the funding landscape.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report and the plan

Developing the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Renewal Plan

Lisa Roberts (LR) presented the board with the proposed approach to developing the

Renewal Plan which will build on and consolidate the Economic Strategy, Local Industrial

Strategy and Restart Plan. It will align with local recovery strategies and coordinate with the

Government’s Plan for Growth.

The renewal plan is due to be presented for approval in the Autumn,

Andrew Proctor (AP) noted that a number of plans are being developed in the region and that

it was vital for these to be drawn together. He also queried whether the timescales were

aggressive enough.

Alan Waters (AW) noted that there was not an urban perspective in the Economy Recovery

Group (ERG) membership and that this needed to be included.

ACTION: A representative from Ipswich or Norwich to be added to the ERG membership

CS noted that the larger Economy Recovery Advisory Group included representatives from all

districts.

The meeting discussed the importance of including place in the plan and CS confirmed that

the plan needed to represent all areas of Norfolk and Suffolk and also had to cover all

sectors,

JR asked that all sub boards and industry councils be included in the development and LR

confirmed that this would be the case.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To endorse the approach to developing the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Renewal Plan.

Government Review of LEPS

CS presented details of how the review is being carried out and provided an overview of the

working groups which have been established namely Objectives and Functions, Geography,

Accountability, LA representation and interaction, Implementation and Funding models and

Engagement and Comms.

CS noted that there are still some areas of overlap in the West Midlands and the

recommendation is to focus on removing these.

Some colleagues have already been asked to provide feedback and the paper includes

details of how board members can do so if the y wish.

CS confirmed that the LEP review is due to continue to conclude towards the end of June, with

officials providing advice to ministers before the summer recess.

It was confirmed that the LEP is funded for this financial year but further planning beyond that

is difficult given the uncertainty. Progress reports will be provided at future board meetings as

a standing item.

HL noted the views on LEPs at the feedback meeting she attended were very positive and that

the valuable outcomes from the LEP should be stressed noting the key role the organisation

plays.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Clean Growth Taskforce

LR presented the board with an overview of the Clean Growth Taskforce which will provide

leadership and collaboration and promote Norfolk and Suffolk as the UK’s Clean Growth

Region.

The taskforce will be chaired by Pete Joyner (PJ) and will bring together entrepreneurs,

academia, local authority and other public sector partners to identify innovative way to deliver

on our clean growth aspirations and ensure clean growth is considered in the decisions made

within the region and will work with and add value to existing groups already working in this

area.

It is recommended that the Taskforce has three initial areas of focus:

Skills – creating the skilled workforce required to support the zero-carbon economy.

Transport - Sustainable Connectivity – Transport accounts for 39% of the regions carbon

emissions and reducing these would contribute significantly to achieving the zero emissions

target

Business support - Supporting Business to Net Zero - Enhance the knowledge and

understanding of the scale of the opportunity to business as well as put in place a package of

support to help them move to zero carbon.

JR asked if the taskforce could be formed before the MAG 7 members were invited to join to

ensure that those selected had the appropriate skill set to enhance the membership.

JR noted that his team were collating details of work going on in the region which he was

happy to feed in in advance of the first meeting to start discussions.

PJ confirmed that he was happy to chair and noted the need to keep the taskforce to a

manageable size.

Steve Oliver(SO) confirmed that the Transport Board would align with the Taskforce

direction.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To approve the updated Clean Growth Taskforce terms of reference and three initial areas

of focus.

• To appoint Pete Joyner to join the Clean Growth Taskforce and to act as interim Chair whilst

an independent Chair can be recruited.

• To invite members of the Mag 7 group of entrepreneurs to be members of the Clean Growth

Taskforce as part of the wider recruitment of taskforce members.

LEP Capital Budget 2021/22 – Confidential

New Anglia Capital Investment Update Report – Confidential

Chris Dashper (CD) presented the report in its revised format and noted that the report was

slightly earlier than the usual reporting cycle to tie in with the submission to the LEP audit.

Dominic Keen (DK) noted the high quality of the projects coming forward and the value that

the loans from the NAC was providing,

AP asked for future reports to include one line of information on the activities of the company.

RW confirmed that the companies in the portfolio are being invited back to present to the NAC

board to assist in monitoring investments.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Chief Executive’s Report

CS presented the revised report and highlighted key areas of activity.

CS confirmed that the Food Innovation Centre (FIC) is now proceding following a period of

intensive work and legal advice to support the project.

LEP staff are providing support to partners in various bids to the Community Renewal Fund.

JG expressed his thanks to the Inward Investment team for the requests which have been

received.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Quarterly Management Accounts

RW presented the quarterly accounts and advised that additional costs had been incurred for

EU transition work which was reflected in wages and consultation costs but this has been

offset by an increase in income.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

May Performance Reports

RW presented the reports to the Board and highlighted key items.

RW noted that the FIC and Nar Ouse projects were progressing but that any project

underspends would be reallocated.

ERDF – More funding is being made available however the process for allocation is still not

clear and securing funds for the future of the programme remain a priority. CS confirmed that

this will be raised with MPs if progress is not made within the next few weeks.

Dashboards – RW noted that the outputs have been delayed due to the pandemic and the

both outputs and spend have lagged but it is believed that the outputs will still be realised.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the reports

Board Forward Plan

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the plan

Any Other Business

None

Date Item Action Update Actioned

TargetDate

26/05/2021 DevelopingtheNorfolkand

SuffolkEconomicRenewalPlan

ArepresentativefromIpswichorNorwichtobeaddedtotheERGmembership EllenTilneyfromNorwichCityCouncilhasjoinedtheERG.Wearealso

askingifIpswichwouldlikearepresentativeonthegroup.

LR Jul‐21

31/03/2021 NorfolkandSuffolkEnterprise

Zones:StrategicPlan2021‐26

AreviewofbuildingsonEZstobeundertakentoascertaintheirenvironmental

impact.

JM Oct‐21

23/05/2019 GrowthHubPresentation GrowthHubAnnualreviewtobecirculatedtotheBoardwhenpublished SamanthaVinyard‐Jones,GrowthHubManager,willprovideapresentation

attheJuneBoardmeetingwhichwillincludeareviewofthelastyearand

futureplans.

Complete

ActionsfromNewAngliaLEPBoardMeetings

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Board

Wednesday 23

June 2021

Agenda Item 3

Skills Advisory Panel Progress Update

Authors: Claire Cullens and Natasha Waller. Presenter: Claire Cullens

Summary

This paper provides a high-level summary of the current priorities of the Skills Advisory Panel

(SAP), its activity over the last year, and sets out the direction of travel for the coming year.

Recommendations

The board is asked to:

 Champion the role and operating principles of the Skills Advisory Panel and its position

as the central forum for collaborative discussion and setting the direction of the skills

and employment strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk.

 Endorse the vision of the Skills Advisory Panel and its current direction of travel with a

particular focus on supporting the progression of those currently in employment.

 Support the strengthening of the link between the SAP, the sector skills plan groups and

the Industry Councils.

Background

Who we are: The Skills Advisory Panel (SAP) is made up of private sector members covering

our key sectors, post 16 providers, Department of Work and Pensions, Chambers of

Commerce, Education and Skills Funding Agency and councillors/officers from Norfolk and

Suffolk County Councils.

The Panel meets 6 times a year and each member is asked to be proactive in identifying how

and where they can contribute to and collaborate in any key interventions between meetings.

