New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Board Meeting

Wednesday 22

September 2021

10.00am - 12.00pm

Freeman's Education Room,

National Centre for Writing, Norwich

Agenda

No. Item

1. Welcome from the Chair

2. Presentation from Chris Gribble, Chief Executive, National Centre for Writing

3. Apologies

4. Declarations of Interest

5. Actions / Minutes from the last meeting

Strategic

6. Agri-Food Industry Council Report Update

Operational

GPF Application: Nar Ouse Phase 2 – Confidential

For Approval

Government Review of LEPs

– Confidential

Update

9. Chief Executive’s Report Update

10. September Programme Performance Reports & Dashboards Update

11. Board Forward Plan Update

12. Any Other Business Update

Publc

New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Unconfirmed)

July 2021

Present:

David Ellesmere (DE)

Ipswich Borough Council

C-J Green (CJG)

Brave Goose

John Griffiths (JG)

West Suffolk Council

Pete Joyner (PJ)

Shorthose Russell

Dominic Keen (DK)

Britbots

Helen Langton (HL)

University of Suffolk

Steve Oliver (SO)

MLM Group

Andrew Proctor (AP)

Norfolk County Council

Johnathan Reynolds (JR)

Opergy

Alan Waters (AW)

Norwich City Council

Sandy Ruddock (SR)

Scarlett & Mustard

Attendees

Viv Gillespie (VG)

Suffolk New College (substitute for Corrienne Peasgood)

Chris Graveling (CG)

The Grange, Cromer - For Item 2

Mark Goodall (MG)

Chair, All Energy Industry Council – For Item 6

Pete Waters (PW)

Executive Director, Visit East of England – For Item 7

Shan Lloyd (SL)

BEIS

Jai Raithatha (JRa)

Suffolk County Council

Vince Muspratt (VM)

Norfolk County Council

Julian Munson (JM)

New Anglia LEP – For Items 6 & 7

Chris Starkie (CS)

New Anglia LEP

Rosanne Wijnberg (RW)

New Anglia LEP

Helen Wilton (HW)

New Anglia LEP

Actions from the meeting: (21.7.21)

None

Welcome from the Chair

CJ Green (CJG) welcomed everyone to the meeting including Viv Gillespie, deputising for Corrienne

Peasgood, Mark Goodall, chair of the All Energy Industry Council, Pete Waters, Executive Director,

Visit East of England and Chris Graveling, owner of the Grange Hotel in Cromer.

Presentation from Chris Graveling, The Grove Hotel, Cromer

Chris Graveling, (CG) provided the board with an overview of the work carried out at the Grange Hotel

in Cromer which received funding from the Business Resilience and Recovery Scheme towards the

completion of its outdoor Sundown restaurant.

CG explained that, given the restrictions imposed during the pandemic, they had looked to expand

their outdoor dining area by building tee-pees and therefore applied to the scheme for support.

The resulting covered, outdoor restaurant was partly built by existing staff who would otherwise have

been on furlough, and can accommodate around 80 people. It provides a reduced menu of local

produce and has proved high successful and has outdone initial expectations.

The success has meant that CG is now looking to employ more staff than originally planned, both

chefs and front of house staff.

Chris Starkie (CS) asked if the project would have been completed without LEP funding. CG

confirmed that the planning permission had to be applied for before funding had been achieved which

was a risk and at the time without the LEP support they would not have proceeded but hindsight

shows how successful the project had been.

CJG thanked CG for his time and wished him and his team success for the future.

Apologies

Apologies were received from Tim Whitley, Claire Cullens, Matthew Hicks, Kathy Atkinson and

Corrienne Peasgood.

Declarations of Interest

Item 6 - All Energy Industry Council Report

Johnathan Reynolds (JR) noted an interest as Director and Co-Founder of Hydrogen East.

Steve Oliver (SO) advised of an interest in Vattenfall via his company SWERCO.

Actions/Minutes from the last Meeting

The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting held on 23

June 2021.

CJG reviewed the action log and confirmed all been updated.

All Energy Industry Council Report

Julian Munson (JM) presented the report to the Board providing an overview of the

background to the council and highlighting progress in key areas of delivery:

Promotion – The new “Generate” brand will be launched shortly which will be more closely

aligned with Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited and will be used to enhance inward investment

promotional activity.