The vision of the Skills Advisory Panel is ‘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.’

o The Skills Advisory Panel has four objectives:

o Driving skills progression for the workforce - encouraging lifelong professional

development, upskilling and reskilling which will future-proof New Anglia business, boost

productivity and improve the quality of our products, services and supply chains.

o Providing agile and responsive training provision for key sectors – working in

partnership with businesses, developing innovative training courses, able to meet the

emerging needs of the New Anglia economy

o Equipping young people for success - unlocking the abilities, confidence and

potential of young people, equipping this future generation with the technical skills,

digital, entrepreneurship and problem-solving capabilities for further and higher

education and ultimately employment in our evolving technical sectors

o Tackling barriers to employment - Developing stepping stone opportunities for

vulnerable and disadvantaged groups to develop the skills required to enter, re-enter or

transfer employment to benefit from productive careers in our technical sectors.

The SAP aims to set the direction of travel for the skills agenda and thus sets up a ‘movement

of change’.

It is held in high regard in the region and members including the skills officers then set out to

deliver the set remit through designated delivery channels such as local providers, local

authorities and the VCSE sector. The SAP does not have the resources to be operationally

involved in this delivery as an entity in itself – it is a convener of accelerated skills changes.

At the LEP Board in October 2020, Claire Cullens updated the LEP Board on progress with the

SAP. At that meeting, it was agreed that the panel members would be split into 4 task and finish

‘Champion’ groups with each group supporting a different SAP objective.

Claire also introduced Board members to the requirement for the LEP to produce a Local Skills

Report as part of our funding from the Department for Education.

An update of the Covid-19 recovery work around the People theme was also delivered

including the activity from the Workforce Workstream group.

We are now at a position where we need to move forward with our strategy, we need to take

stock of what we have achieved, what is happening externally and where we want to be.

Key areas of work

Evidence Base: Our Local Skills Report and Annex was published early in 2021. Its aim is to

raise the profile of the LEP and much of the wider skills work by:

- acting as an engagement tool

- being a 'go-to' document for everything local-skills related

- clearly setting out key skills needs

- offering valuable analytical insight and evaluation

Our report and those of other LEPs will be a key source of local skills information that enable

cross-area comparison and feed local intelligence to the national Skills and Productivity Board

(SPB) and central government.

The SPB has been established by the Department for Education (DfE) to provide the

Government with independent advice and analysis on skills mismatches and to help ensure that

the skills system is aligned to employers’ future needs. It is chaired by Stephen van Rooyen,

EVP and CEO, Sky Limited (UK and Ireland).

The report (with some of the key evidence in Appendix A) has shown that we do not have

enough people staying in education and gaining qualifications in comparison to national

averages. This is particularly apparent at Level 4 and above (L4 is equivalent to Yr 1 of a

degree programme).

Qualifiers in subjects which align with our Local Industrial Strategy tend to match the national

average other than Engineering &Technology HE qualifiers which are below (1% locally

relative to 6% nationally) but if we are classing them as our strengths then we need a higher

number of people achieving them.

Skills Achievements: Some of the key steps across Norfolk and Suffolk already in place which

members are involved with include:

LEP investment in STEM related facilities will address some of these shortfalls such as:

 £7m for STEM Innovation Campus at West Suffolk College

 £6.5m on the Digi Tech Centre at the University of Suffolk

 £4.5m on Productivity East at the University of East Anglia

Curriculum development such as:

 Through the £2 million Skills Deal programme, East Coast College developed

curriculum to take people from unemployment through to gaining positions in the

Offshore Wind sector.

 New Anglia Colleges Group have successful secured ESF funding to review and

develop curriculum in a number of our key sectors.

 The proposed Institute of Technology bid led by the University of Suffolk will focus on

provision at levels 4-6 in Clean Energy, Agri-Food Tech, ICT/ Digital Creative and

Health Informatics.

Increasing apprentices via the sharing of levy:

The New Anglia LEP apprenticeship levy sharing scheme has supported 213 transfers to the

value of £1,782.606. Health & Social Care, Education & Early Years and Engineering have

benefitted the most in number and/or value.

Progress with careers inspiration through the Enterprise Adviser Network (EAN) by:

 Collaborating with Suffolk County Council and the Network for East Anglian

Collaborative Outreach (NEACO) to create a Virtual Work Inspiration “plug and play”

suite of lesson plans and resources that can be delivered by local employers and

teachers to raise aspirations and inform young people of the pathways and opportunities

across New Anglia.

 Delivering “Careers and Coffee” - twice weekly YouTube broadcasts hosting local

employers discussing their sector and fielding questions from young people, teachers

and careers leads. To date there have been 70+ episodes covering a wide range of

sectors including Agri-Tech, ICT, Clean Energy and Culture.

Further social mobility raising through the Opportunity Areas in Norwich and Ipswich funded by

the Department for Education included:

 Norwich Careers Facilitator Network: establishing a network for secondary schools to

share best practice and deliver large-scale events with employers so that young people

are prepared for working life.

 15 new teaching assistants recruited to support pupils in Ipswich schools who had fallen

behind during the Covid-19 pandemic

 Initial development of plans for a 5

year and subsequent legacy practices put in place.

There will always be a time lag between interventions being established and our data improving

but the Local Skills Report has given us a benchmark to work from and an opportunity to

showcase the skills work in our region.

Response to LEP Board Challenge: When the Board last received a SAP update, one of the

key messages was the importance of ‘looking down but also looking up’ to the current and

future opportunities and threats.

At the time we received endorsement for four SAP private sector members acting as

Champions, one for each objective. Panel members were aligned to each group to develop two

projects/address areas of concern based around a framework agreed by all members ensuring

that there was at least one education link and a LEP/county council officer acting as a

facilitator.

The Champion groups have met over the last year and have taken each objective further.

Members have really valued the opportunity to work on tangible activities but it is fair to say that

the sheer challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic has meant that commitment levels have varied

due to individuals own business circumstances.

This ‘looking down while also looking up’ has really come to the fore as they have had to review

their work in the light of economic shocks and have all started making headway as identified in

Appendix C.

Response to Government Policy: A Government White Paper was published in January

2021, Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth, which has a strong

emphasis on ensuring ‘people can access training and learning flexibly throughout their lives

and are well-informed about what is on offer through great careers support’. The Lifetime Skills

Guarantee was also set out by the Prime Minister in September 2020 to ensure people get the

skills they need at every stage of their lives.

Linked to this White Paper, in April 2021 the Department for Education opened an application

process for their ‘Skills Accelerator’. This enabled:

- Employer Representative Bodies to submit an application to lead a Local Skills Improvement

Plan (LSIP) Trailblazer.

- Post-16 education providers to apply for Strategic Development Funds (SDF).

LSIPs will be created by employers and providers, with employers setting out a credible and

evidence-based assessment of their skills needs, to which providers will be empowered to

respond. The plans will help ensure provision is more responsive to emerging and changing

skills needs and being locally driven, can be tailored to the challenges and opportunities most

relevant to the area.

Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce came together to apply to be a Trailblazer with

support from the LEP, Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council. Its proposed focus is

on capitalising on the opportunities along our coast including the clean growth/net zero agenda,

the significant employment and skills opportunities along the region’s all-energy coast including

those allied key sectors thus making a sustained contribution to the Levelling-Up agenda.

The SDF will provide capital and programme grant funding for projects that build providers’

capacity to meet locally agreed skills priorities. SDF pilots will support new and innovative

provision or services that are delivered in 2021-22, and that lay the groundwork for further

impact in subsequent years. The New Anglia Colleges Group submitted a bid prioritising green

construction.

The knowledge and endorsement of the SAP’s analytical evidence and objectives directed the

ambitions of the LSIP and SDF as outlined in both these bids and their initial view of including

us in future potential governance models. This shows the credible standing that the SAP has in

our skills and employment landscape.

Next steps for SAP: From the evidence section above, our Local Skills Report and Appendix

A, it is clear that our residents skills levels remain lower than the national average.

At the same time Norfolk and Suffolk still does not have enough higher level jobs being offered

in our area which is reducing the demand for higher level skills.

For our businesses to remain competitive they need to invest in workers with higher skills.

Therefore, we need to work with our existing businesses and those engaging with our Inward

Investment team to ensure they develop those high value roles and support our local residents

to fill them.

This means focusing on the existing workforce, and not just on the skills needs of young

people, it should be a holistic approach.

Raising skills levels and higher level jobs will ensure there are clear progression options locally

for our workforce. This upward trajectory, linked to lifelong learning, will ensure that there is

always a pipeline of employees moving through the industry, thus freeing up entry level

positions for new entrants and to some extent returners.

In consultation with the SAP and the LEP/county council skills officers, it is felt that if we rag

rate our objectives, Driving Skills Progression for the Workforce, is currently the least

supported by the raft of initiatives that have been available to us. (Appendix A shows relevant

data confirming this need). However, we do have some initiatives getting established (see

Appendix B), many funded by the European Social Fund, which will support this objective.

The approach of focusing on Driving Skills Progression for the Workforce also fits well with

our Covid recovery work and our long term Economic Strategy ambitions Covid-19 recovery

period, we feel that for the coming months, this should be the area that the SAP should focus.

As always, the objectives do not fit neatly into silos so we will not be removing our support from

the others – we are just confident that progress is being made with them at present through the

existing frameworks in place.

A review of the work and linkages between our Industry Councils, our sector groups and our

sector skills group will be an important part of the coming months to ensure there is the

maximum exposure of the opportunities available in regarding to training for our key sectors.

Major infrastructure projects could disrupt existing businesses but equally offer major

opportunities if they are aware of and embrace the opportunities by developing their workforce.

Feedback from our industry councils has supported the findings in the Local Skills Report and

Sector plans – which clearly indicate that STEM qualifications will be in high demand in the

local economy, but we are still not seeing sufficient volumes of people pursuing a STEM

qualification path.

It is well reported that there is a link between skills, productivity and wages. Businesses have

also used the last year to reflect on their processes and their staff. New staff with relevant skills

are at a premium despite rising unemployment levels so employers will need to look to retrain

many of their existing teams and those they bring in. Transferable and upskilling to higher level

technical skills will also be vital for our emerging sectors and roles.

People are also in work for longer as the retirement age rises. Our Department of Work and

Pensions 50+ Choices pilot has shown that the older workforce need support to:

 develop their skills for the changing workplace

 remain healthy so that they can remain in productive work

 ensure financial security for now and in later life

 confidently ask their employer for flexible working to support any evolving caring

responsibilities.

Our providers will be a key enabler of this direction of travel as they will need to ensure there is

a suitable balance between provision that clearly drives the economy and that which ensures

that people continue in education and develop a passion for learning so they return at key

points in their life if they need to change sector.

Our SAP is funded by the Department for Education for this financial year but it is unclear of its

role as LSIPs roll out. Locally we are taking the view that the SAP will provide the analytical

evidence for the LSIP group and then they will do a greater deep dive and test assumptions

with a wider business base. We will then collectively work with our local providers to identify

curriculum and/or delivery changes.

The SAP was established in September 2019 and replaced the Skills Board. This Skills Board

was established well before there was a requirement for LEPs to have a formal group focussing

on skills and employment. It was felt that it was vital for Norfolk and Suffolk to bring together a

wide group of stakeholders to drive this agenda.

Government has raised their focus on skills and employment through policy changes and

financial incentives with the Department for Education, Department of Work and Pensions and

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports being key drivers.

The LEP and key stakeholders are committed to retaining a sub-group which continues this

work plus further enhance the collective work of our skills teams, regardless of the outcome of

the Skills Accelerator Trailblazer. This will ensure that we retain ownership and strong influence

over this agenda as it is so vital to driving productivity.



Link to the Economic Strategy

Inclusion and Skills is a clear theme in the Economic Strategy and lays out 10 high level action

points to move the agenda forward, particularly within our key sectors.

Our work helps to close the skills and labour gaps plus continues to build skills across the

strategic opportunity areas as set out in the Local Industrial Strategy.

Recommendations

The board is asked to:

 Champion the role and operating principles of the Skills Advisory Panel and its position

as the central forum for collaborative discussion and setting the direction of the skills

and employment strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk.

 Endorse the vision of the Skills Advisory Panel and its current direction of travel with a

particular focus on supporting the progression of those currently in employment.

 Support the strengthening of the link between the SAP, the sector skills plan groups and

the Industry Councils.

Appendix A:



Qualificationlevels:

 NorfolkandSuffolkhasaboveaverageproportionsoftheworkingpopulationwithNVQLevel1,

2&3qualifications.

 However,thiscouldinlargepartbeduetothelowproportionoftheworkforcewithLevel4+

qualifications.

 ThelocalauthoritywherethisismostpertinentisinGreatYarmouth,where15%ofthe

workingpopulationholdanNVQLevel4+qualification.

 

Source:ONSSubregionalProductivity,2004‐2018(published2020),2018LEP/MCAboundaries

Median gross weekly wage for full-time workers:

 The median gross weekly wages for full-time workers in Norfolk and Suffolk (both for the

workplace and residents) fell between 2019 and 2020, however, this was after a

consistent upwards trend from 2014 to 2019.

 Furthermore, both workplace and residents’ wages have consistently tracked below

both the national trend, as well as Comparator LEP average.

 This is primarily caused by the relatively low wages in Norfolk, most notably in

Breckland, Great Yarmouth, North Norfolk and Norwich.

 The median gross weekly wages for residents have exceeded those in the workplace

since 2014.

 This suggests that there are residents with weekly wage above the local average who

work outside of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Appendix B:

Below is a flavour of the initiatives that SAP members are involved in and/or can shape to

support the SAP objective Driving Skills Progression for the Workforce:

- Skills Support for the Workforce – an ESF programme delivered by Steadfast Training

involved in upskilling the workforce and supporting those at risk or recently made redundant

- The Supply Chain Skills Development Fund (SCSDF) – an ESF programme delivered by

Suffolk County Council that will offer local SMEs within Norfolk and Suffolk a flexible fund for

training which will benefit both individual employees and your organisation.

- In-Career Education and Training (ICET) - a training enterprise, funded by the University of

Suffolk and the European Social Fund that aims to improve and increase employer participation

and engagement in learning across the Suffolk region. It will focus on higher level Leadership &

Management plus digital skills.

- Developing Skills in Health & Social Care (DSHSC) - this project is part funded by the

European Social Fund, led by Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, working with local colleges

and other partners. The aim of the project is to empower people working in the sector to

develop new skills, enabling them to continue providing high-quality care to local people.