Recovery plan – The AEIC has produced a recovery plan to support the sector’s priorities

through a range of interventions to drive growth, investment and innovation, strengthen the

supply chain and boost sustainable employment in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Sector Advocacy – Work has been carried out on the development of a strategic

communications campaign to highlight the importance of future energy projects to help the

UK’s drive to net zero and support the economic importance of the sector.

JM advised the board of the issues and challenges facing the sector noting the uncertainty

around progress of new offshore wind and nuclear new build projects following delays with

Government approval processes and the issue of infrastructure for energy transmission and

connectivity and the potential and perceived impact on local communities.

A review of the AIEC is underway to ensure that it is robust and fit for purpose given the

challenges facing this complex sector.

The board was address by Mark Goodall, chair of the AIEC, who reviewed the challenges

facing the supply chain and noted that, while projects by Scottish Power Renewables and

Vattenfall will open up huge opportunities for the region, the pandemic continues to delay

other projects and hinder the sector.

The meeting discussed the importance of the development of hydrogen in the region and

agreed that this offered existing opportunities but was still at an embryonic stage.

JR noted that the projects at Bacton and the Freeport site were gamechangers for the region

and noted their importance for the sector and supply chain in the future.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Tourism Action Plan

JM presented the plan to the board highlighting the extensive work which has been carried out

with all partners to compile what is now called the Destination Management Plan.

JM introduced Pete Waters (PW), Executive Director of Visit East of England, who noted that

historically the region had not been competitive in achieving national funding however work has

been ongoing to pull together all interested parties to provide one local voice. The speed of

this process has been increased by the pandemic.

PW echoed his thanks to partner organisation for their support during the compilation of the

plan and confirmed that it was vital if future bids for funding are to be successful, noting that

this region has received more funding in the last year than any other.

PW advised that they are working with international gateways such as Stansted to encourage

international visitors to remain in the East of England. Other key areas of focus include changing

the perception of tourism as a career to encourage people to join the sector and also spreading

demand both seasonally and geographically.

The plan covers all areas of the visitor economy to ensure that, when Government implements

the tourism recovery plan, the East is in a position to respond quickly and apply for funding.

The meeting discussed the challenges of supporting the latest infrastructure projects while

ensuring that growth is both clean and green.

Viv Gillespie (VG) noted that there was limited mention of food in the plan both in terms of

hospitality and in niche food production.

PW agreed and advised that the need had been to get the plan in place to be ready for funding

should it become available but that the plan is iterative and will be revised going forwards.

VG queried the level of involvement of the colleges in the plan. PW confirmed that some

colleges have been involved in discussions but this needs to be expanded further to other

colleges and universities. This was echoed by Helen Langton (HL) in relation to skills and who

requested more engagement.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report and presentation

• To endorse the Tourism Action Plan

Freeport East - Confidential

Draft Annual Financial Statements - Confidential

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To approve the draft annual financial statements and audit Management Letter

Government Review of LEPS

CS confirmed that work is continuing but it is not clear if an update will be received before the

summer recess.

The one remaining geographical overlap is being tackled and a discussion paper has produced

on accountability.

The review is still expected to be concluded in September and Norfolk and Suffolk MPs,

excluding the ministers, have submitted letters in support of the LEP.

The meeting discussed how voice of businesses can be used to support the LEP and agreed

that this needs to be amplified where possible.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To reach out to businesses to make the case for the LEP

Chief Executive’s Report

CS presented the report higlighting the ongoing work with the industry councils and the

development of the recovery plan which will now be published in January 2022.

CS noted that the Growing Business Fund (GBF) has seen a considerable upturn in interest

over recent months, with businesses moving on from recovery and the type of project

supported by the Resilience and Recovery Fund to growth projects. It was proposed that up

to £400k of the BR&R underspend is moved to LEP sub programmes budget which includes

GBF.

This will give both schemes adequate budget for the remainder of the financial year as all

monies must be used before the 22/23 financial year.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

• To approve that up to £400k of the unallocated £860k R&R budget is allocated to the LEP

sub programmes including the Growing Business Fund

July Performance Report

RW presented the Growth Programme report to the Board and highlighted key items noting

that the LEP is working with Government to agree a project change request to support the

agreed extension to the scheme.

The pipeline continues to be healthy and the latest claim exceeded target.

As the LEP has delegated authority funds will be moved as required as the financial year

ends and a list of the movements will be presented to the board.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Quarterly Management Accounts – Confidential

RW presented the quarterly management accounts and highlighted key variances.

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the report

Board Forward Plan

The Board agreed:

• To note the content of the plan

Any Other Business

VG queried when further details about the AGM would be circulated. Helen Wilton (HW)

confirmed that the first invitation had been issued in the latest LEP newsletter and further

details would be issued to partners as the agenda was confirmed.

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andIpwichhave

alsobeenapproachedtoaskiftheywouldlikearepresentativeonthe

group.

LR Complete

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.

Workisunderwayandthereviewisbeingcompletedin‐house JM Oct‐21

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

1



New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Board

Wednesday 22

September 2021

Agenda Item 6

Agri-Food Industry Council Report

Author: James Allen, Emma Taylor Presenter: James Allen, Corrienne Peasgood

Summary

This paper provides an update on the Agri-Food Industry Council, a sub-group of New Anglia

LEP.

Recommendations

The Board is invited to:

Note the contents of the paper and sub-board report (Appendix A)

Note the progress made on strategic sector plans

Background

In 2019 the LEP convened three Industry Councils to drive forward the aspirations of the

draft Local Industrial Strategy in the three strategic areas of energy, agri-food and digital.

The Agri-Food Industry Council (AFIC) was established as a strategic public/private sector

partnership group to provide a focus for decision making and leadership for the agri-food

sector. The AFIC acts as the LEP’s sector group and provides the strategic direction in

delivering the aspiration to be recognised as a leading agri-food region.

Members of the AFIC are drawn from across the agri-food sector in Norfolk and Suffolk and

include representatives of food and drink businesses, farmers, farmer & landowner

organisations, research institutions, utility companies, academia, show societies and other

representatives from the private sector. The AFIC is chaired by Corrienne Peasgood OBE,

Principal of City College Norwich. The LEP works closely with the regional partnership

organisation Agri-Tech E in delivering the activities of the AFIC.

Agri-Food Industry Council: objectives and delivery

The AFIC has developed a delivery plan which outlines a set of strategic objectives and

scope of work which support the delivery of the Economic Strategy and Local Industrial

Strategy.

1. Supporting business recovery, promoting long term growth, and ensuring

business resilience.

2. Explore ways of attracting inward investment to increase the volume and value

of food processing within Norfolk & Suffolk.

2



3. Collaborate with partners including Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and

Peterborough leveraging the existing strengths of Agri-TechE to realise the

collective power as the UK centre for hi-tech, precision agriculture and food

production.

4. Support the development of a Food Innovation Centre based at the Food

Enterprise Park at Honingham Thorpe in Norwich, to deliver regional business

growth through innovation, productivity, processing. Also support the further

development of the wider Norwich Food Enterprise Park.

5. Develop a world-leading hub for plant and microbial research at the Norwich

Research Park.

6. Understanding, supporting and developing the Clean Growth agenda for the

agri-food value chain.

7. Enabling Growth in the New Anglia Agri-food sector through skills development.

The AFIC currently has four sub-groups: Skills, Business Intelligence, Inward Investment

and Transformational Projects, each of which links to key LEP officers and workstreams.

Of particular note is the progress made with the following activities:

 Broadland Food Innovation Centre: a new innovation support centre, with 13 food-

grade units on site, will be built at the Food Enterprise Park with an associated

innovation support service to be delivered by Hethel Innovation and UEA. The project

lead is Broadland District Council, with New Anglia LEP as a co-investor, and Hethel

Innovation and UEA as delivery partners. ERDF funding and LEP match funding,

including Getting Building Fund, have been approved. Building work has started and

the capital build will be completed in summer 2022. In the meantime, the project

partners have developed a Business Engagement Group for the innovation support

element of the project, with AFIC representation, and are developing the wrap around

support offer, which is starting now and will run to spring 2023. Hethel Innovation

have just advertised new roles to enable project delivery of the support programme.

Construction of a five acre vertical farm on site at the Food Enterprise Park is also

underway.