- Apprenticeships – we are continuing to support the apprenticeship levy sharing. Latest

figures are 213 transfers agreed to the value of £1,782.606 with a further 41 employers seeking

funding through levy transfer and 27 currently initiating the process.

Both county councils have apprenticeship teams supporting employers and people looking for

apprenticeships – Apprenticeships Norfolk and Apprenticeships Suffolk. Norfolk have some

additional incentives for employers taking on apprentices as well:

 Recruit, Retain, Reward is a Norfolk County Council grant programme supporting the

employment of apprentices aged 16-24. They have had 141 successful applications to

date, from across all Norfolk districts and have paid out £122,000 in grants to businesses so

far. 70% have been in the younger age group (16-18), with the most popular sectors being

Construction and Business & Administration.

 Insight Apprentice – an ESF programme due to be launched by Norfolk County Council in

June/July to provide dedicated engagement and relationship management and wrap-around

support for employers, with ongoing support for employers for up to 3 months post

recruitment.

Employer Training Incentive Programme (ETIP) - Funded by Norfolk County Council and the

Norfolk Strategic Fund, this will provide a delegated training grant scheme to assist Norfolk

SMEs in sectors that have been most affected or highlighted by COVID-19. During 2021/22, the

programme will deliver in excess of £330,000 of funded training opportunities to Norfolk SME’s

with focus on the Visitor Economy, Hospitality, Agrifood and Digital sectors.

Agri-food Tech Sector Skills - Funded by Norfolk County Council and led by City College

Norwich (CCN), the project seeks to further the objectives of the New Anglia LEP Agri-food

Tech Sector Skills Group, establishing a more co-ordinated approach to skills interventions to

promote the supply of skills for our Agri-food Tech sector. Throughout 2021/22, the project will

contribute directly to a number of the key sector group objectives and those outlined within the

Agrifood Sector Skills Plan, with work themes including:

 A Workforce Training Needs Analysis with targeted SMEs in Norfolk and Suffolk. The

project engaging with over 300 Agrifood businesses, to identify in greater detail the

training needs within their companies.

 Engagement with further and higher education providers to evaluate the current

progression routes for learners. The project will explore/facilitate progression routes

within Norfolk and Suffolk and in relation to national provision.

 Develop collaborative links with employers and training providers, establishing methods

to address the shortfall in Agri-food tutors. The project will propose methods with which

to up-skill and offer career opportunities in teaching, through transition from the Agri-

food sector.

See also Appendix C - A New Anglia LEP Skills Advisory Panel vision and delivery steps

PowerPoint presentation.

Appendix C:

New Anglia Skills Advisory Panel

Vision and Delivery Steps

@NewAngliaLEP

AppendixC

@NewAngliaLEP

Vision Statement

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.

Role and Operating Principles of the Skills Advisory Panel (SAP):

The New Anglia Skills Advisory Panel provides the strategic leadership for this vision. Each member should

be proactive in identifying where they can contribute to and operate in line with agreed membership

expectations.

 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

 provides a strategic steer for the LEP Board on the employment and skills agenda

 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 and subsequent coordination across the skills system in

line with key strategies such as the Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk & Local

Industrial Strategy

Metrics (RAG)

@NewAngliaLEP

Driving

Skills

Progression

for the

workforce

Providing

Agile &

Responsive

training

provision for

key sectors

Equipping

Young

People for

success

Tackling

barriers to

employment

Skills Advisory Panel Strategic Objectives

Economic Strategy Delivery Plans

OurOffertotheWorld GrowthandProductivity

InclusionandSkills

Collaboration ClusterPlans

@NewAngliaLEP

Equipping Young People

for Success

Providing Agile and

Responsive Training

Provision for Key Sectors

Driving Skills Progression

for the Workforce

Tackling Barriers to

Employment

• New Anglia Youth Pledge

• Enterprise Advisor

Network

• Apprenticeship focussed

projects and support

• Kickstart and

Traineeships

• Virtual work experience

• Icanbea

• Skills Shows

• Opportunity Areas

• Norwich for Jobs and

parallel district initiatives

• NEACO services

• Young Apprenticeship

Ambassador Network

• Suffolk Place Based Youth

Employment initiatives

• Digital/ICT provision/new

builds.

• Skills Support for the

Workforce

• Response to Sector Skills

Plans

• New Anglia Skills Deals

• ESF Programme e.g.

Health & Social Care

• Apprenticeship standards

& T level consultation

• New Anglia Learning

Providers group

consultation

• LSIP/SDF

• Skills Support for the

Workforce

• Apprenticeship levy

transfer

• NAAME Talent Sharing

• Sector Skills Plans and

groups

• ESF Sector Skills and

Supply Chain

• ESF In-Career Education

and Training

• Basic Skills provision

through adult and

community funding

• 50+ Choices

• Job Support Programme

including triage referrals

• DWP Restart, Flexible

Support fund, Youth

Hubs and sector based

work academies

• LIFT Community Grants

• ESF/BLF Building Better

Opportunities

• Supporting graduates

into the workplace

• Integrated Work and

Health (IHES)

• Norfolk Police & Crime

Commissioner – Gateway

to Employment/County

Lines

Initiatives in purple are those we are utilising as part of our Covid recovery work.

@NewAngliaLEP

Priority‐ Sectorapproachestoencourageinworkprogression

DevelopahigherlevelversionoftheSkillsSupportfortheWorkforceprogrammewithan

accompanyingcampaigntoraisetheprofilearoundtargetedtrainingleadingtogreater

productivityandbusinessresilience.

Priority‐ Clearpathwaystoenter/progressin/betweenkeysectors

Seriesofcampaignsraisingawarenessoftrainingandmentorship,includingAdultLearning

andapprenticeshipsforallages.

Highlightingtransferableskillswillbeimportanthereandatthistime.

Driving Skills Progression for the Workforce

Champion - Christine Futter

@NewAngliaLEP

Progress

Funding has been secured and a fund developed to develop the local workforce in order to enhance the potential of local SME

involvement in major key strategic opportunities (e.g. infrastructure development). The £1m Supply Chain Skills Development Fund will

run until 2023.

A further £1.2m secured from ESF ‘Sector Skills’ call to establish a ‘Skills, Progression, Adaptability and Resilience’ programme from

October 2021.

Group have become the representative group of the SAP for the purposes of the Supply Chain Skills Development Fund

Proposals drafted for additional research and key communication messages

Challenges

In new labour market climate businesses in some sectors may find it easier to find ‘new’ employees so not as incentivised to invest in own

workforce. People more content to progress slower than pre-COVID-19? – ‘happy to have a job’.

Concern that businesses may not chose or be able to invest in training when economy is so uncertain.

Employer and individual engagement - we need better, clearer means of accessing comprehensive support and information- some

enhancing of collaboration required.

Lack of HR capacity in some SMEs to develop a culture of continued professional development.

Difficulties in knowing what support is going to come through from Government

Driving Skills Progression for the Workforce

Champion - Christine Futter

@NewAngliaLEP

Priority‐ Trainingprovidersresponsetothesectorskillsplans

DeveloparegionalstrategicprioritisationstatementforNorfolkandSuffolkhighlightingour

economicprioritiesforthedevelopmentoftrainingprovision.

Priority‐ Tutorshortagesinkeysectors

DevelopacampaigncentredaroundhighlightingtheopportunitiestogetintoFEteaching.