 Regional Agri-Food Narrative: The LEP has been working closely with Greater

Lincolnshire LEP and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to

develop a regional narrative that seeks greater government recognition and focuses

in on our research institutions, automation and digital, supporting the transition to net

zero, and diet and health. This document is close to being finalised and the plan is to

launch at an event with regional partners and key stakeholders from the sector and

government. The narrative has clear commitments and asks such as collectively

promoting major inward investment opportunities in the wider region; assisting the

sector in realising opportunities linked to net zero; and supporting key projects such

as the Agri-Food Robotics Centre for Doctoral Training partnership and the regional

partnership between agri-tech active universities CERES. The aim is to ‘launch’ the

document at Agri-Tech Week in November (in collaboration with Agri-Tech E).

 Department for International Trade (DIT) High Potential Opportunity

programme: The LEP was successful with its round 2 application to the HPO

programme with the following proposition: ‘An opportunity to enter the nutritious food

market to meet growing demand for products that improve physical and cognitive

health by developing new food innovations using Norfolk and Suffolk’s cutting-edge

plant science and agri-food expertise, infrastructure and assets.’ DIT led a two-day

workshop at the end of July with the LEP, NRP and industry representatives to refine

the specific commercial opportunity that will be showcased through HPO and are

currently developing the proposition slides.

 Agri-Food Project survey: The Agri-Food Sector Skills group has been proactively

promoting the online Agri-Food Project survey, which is open to all employers in the

3

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agri-food and agri-tech sector in Norfolk and Suffolk. This work is being carried out by

Easton College on behalf of Norfolk County Council and will influence the skills plan

moving forward and help develop skills provision for the years to come.

Council members have reported the following challenges for the sector in their State of the

Nation updates and contributions to the business intelligence:

 Labour shortages across the breadth of the sector.

 Machinery availability related to worldwide logistics problems and IT-based issues –

lack of ‘chips’ etc.

 The potential impact of trade deals e.g., the impact the Australian deal could have on

beef, lamb, and sugar.

 The impact that exponential price rises on things like cardboard are having.

Looking Ahead

The AFIC has an important role to play in developing and testing interventions for the

upcoming Renewal Plan to ensure that the agri-food sector is well represented. The Council

has also connected with the fisheries sector and keen to ensure that aquaculture is

recognised as an important potential opportunity.

The AFIC will be closely involved in supporting the delivery of the Food Innovation Centre

cluster initiative, building on recent conversations at the AFIC, and providing support to the

other two Food Enterprise Zones in Suffolk.

The Inward Investment sub-group will work with the Inward Investment Team to investigate

areas of competitive advantage and specialist opportunity, and to support the development

of propositions. Smart specialisation work could play a strong role in enhancing awareness

of niche advantages and opportunities. There continues to be a high number of enquiries

being handled by the LEP’s inward investment team for the food and agri-tech sector.

The Council will ensure that business intelligence input from the sector continues to be fed

back to Government by the LEP in the weekly business intelligence returns.

Finally, New Anglia LEP will continue to work closely with Agri-Tech E under a new delivery

contract from October focused on specific activities related to sector engagement and

intelligence, supply chain, innovation and investment. The secretariat and administration

functions of the three Industry Councils is being brought in-house within the LEP.

Recommendations

The Board is invited to:

 Note the contents of the paper and sub-board report (Appendix A)

 Note the progress made on strategic sector plans



Appendix A

Sub- Board Reporting

Sub-Board: Agri-Food Industry Council

Representatives: LEP Board: Corrienne Peasgood LEP Team: James Allen

Meeting Frequency: Quarterly

Key Objectives and their link

to the NSES and LIS

Update on actions / activity Next Steps

NSES: Our Offer to the

World

LIS: Agri-Food

Collaborate with partners

including Lincolnshire,

Cambridgeshire and

Peterborough leveraging the

existing strengths of Agri-

TechE to realise the

collective power as the UK

centre for hi-tech, precision

agriculture and food

production

The LEP has been working closely with Greater Lincolnshire LEP and

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to develop a

regional narrative that seeks greater government recognition and focuses

in on our research institutions, automation and digital, supporting the

transition to net zero, and diet and health. This document is close to

being finalised and the plan is to launch at an event with regional

partners and key stakeholders from the sector and government. The

narrative has clear commitments and asks such as collectively promoting

major inward investment opportunities in the wider region; assisting the

sector in realising opportunities linked to net zero; and supporting key

projects such as the Agri-Food Robotics Centre for Doctoral Training

partnership and the regional partnership between agri-tech active

universities CERES.

New Anglia LEP has been successful in its round 2 application to the

Department for International Trade’s (DIT) HPO programme with the

following project proposition: ‘An opportunity to enter the nutritious food

market to meet growing demand for products that improve physical and

cognitive health by developing new food innovations using Norfolk and

Suffolk’s cutting-edge plant science and agri-food expertise,

infrastructure and assets.’ A DIT led workshop took place across two,

half-day session 20

& 21

July. This involved LEP, NRP and industry

representatives working to refine the specific commercial opportunity that

will be showcased through the HPO (drawing out the unique strands

which generate commercial demand) and building the detailed enabling

case that underpins the opportunity (including information on skills and

talent, R&D capability, cluster, cost base and soft-landing support).

- Continue to support the inward

investment team feeding in relevant

information to inform propositions.

- Promotion of DIT HPO.

- Produce a detailed list of relevant

conferences taking place in a range of

geographies during 2021 (& 2022),

together with a costed plan for which

types of businesses we would expect to

attend each event.

- Sign-off of Regional Narrative and

launch (currently looking at mid-

November). This will be used as a

collective tool to influence government

thinking and promote our ‘asks and

commitments’ for the sector.



Partners are currently working through actions from the workshop, which

will be provided to DIT who are developing the proposition slides.

Through the Savills Rural project, a set of outputs has been delivered:

1. Competitive Advantage: a strategic review of unique agri-

food offering of Norfolk and Suffolk including a detailed summary

of the primary outputs and food chain actors.

2. The Norfolk and Suffolk research base: mapping the regional

agri-food research capability (both private sector and public

sector)

3. Role and influence of food trends – a detailed analysis of

the potential market opportunity of key crops related to emerging

agri-food trends relevant to Norfolk and Suffolk

4. A revived regional food offer: initial research into whether a

new (or revived) ‘regional food offer' would be advantageous to

the Norfolk and Suffolk agri-food economy, with analysis of three

major regional food initiatives.

5. A narrated database of 200+ noteworthy Norfolk and Suffolk agri-

food businesses developed to provide rich understanding of the

region’s specialisms and strengths.

The report was primarily an evidence base, and granular examination of

the sector to inform our work across the board, but recommendations

included –

 Suggestions of new crop and other commercialisation developments

which could be explored

 Ideas for encouraging processors to source more raw materials

locally

 Developing the potential of the A14 corridor as a focus for food sector

investment

 Supporting artisan producers with signposting to advice on

distribution and marketing tools to grow

 Suggestions for widening the view of innovation opportunities in the

agrifood sector to include tech and engineering sectors in new

thinking.



 Next steps in exploring the potential for regional branding and

marketing if we decide to do so.

Published a first edition of the Agri-Food Report outlining nationally

significant news stories, highlighting the size and value of the sector,

challenges, opportunities and ‘ask’ of Government.

NSES: Collaborating to Grow

LIS: Agri-Food

Supporting business

recovery, promoting long

term growth and ensuring

business resilience

Continuing to develop knowledge of short- and medium-term challenges

for the sector arising from both the UK’s exit from and transition away

from EU membership and its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This has informed the LEP’s weekly business intelligence submissions to

Government and will inform the Renewal Plan.

- Regular ‘State of the Nation’ updates at Board meetings provided

rich intelligence which formed part of the LEP’s dispatch to

Government.

- Support for key initiatives including Call 4 Fish and Flavour

Connexions which provided a ‘match making’ service to food and

drink firms and seafood suppliers find buyers for their produce during

the Coronavirus lockdown.

- Initiated work into the feasibility of setting up a regional branding and

distribution vehicle to capitalise on move of consumers to buy more

locally sourced produce caused by the pandemic. Gathered

examples of other regional schemes and their efficacy.

Delivered a survey of agri-food businesses which received a

disappointing response rate (26 responses). Further business

engagement / intelligence will be channelled via the Food Innovation

Centre project and AFIC members will discuss the potential approach for

them to act as ambassadors and capturing intelligence from businesses

in the sector.

- Continuing to feed into the Business

Intelligence workstream with reference

to impacts of the pandemic and Brexit.