Establishanindustryvisitinglecturerprogrammethatprovidestheinfrastructureto

supportthoseworkinginprioritysectorstoundertakecollegeteaching

placements/associatelectureships.

Providing agile and responsive training provision for key sectors

Champion – Nova Fairbank

@NewAngliaLEP

Progress

‐ ANorfolkandSuffolkInstituteofTechnologyWave2LocalFrameworkwasdevelopedtooutlineourvisionforIoT

bidders.

‐ WiderskillsandemploymentevidencebasedevelopedtosupportsubsequentSAPdirectionandforusebyour

partners.

‐ LEPwebsiteJobsSupportProgrammepromotesFEcareers/vacanciesandthewidereducationsectorroles.

‐ TriallingofinformationsessionsforpotentialFEstaffrecruitment.

Challenges

‐ Thereistheconcernamongpartnersthatthereareanumberofkeydocumentsalreadythattheproductionof

anyfurtherdocumentswillcauseconfusion.

‐ ItisstillchallengingtoattractemployeesfromindustrytoFE.Thebusiness/educationlinksidentifiedintheSkills

WhitePapermaygosomewaytoaddressthisbutwewillcontinuetolookforsolutions.

Providing agile and responsive training provision for key sectors

Champion – Nova Fairbank

@NewAngliaLEP

Priority‐ Equippingyoungpeoplewiththeconfidenceandwork‐readyskills

HighlightingasuiteofactivityprogrammesacrossNorfolkandSuffolkthataimtogive

youngpeopleconfidenceandresilience,targetingdisadvantagedyoungpeoplein

particular.

Priority‐ CareersInspiration&ImprovingCEIAG,Employerinvolvement&economyinfo

Aseriesofcommunications/activitiestoensurethatCEOsandGoverningBoardsofthose

schoolsandcollegesengagedwiththeEnterpriseAdviserNetworkareawareoftherole

andworkingsoftheprogramme.

EquippingYoungPeopleforSuccess

Champion - Ben Miller

@NewAngliaLEP

Progress

MappingofYouthPledgeactivityandsupportacrossNorfolkandSuffolk

Focusgroupwithyoungpeopletounderstandwheretheyfeelthegapsare

OutcomesofpositiveactivitydiscussionsfedintothemodeladoptedfortheESFNEETSupportbidledbyECC

Virtualworkexperiencesbeingembeddedintoschooloffer

MonthlyGovernorcareersworkshopsaretakingplaceandwellattended

Challenges

Covidhashaltedmostfacetofaceactivityanddelivery.Wehaveexploredvirtualpositiveactivitieswithsomesuccess

andhaveexcellentexamplesofvirtualworkexperiences.Goingforwardwewillcontinuewithablendedapproach,

usingthegoodpracticefromvirtualdeliverytoengagewithyoungpeopleandemployers.

Lackoffundstoexpandtherangeofpositiveactivitiesofferedtodisadvantagedyoungpeople

EquippingYoungPeopleforSuccess

Champion - Ben Miller

@NewAngliaLEP

Priority‐ Pathwaysintoemploymentfortheeconomicallyinactive

OriginalaimwastosupportingtheFullerWorkinglivesagenda– activelyreviewing

recruitmentpolicies,mid‐lifeMOTsandsupportingthosewithfamilycaringresponsibilities.

Additionalaimtosupportyoungpeopleintoemploymentthroughschemesinthe

Chancellor’sAplanforjobs,e.g.Kickstart,apprenticeshipsandtraineeships

Priority– BasicSkills

Carryoutresearchintowhythereisstillabasicskillsissueintheregionanddevelopa

promotioncampaignandworktobreakdownthebarrierswithEnglish,MathsandDigital

skillsdevelopment.

Thisworkislikelytobeheavilysupportedbyotherchampionsduetothechangeinfocus

onyoungpeople.

TacklingBarrierstoEmployment

Champion – Guy Hazlehurst

@NewAngliaLEP

Progress

2020wasasuccessforthegroupinbringingpeopletogether,sharingintelligenceandknowledgewithsomeclear

outcomes

SupportedYoungPeople– UtilisedYoungSZCDevelopmentPlatform

SupportedtheDWP/NALEP50+Choicesproject,reviewsuccessesandsupport/lobbyforupscaling

DevelopedformatforSelfEmploymentSupportfor50+group,formspartofNALEPCRFbid

Challenges

Researchwhatelsewecoulddotosupport50+groupwhatarethebarriersforindividualsandwhatelsecanwedoto

helptacklethem

Thelandscapeiscrowded,weneedtofocusonjoiningupexistinginitiativesratherthencreatingnewones

TacklingBarrierstoEmployment

Champion – Guy Hazlehurst

SkillsAdvisoryPanel

‐ Bringstogetherprivatesector,post‐16providers,DWP,LEP,CountyCouncils,ESFA

‐ Helpsetregionalskillsstrategy

‐ Aim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

SectorSkills/sectorspecificGroups

‐ Reviewdataandanalysis– sensecheckfromasectorperspective

‐ Identifysectorspecificskillsgaps/shortages/challengesandopportunities

‐ Identifyhowthegroupcancontributetoprogrammeofactivityalready

happeningandmaximiseimpactforandcontributionfromtheirsector

‐ Identifywheretherearesector‐specificgapsinourprogrammeofwork

*Tonote– ifthe‘SkillsAccelerator’Trailblazerapplicationissuccessfulconnectionsbetweenthe‘EmployerChallengeGroup’(ECG)proposedwillbeformed

– withinformationandintelbeingsharedbetweeneachgroupandtheSAPandit’ssub‐groupabletoprovidea‘lens’againstwhichtheinsightsgatheredby

theECGcanbeconsidered.

Thematic‘Champion’Groups

‐ Focusedononeofthe4objectivesoftheSAP

‐ Providea‘deeperdive’intoeacharea

‐ Helpsteerandaddvaluetoongoingrelevantactivity

onbehalfofSAP

‐ Identifyanddevelopadditionalproposals/initiatives

wherenecessary

LEPSectorGroups

(IndustryCouncils,

BuildingGrowth

etc.)

Receiveupdateson

priorities/progress

ofthematicgroups.

Looktohelpinform

howactionscanbe

deliveredintheir

sector.Provide

sectorspecificinput

againsteach

objective

SectorgroupsreceivedataandanalysisfromtheSAPandupdateson

widerprogrammework.Provideminutesandreportsback– chairsof

sectorgroupstoberepresentedontheSAPwherepossible.SAP

memberstoattendrelevantsectorgrouptocreateconnectionand

‘champion’sectorgroup.

Thematicgroupsescalate

challenges/opportunitiesand

recommendations/proposalsforactionto

theSAP

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Board

Wednesday 23

June 2021

Agenda Item 7

New Anglia Growth Hub Progress Report

Author: Chris Dashper

Presenter: Samantha Vinyard-Jones

Summary

This paper accompanies the presentation on the work and performance of the New Anglia

Growth Hub which is attached at Appendix 1

Recommendation

The board is invited to note the contents of the paper and the presentation

Background

The New Anglia Business Growth Programme is the LEP’s flagship business support

programme and comprises of three main elements:

 New Anglia Growth Hub (GH), offering free and impartial advice to individuals a

businesse

s as well as signposting them to a range of additional support.

 New Anglia Small Grant Scheme (SGS), providing grants between £1,000 and £25,000

to SMEs to enable growth, increased productivity and job creation.