- Improve and develop engagement with

the fishing sector

- Develop ideas for a sector conference to

bring interested businesses together to

discuss project ideas, sector needs,

innovation opportunities, etc.



LIS: Agri-Food

NSES: Driving Business

Growth and Productivity

Supporting and informing the development of the Food Innovation

Centre, with a particular focus on –

 Suggesting themes and approaches for the support programme that

will be welcomed by businesses in the sector.

 Engaging businesses to enable the project team to generate a

pipeline of businesses seeking support.

 Working with UEA and other partners to support and encourage the

development of an innovation cluster of food businesses as part of

the project.

An update on the Food Innovation Centre project was provided at the

June Council meeting from public and private partners involved in the

project.

- The Food Innovation Centre project will

continue to be a focus for main Council

meetings, as well as receiving support

and specialist advice from the business

intelligence and inward investment sub-

groups of the Council.

- Linking up the Food Enterprise Zone

sites across Norfolk and Suffolk to

support collaboration and learn the live

lessons from the Food Innovation

Centre.

- The Food Innovation Centre will sit on

the Connected Innovation Project

(building on current links).

LIS: Agri-Food

NSES: Skills

Enabling Growth in the New

Anglia Agri-food sector

through Skills Development

The group has also played a crucial role in monitoring labour supply and

demand for agri-food businesses during the pandemic and in the light of

changes to labour supply as part of the process of leaving the EU.

Feedback from the group has been included in briefings to BEIS and

Defra.

The skills group has been proactively promoting the online Agri-Food

Project survey, as seen in the local news, which is open to all employers

in the agri-food and agri-tech sector in Norfolk and Suffolk. This work is

being carried out by Easton College on behalf of Norfolk County Council

and will influence the skills plan moving forward and help develop skills

provision for the years to come.

Proactive engagement planning for 2021/22 is well underway, for

example Enterprise Adviser Network CPD session for schools on agri-

food in September. Suffolk Rural held a ‘big day out’ in June to showcase

the sector and campus facilities.

Under the workforce development programme, engaging and

communicating with initiatives that support this objective such as:

 Skills Support for the Workforce, the ESF programme delivered

by Steadfast Training involved in upskilling the workforce and

supporting those at risk or recently made redundant.

- The group will play a key role in

supporting the labour needs of the

sector, highlighting successes as well as

reporting on issues and gaps where

further support is needed.

- The interview process for the Institute of

Technology bid will be held in

November.



 The Supply Chain Skills Development Fund which 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), the training enterprise,

funded by the University of Suffolk and ESF.

 Various apprenticeships programmes, such as the levy sharing

work; Recruit, Retain, Reward; Insight Apprentice; and the

Employer Training Incentive Programme (ETIP).

Stage 2 of the Institute of Technology bid was submitted by the University

of Suffolk and partners with some focus on agri-tech.

LIS: Agri-Food

NSES: Collaborating to Grow

Develop a prioritised list of

transformational projects which

will make a real impact on the

environment, and agri-food

economy in Norfolk & Suffolk.

In August, working with AgriTechE a list of potential ‘transformational’

projects was developed - initiatives with the potential to make a

substantial difference to the agri-food sector, and its businesses, in

respect of recovery and growth following the difficulties presented by

Covid-19.

A series of ten potential projects were identified and presented for

consideration at the September Council meeting.

This work has now been delegated to the Transformational Projects sub-

group who is tasked with developing a set of projects to outline business

case to be submitted for consideration on the LEP’s Investment Plan.

– A high-level business case briefing to be

developed for each project.

– Key connections made.

– Business cases submitted for

consideration on the LEP Investment

Plan.

NSES: Collaborating to Grow

LIS: Clean Growth

Improved dialogue &

interaction between the AFC &

its equivalents including the

Digital Tech Council, All

Energy Industry Council, and

Innovation Board.

Belinda Clarke from AgriTechE presented at the Innovation Board in

March on the Agri-Food Industry Council, innovation priorities for industry

and the opportunities to harness cross-sector innovation.

– Will continue to strengthen links with

Agri-food and Energy, Digital and

Energy, as well as Agri-food and Digital.

– Opportunities for this include onshore

renewables; agri-tech; and even linking

in with developments around

opportunities such as hydrogen.



New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Board

Wednesday 22

September 2021

Agenda Item 9

Chief Executive’s Report

Summary

This report focuses on by exception reporting on key issues and information for 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

in 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 asked to:

 Note the contents of the report

1) LEP Managed Projects and Programmes

Clean Growth for Business – new programme goes live

The LEP is working with partners to deliver a programme of business support activity this autumn

called Clean Growth for Business. Aimed at helping businesses start their journey to Net Zero,

the programme offers free online learning resources and free webinars covering topics including

transport, energy, water and funding.

A new podcast featuring inspiring stories from local businesses and organisations will be launching

in mid-September.

The programme is being delivered with support from a range of local authority and private sector

partners.

The free resources and events calendar are online here Clean Growth for business - New Anglia

UEA Enterprise Fund - update on the LEP’s investment

In 2019, the LEP Board approved funding of £250k towards the UEA Enterprise Fund, a

programme designed to provide student entrepreneurs with seedcorn funding and mentoring

support. A further £250k for each of 2020/21 and 2021/22 was agreed subject to satisfactory

performance and ongoing evidence of need.

The LEP’s investment forms part of a range of projects and programmes to support entrepreneurs

and nascent businesses in Suffolk and Norfolk. Other schemes include our angel co-investment

fund New Anglia Capital, the Invest East Investment Readiness programme which helps prepare

businesses for investment as well as a number of start up programmes and the new online deals

platform (for more on this see below under Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor).



As a direct result of the LEP award, the UEA attracted a donation through the Charities Aid

Foundation (CAF) of £943k at the bequest of a local Norwich businessman. In addition, the fund

already has around £250k in donations from various sources including previous alumni.

The primary purpose of the Enterprise Fund is to provide financial support and mentoring to

student entrepreneurs. Established with endowments from alumni, it provides small grants of up to

£7.5k (Grow Its) to help business start-ups as well as loans of around £20-£30k and larger equity

investments of up £50k (Scale Its). All recipients receive expert mentoring provided free of charge

by donors to the fund and alumni.

It is run by a panel which includes several experienced business leaders such as Paul Harvey,

founder of Juniper Place, David Tibble the founding partner of Somerton Capital LLP and Matt

Legon, founder of Norwich chocolate business Gnaw. Dominic Keen and Chris Starkie represent

the LEP on the panel.

New Anglia LEP’s support of the UEA Enterprise Fund began in November 2019. Some of the

LEP award was used throughout 2020 to provide necessary financial COVID support to graduate

businesses (included in the table contained in Appendix 1).

In the 2020/21 academic year, 13 bids to the fund were approved by the Enterprise panel. Of

these, 2 were awards of £50,000 (Scale Its), and 11 awards of £7,500 (Grow Its). 4 of the

businesses are male led and 9 are female led. There is one £50,000 award pending. LEP funding

was allocated to 10 of these projects, with the remainder supported from CAF financial sources.

Job creation in supported businesses is self-reported, however, of those funded since November

2019, six full-time and two part-time jobs were reported as being created. This report has only

come from the five successful awards made in August 2020. The other cohort were awarded in

February 2021 and reporting has not been collected for these companies yet, so the true number is

likely to be higher.

Businesses supported range considerably in type. Two examples include Coral Eyewear – a

business making eyewear from recovered sea plastic and has successfully raised further

investment on the back of our grant to Doggy Paddle – a business which is offering hydrotherapy

to dogs. See recent media coverage of Doggy Paddle.

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/business/hydrotherapy-for-dogs-launched-in-norwich-

8237106

Connected Innovation Project – second event planned

The Connected Innovation is designed to bring together the different innovation centres and

partners across Norfolk and Suffolk to collaboration, raise their profile and help more businesses

innovate and make use of the innovation centres. The project has now planned its second event –

hosted virtually by Tech East on Wednesday 20th October (1/2 day event).

This event will focus on emerging technologies underpinning innovation – with a Creative & Tech

Focus– AI, Machine Learning, AR/VR. The event will look to partner up hubs and support networks

in speaking slots with businesses and showcasing the technologies, innovation and support in a

case study format.

The events calendar for the next 18 months is also being developed, which will aim to showcase

the hubs themselves and their innovative, technological and physical capabilities.