 Start-up and Early-Stage Support Programme, providing specialist support to

help

people

set up a successful new business – this is delivered by partners NWES and

Menta.

The Business Growth Programme was developed following a review of business support in

2013, overseen by the LEP Board. All elements of the Programme help deliver the objectives of

the Economic Strategy, Local Industrial Strategy and Restart Plan, with funding for the current

programme coming from Government, the department of Business Energy and Industrial

Strategy, and Europe through the European Regional Development Fund.

A number of additional support programmes have been introduced alongside these three core

elements including the New Anglia Scale Up programme, which helps ambitious businesses

scale their operations and the Peer to Peer Network, funded by BEIS, which is a business

mentoring programme.

In addition we have recently secured additional European funding from the France Channel

England programme for a new start up programme and are bidding to the Community Renewal

Fund for further activity to support individuals and businesses.

The presentation from the Growth Hub Manager, Sam Vineyard Jones provides the LEP Board

with background information on the New Anglia Growth Hub.



The presentation provides an update on the current structure of the hub, performance before

and during the pandemic and highlights the future direction of the Hub, in line with key LEP

priorities, including Net Zero, digitisation and international trade.

Key Issues

The presentation identifies some uncertainty surrounding the future structure and direction of

the Growth Hub beyond the end of the current 2021/22 financial year.

Negotiations are ongoing around securing an extension to the European Regional Development

Fund (ERDF) currently used to support the delivery of the LEPs Business Growth Programme,

which incorporates the Growth Hub, Start Up Programme (delivered by NWES and MENTA)

and the Small Grant Scheme. The aim is to secure funding for the Growth Hub through until

March 2023.

Future funding will need to be flexible to support both capital and revenue initiatives through the

Growth Hub, such as grant and consultancy support for business.

Recommendation

The board is invited to note the contents of the paper and the presentation

Attached: Appendix 1 – Growth Hub presentation to the board

Funded by

Who am I? I’m Samantha Vinyard-Jones, Growth Hub Manager and part of Suffolk Chamber of

Commerce’s senior management team. I joined in October 2016 as a Business Growth

Adviser and then from November 2019 I headed up the Suffolk based Adviser Team, before

being appointed Manager in March 2021.

Before joining the Growth Hub, I’ve worked in a variety of industries. Starting out in retail in the

90’s, I’ve since been a secondary school teacher, an International Technical Sales Manager

at ICI, started up a digital imaging business, and led a team of palliative carers delivering

24/7 care for those with late stage dementia and other terminal illness.

I’m also a keen artist and have spent much of my life’s spare time painting or drawing. One

thing is for sure, though - the commercial world really ignites my enthusiasm and I’m thrilled

to be a part of the Growth Hub team, supporting Norfolk and Suffolk businesses!

The New Anglia Growth Hub is delivered in partnership with New Anglia Local Enterprise

Partnership by the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. This is an extremely robust strategic

relationship that has delivered the Growth Hub services across Norfolk and Suffolk since

2014.

Working closely together, we have truly had a phenomenal impact on our local economy, and in

this presentation I intend to reveal the astonishing evidence of this…

Introductions

We are currently 21 in number. We have 6 Business Growth Advisers and a Skills Adviser team, led by our Senior Adviser,

Mohammed Alkordi.

Our Central Operations team is headed up by Helen Barker. Helen’s team has 2 Support Advisers, Jo and Mags, who field

all the incoming calls and emails to our Growth Hub hotline! She also leads our administration, events and marketing

teams, as well as the Peer Networks team.

To complete the picture, we have two High Growth Managers, Dr Morgan Potter and Stephen Hart who deliver our very

successful Scale Up New Anglia programme, and spend their days dedicated to ‘turning Silver to Gold’.

New Anglia Growth Hub

• Face to face support from a team of field-based advisers

• Support focussed on growth:

✓ New products and services

✓ Increased productivity and efficiency

✓ New job creation

✓ Scale Up New Anglia – turning Silver to Gold

✓ Upskilling the workforce, apprenticeships, levy share

✓ Supporting businesses to start exporting

✓ Guidance on BREXIT

New Anglia Growth Hub pre COVID-19

The impact of COVID-19 on businesses in our region

• Panic and confusion – where to turn for information??

• Closures – how will we survive??

• Jobs at risk – we can’t afford to lose our skilled workforce!

• PPE and social distancing – how can we operate safely?

• Raw material costs and availability – can anyone help to connect us?

• Government subsidies and grants – what am I entitled to/eligible for?

• Financial pressures - we need help with our cashflow, what can we do?

• Change and adjustment – what support can we get to respond to these

challenges?

• Advice, guidance and support delivered remotely using Teams, Zoom, email and phone calls, utilising the Coronavirus

Business Support Script for the very latest updates at all times. We also have an online Coronavirus Business Toolkit

• Directing the deluge of incoming calls via Teams to respond to calls rapidly. Every adviser receiving bundles of email

enquiries so we could contact and respond in tight timescales

• Working closely with LEP Enterprise Advisers to manage the high volume of enquiries at the height of the crisis

• Consistent and detailed communications with Local Authority colleagues to help clients navigate the complex array

of rebates, grants and relief, and to facilitate efficient resolution of queries

• Delivery of new LEP grant schemes to help businesses differentiate and realise ways to thrive

• Helping businesses to supply and find supply of PPE, sanitisers and raw materials for their manufacture

• Together with the team of LEP Enterprise Advisers, contacting businesses regarding Lateral Flow Testing to help those

with a workforce unable to work remotely continue to operate safely

• Delivering remote workshops and events, including Scale Up New Anglia and Peer Networks sessions

How have we adapted during the pandemic?

EU Transition – how have we supported

businesses during this time?

• Referring businesses to our colleagues, Trade Advisers Mike and Koyas at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, who are able

to talk to businesses across our region regarding Brexit/EU Transition. Advisers are also able to talk through any issues or

grey areas with them so that they can build up their own knowledge base and Koyas has presented to the team to talk in

general terms about the changes likely to affect businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk.

• Making referrals to V4 Services who were contracted to deliver EU Transition advice to businesses in our region during Q1

2021. Rich Olsen noted early on that the discussion his team could have with a business was much more open and

engaging when referred by a Growth Hub Adviser.

• We continue to work closely with DIT making referrals to them so that businesses can export.

• We share business intelligence in our reporting to our LEP colleagues that is in turn presented to central Government.

A shifting landscape – what are the priorities?

GROWTH

Helping those businesses

that are growing to do so

bigger, better and faster

with funding and

programmes of support

through Peer Networks,

Scale Up New Anglia and

1-to-1

RECOVERY

Connecting businesses to

funding that is available

to help them recover from

the impact of the

pandemic and to thrive.

Referring businesses to

specialist guidance and

advice where required

SUSTAINABILITY and

PROGRESS

• Supporting businesses to

save costs and energy, to

help New Anglia achieve

Net Zero.

• Supporting innovation

• Helping businesses to

adopt, integrate and

improve digital

technology

New Anglia Business Growth Programme

Our longest standing schemes

Since April 2013, the Growing Business Fund

has awarded £30.1m in grants

to 288 projects generating £225m of private

match funding and creating 3,266 jobs.

Figures: April 2021

The Small Grant Scheme, funded by the

European Regional Development Fund, has

awarded over £4.3m to 433 projects,

generating £18.2m of private match funding.

Figures: April 2021

New Anglia Business Growth Programme

New schemes during COVID-19

A raft of schemes and programmes launched during the pandemic to help

businesses in our region to survive and thrive:

• Growth Through Innovation

• Business Resilience and Recovery Scheme

• Business Resilience and Recovery Consultancy

• Visitor and Wider Economy Grants

• West Norfolk Business Small Grant Scheme

• Peer Networks

New Anglia Business Growth Programme

Signposting and Referrals

Alongside the schemes we work with directly, and our own calendar of workshops and events, we listen to what

our businesses need and keep an open mind. We signpost and make referrals to other specialist advice,

expertise, programmes and schemes, always highlighting free support wherever possible.

Who do we typically connect businesses with?

• Local Authority colleagues and regulatory bodies

• Colleges and Universities

• Programmes designed to support the rural economy

• DIT to increase our exporting and Inward Investment support to encourage businesses to choose our region

• Access to finance and investment / guidance for businesses with financial issues

• Pre-start and Start-up Support (MENTA and Nwes), Trade organisations and innovation support

And many more…

Most of the team are funded by the

European Regional Development

Fund and we are currently awaiting

news from the Secretary of State as

to a potential further extension

beyond November.

Our Skills and Peer Networks teams

are currently BEIS funded until

March 2022

Future funding could change the

shape of the Growth Hub…

Net Zero

Specialist

Advisers

Skills

Local

Support

Schemes

International

Trade

Future Activities

Case Study: Clip 'n' Climb - Ipswich

• UK's first purpose-built climbing centre

• Open for just 9 months when the pandemic struck

• Awarded £27,000 through the Business Resilience and

Recovery Scheme

• Invested in new equipment which helped them to

continue to operate safely

Case Study: Made by the Forge - Elmsett

• Family-run blacksmiths specialising in bespoke iron

products for the home

• Secured almost £3,000 grant funding for new

equipment and to improve their premises

• Referred to Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

business training programme through support from

Scale Up New Anglia

• Based on a nature reserve which helps the

conservation of birds of prey

• £100,000 of grant funding from the Growing Business

Fund for land and infrastructure development

• Secured an additional 150 acres, created 4 new jobs

and helped build a new admin office and training centre

Case Study: Hawk and Owl Trust - Fakenham

• Supported over 12,000 businesses

• Awarded over 1200 grants

• At a value of over £40mil and…

• Provided over 57,000 hours of

support

What has the Growth Hub delivered to date?

Initiated by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and managed by

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, New Anglia Growth Hub was set up in 2014 to

provide free face-to-face support to businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk.

The Growth Hub's service is free and impartial, and provides access to hundreds

of sources, fast-tracking businesses to the right support.

Our team have so far:

We have received over 16,000

calls via our hotline only during

the pandemic, which equates to

1,594 (66 days) hours of time on

Teams calls related to COVID-19

New Anglia Growth Hub

0300 333 6536

Samantha Vinyard-Jones

Growth Hub Manager

• Successfully ran 18 cohorts over 5 months, one of the highest numbers for a Growth

Hub in the programme.

• 89% participant retention rate

• 94% of post session survey responses were very satisfied/satisfied

• 19 testimonials filmed using glowing recommendations from past participants

Now tendering for facilitators for the new season of cohorts due to begin in July!

Peer Networks

“… it completely exceeded my expectations… Having

likeminded and unbiased opinions about your business is

such a huge help, and, of course, through Peer to Peer

and the Growth Hub – it’s free!”

Nick Phillips, Director of Funnells Kitchen

Scale Up New Anglia – ‘SUNA’

• Two internal peer to peer pathways: ‘Silver to Gold’ and ‘Mastermind’, plus Masterclasses

• Now on SUNA Cohort 4 - 12 per cohort/pathway

• Core programmes are Digital Marketing, HR, Finance, Sales

• SUNA alumni group in formation

• Twelve external pathways created, including Sounding Board, Innovate UK Edge and

Goldman Sachs

• Close association with Goldman Sachs with over 50 referrals to GS10KSB, and Innovate UK

with over 40 referrals. Over 20 to Sounding Board

• Close association with Scale Up Institute

“SUNA has made me accountable to the Mastermind group - it has

been superb - we now have 20% growth. We will join a continuation

group and Goldman Sachs 10KSB”

Mark Baker: Director CIM Signs and Graphics



New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Board

Wednesday 23

June 2021

Agenda Item 9

Chief Executive’s Report

Summary

This report focuses on by exception reporting on the key issues and information that need to be

brought to the board’s attention.

Regular reports on the performance of individual LEP programmes are provided via programme

performance reports and issues which require board input or decisions are tabled as agenda

items on their own right.

The report is grouped under four headings – 1) LEP managed projects and programmes, 2)

LEP Industry councils and Sub-groups, 3) External Partnership Activity and 4) Governance and

Finance.

The communications dashboard is also attached.

Recommendation

The board is invited to note the contents of the report

1) LEP managed projects and programmes

Nar Ouse Enterprise Zone Development – construction underway

I’m pleased to be able to report that construction work is finally underway on the LEP’s joint

industrial development with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.

At the February 2021 board meeting, the LEP Board agreed to reduce the investment in this

project from £5.37m to £3.22m, because of slower than anticipated progress and the

requirement by Government to spend the Growth Deal funding by March 2022 at the latest.

LEP funding from the Growth Deal will now support phase 1 of the project, whilst funding for

phase 2 will form a separate application to the Growing Places Fund, which does not carry the

same time restrictions.

After considerable negotiation and discussion with the Borough Council of Kings Lynn and

West Norfolk, key milestones including signing the construction contract and engagement of

support for the project management have now been achieved, allowing the LEP investment in

phase 1 of the project to proceed. Contractor RG Carter began the ground clearance work this

week following work by UKPN earlier this month to move some underground cables.

Phase 1 will comprise 2 office units (A1) and 2 light industrial units (A2). LEP funding will

support the creation of a minimum 29,234 sq. ft of net internal lettable space.

It is anticipated that the units will deliver 114 higher quality jobs to the town, which is a key

thread in the Economic Strategy. The return on the investment to the LEP will be 50% of the



rent generated annually and with the anticipated rental yield per unit being slightly higher than

originally anticipated.

The scheme is a flagship development on the Space to Innovate Enterprise Zone, located on

the Nar Ouse Regeneration Area in King’s Lynn, a key growth location in the LEP’s Economic

Strategy.

The Nar Ouse development has long been a development priority for the Borough Council of

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk (BCKLWN) but has remained stalled for a number of years. This

has primarily been because of landownership issues and the challenges of development on a

brownfield site. However, the granting of EZ status and the council purchasing the site allows

the opportunity to bring this site forward.

The scheme kickstarts development on the park and provides expansion space for firms

growing out of the LEP supported KLIC building and the future Innovation and Collaboration

Incubator announced earlier this month as part of the Kings Lynn Town Deal.

2) LEP Industry Councils and sub-groups

All Energy Industry Council – raising awareness of major energy projects

A new awareness campaign is being developed by the All Energy Industry Council with the aim

of helping to generate a higher profile for some of the major energy projects planned or in the

pipeline and to help promote the positive benefits such as new investment and supply chain

opportunities and a boost to skilled employment in the region.

These include Sizewell C (currently at the planning stage) and new offshore wind farm

developments off the Norfolk and Suffolk coast.

New Anglia LEP is also working with local partners and major companies such as EDF Energy

and Vattenfall and organisations such as EEEGR to ensure that we are working together in a

more collaborative way to support the industry and secure future investment opportunities.

Bacton hydrogen hub - Two reports have been released by Hydrogen East and the Oil and Gas

Authority (OGA) highlighting the opportunity to develop Bacton as a major energy hub with a

focus on hydrogen production and distribution. Importantly both reports present an exciting

opportunity for our region to be at the forefront of the UK’s hydrogen economy with hydrogen

captured and stored at Bacton and also offshore helping in the UK’s drive to net zero and the

decarbonisation of our major assets and sectors such as transportation.

Innovation Board - launch of Connected Innovation and the new Innovation Prospectus

An online event to launch both the Connected Innovation Project and new Innovation

Prospectus is scheduled for Wednesday 13

July 2021.

Johnathan Reynolds, Chair of the LEP’s Innovation Board, will introduce the event which will

include a series of presentations on the region’s innovation centres as well as a workshop

discussion focused on Clean Growth / Net Zero - looking specifically at innovative solutions to

the challenges facing businesses and introducing the support and funding available to

businesses in the region.

You can find out more in the innovation section of the LEP website:

https://newanglia.co.uk/innovation/

The New Anglia Innovation Prospectus can be found here:

https://newanglia.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/New-Anglia-LEP-Innovation-Prospectus-

2020-V8-1.pdf

Manufacturing and Engineering Sector Group – launch of new manufacturing group for

East Suffolk

The manufacturing and engineering sector group, NAAME, have just launched their seventh

regional manufacturing group, East Coast Suffolk, with Norfolk and Suffolk now fully covered.

The event focused on Sizewell C, with presentations from EDF and Suffolk Chamber of



Commerce, and the opportunities available for regional firms to get involved in the supply chain

with skills being at the forefront of the conversation, 37 attended the session.

NAAME also led an exclusive round table with senior leaders from the manufacturing and

engineering sector took place in collaboration with Make UK and Marshall Centre. Circa 30 HR

& senior leaders came together to discuss the return to work and wellbeing policies for

manufacturing teams. Numerous examples of policy exchanges and best practice sharing took

place.

New Anglia Culture Board – campaign to persuade visitors to Head East

A new initiative to boost the profile of our important cultural sector goes live this month. Led by

the New Anglia Cultural Board and supported by Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, Visit

East of England, New Anglia LEP, Interreg EU, UEA and Norfolk Museum Services with

backing from various arts/cultural organisations, the result is a high-profile, creative marketing

campaign entitled ‘Head East’.

Launched to profile and celebrate our extensive cultural and heritage offer, the campaign is

also backed by Archant through a new media partnership with the aim of raising awareness of

cultural places and activities to enhance the visitor experience and help boost visitor numbers

and spend in a sector that has been severely impacted by Covid19. A new website and

targeted social media campaign is being launched and aligns with the wider regional tourism

promotional activity via Visit East of England.

3) Partnership activity

East Anglia Regional Productivity Forum

Eight Regional Productivity Forums have been launched across the UK, as part of the £32

million ESRC-funded Productivity Institute. Each will inform and shape the development and

implementation of the Institute’s research agenda and practical business interventions. The

majority of the Institute’s research activities and outputs will be developed in collaboration and

through co-production with business and policy users.

The East Anglia Forum, covering Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk is Chaired

by Alex Plant - Regulations Director at Anglian Water. The Forum has identified five themes

and five sectors as particular areas of interest, and which will shape the focus of its research.

The table below sets these out along with forum membership. Norfolk and Suffolk

representatives are in bold.

Theme Key Sector Working Group members

The Fens Agritech Belinda Clarke, Dan Thorp, Tina Barsby, Henry

Shropshire

The Coast Ports &

Logistics

Andrew Harston, Jo Lancaster, Johnathan

Reynolds, Steve Baker

The role of Greater

Cambridge

Life

Sciences

Andy Williams, David Richardson, Rachel Stopard,

Tony Jones

Oxford to Cambridge Arc Digital & IT C-J Green, Claire Ruskin, Mark Dorsett, Tim

Whitley

Frontier activities and the

foundational economy

Health &

Social Care

Nikos Savvas, Fiona McDiarmid, Paul Raynes,

Tom Hennessy

Governance

lex Plant, chairs of the other five working groups

One of the first outputs from each Forum will be a ‘Regional Productivity Insights Paper’ to

provide a framework for its work. The work of the forum provides an opportunity to enhance the

regions evidence base and inform the development of the Economic Renewal Plan. The LEP

executive will support the work of the forum with the aim to link its research to delivery.



Review of the £85m European Structural Investment Fund – Webinars

The new UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will replace the historic investment in the

economy and skills from EU programmes – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

and European Social Fund (ESF), totalling £85m in Norfolk and Suffolk from 2015 to 2023

when these programmes end. Further guidance on UKSPF is expected in July.

The LEP will be hosting a series of webinars, on 7

and 21

July, aimed at senior leaders and

project developers across Norfolk and Suffolk who are interested in UKSPF and helping to

shape the Economic Renewal Plan.

The webinars will share best practice and highlight the impact to date of the £85m investment

which has supported economic growth, business innovation, low carbon initiatives, supporting

people into work and building skills across in Norfolk and Suffolk. Project leads will share their

thoughts and discuss how we can build on success in future programmes which will inform the

development of the Economic Renewal plan.

We would welcome LEP Board members to join the sessions as well as promote them through

their networks.

Global Investment Summit at Windsor Castle

On the 19

October the UK Government will be holding a Global Investment Summit at

Windsor Castle and London hosted by the Royal Family and the Prime Minister. The most

prominent investors from around the world will be invited. The aim is for the one-day meeting to

catalyse billions of pounds of investment.

As part of this Summit, DIT is seeking to identify the most high-value, strategically important

and innovative green investment opportunities from across the UK. As such, we responded to

the call for projects to surface these green and sustainable investment opportunities by

approaching several partners across Norfolk and Suffolk. DIT is looking to identify FDI

opportunities, large capital projects and high growth companies seeking to raise funding.

We have supported the submission of three projects. One for investment in the Norwich

Research Park and two companies (one in aerospace and one in refrigeration) seeking

investment. We are not aware of any others coming forward although we have discussed

several other potential submissions.

4) Governance, operations and finance

Risk Register

We have undertaken a full review of our Risk Register and this will be presented to the Audit

and Risk Committee at their meeting on 29th June 2021.

We have increased the risk scores for the following:

- Government review of LEPs

- Loss of core funding for the LEP

- Business Growth Programme

- Enterprise Zones

Finance

The LEP is reporting consolidated accounts on a quarterly basis. The figures for the first

quarter, April - June 2021, will be included in the July board paper.

The LEP is still awaiting information on Core funding. We have had discussions with our

Accountable Body regarding how we might manage our cash flow in the short term.

The LEP’s on-site audit is in progress with an audit clearance meeting scheduled for 16

June.

The Audit & Risk Committee are meeting on 29th June 2021 to review the annual financial

statements. Subject to this review the accounts will be recommended to the LEP board for

approval in July, and to the AGM in September.

This dashboard sets out the outcomes and impact of our communications activities during

May 2021.

Media coverage

- 6 press releases

- 28 pieces of coverage

- 6 reactive media enquiries