One of the aims of the project was to connect the network to wider national opportunities. Through

our discussions with the Digital Catapult, we are hoping to have two or three of the hubs host their

Immersive Arcade events during September – providing AR/VR content experience aimed primarily

at 16-24 year old women.



2) LEP Industry Councils and Sub-groups

Industry Councils - focus on developing the Renewal Plan

All three Industry Councils – Energy, Digital ICT and Agri-food – have meetings in September and

all involving structured sessions around the Renewal Plan to discuss opportunities for new

interventions and activity to boost our key sectors within Norfolk and Suffolk.

Clean Growth Taskforce - first meeting

The first meeting of the Clean Growth Taskforce took place on the 20 July. The Taskforce heard

about the scale of the opportunity as well as the three workstreams highlighted as part of the

Taskforce’s initial workplan: Workforce of the future, Decarbonising transport and Transition

business support.

The Taskforce agreed its initial focus but offered challenge in terms of defining ‘clean growth’ in an

easily digestible format that covered more than greenhouse gas emissions.

The taskforce agreed any shared ambition needed to be based on evidence and that it was

important to build on the work done to date to add value in this space moving forward. Finally, the

Taskforce agreed to invite a couple of new members to ensure suitable industry representation.

The next meeting of the Taskforce is pencilled in for 20 September.

New Anglia Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Group - Mini MBA Programme in

development

NAAME is working closely with Productivity East and UEA Norwich Business School to develop a

new MBA Essentials programme tailored to manufacturing and engineering.

This programme will be a condensed, mini accreditation to offer new CPD programmes to regional,

sector businesses. NAAME are seeking industry involvement (around 20+ employers in total) in a

round of focus groups to develop the course.

3) Partnership Activity

Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Renewal Plan – partner engagement underway

Engagement with partners seeking their input to shaping the Renewal Plan is well underway. Over

40 engagements meetings and events have already taken place with 20 more to go. A fully

scripted Engagement Pack and feedback template has been shared with partners and to support

session they are hosting. An on-line form which provides an opportunity for anyone to feed into the

process can be access on the LEP website.

Over 120 people have signed up to join the open virtual workshops and the LEP Board, Industry,

Education and Local Authority Leaders virtual workshop will take place on 29

September.

The plan will be drafted during October and shared with partners in November seeking their

feedback before presenting the final draft to the LEP Board in January for sign off.

Net Zero SME Pathfinder Opportunity - meeting with Andrew Griffith MP

The LEP is participating in a meeting organised by George Freeman MP with Andrew Griffith

government’s Net Zero Business Champion. The meeting is being attended by members of

George Freeman’s MAG 7 business leaders group and the LEP.

Peter Joyner is participating as chair of the Clean Growth Taskforce chair. The purpose of the

meeting is to highlight the work of partners in supporting SMEs on the road to net zero and to seeki

Government support to become a net zero SME pathfinder. This will help drive forward the work of

the Clean Growth Taskforce.

Offshore Wind Cluster Members Forum – LEP supports launch of new industry group

The East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) and Vattenfall have established a new members

forum specifically aimed at businesses involved in the region’s offshore wind sector.

The new group aims to work with local and regional companies, organisations and communities to

create and capitalise on opportunities arising from the region’s offshore wind potential.

The group will feed into the LEP’s All-Energy Industry Council.



‘Generate’ Energy Brand - campaign goes live

There was a ‘soft launch’ of the new Generate brand in August via social media, replacing East of

England Energy Energy Zone (EEEZ). A new brand to support, profile and showcase the regions

rich and varied energy sector investment opportunities, a partnership between local authorities,

New Anglia LEP and EEEGR – working hand in hand with Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited (visit

www.generate-energy.co.uk)

There is a ‘hard launch’ of Generate planned for Renewable UK’s Global Offshore Wind show 29-

30 September at ExCel in London. (3000 delegates, 120+ exhibitors).

A stand reception is planned on day one at which Peter Aldous MP will formally launch

GENERATE, followed by regional offshore wind project updates (Vattenfall, SPR, RWE and

Orsted) and regional tour of offshore energy opportunities including Great Yarmouth’s O&M

Campus, Lowestoft’s PowerPark, ABPs Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF), Freeport East,

Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour.

This will be concluded with a session on opportunities to export to the emerging US east coast

offshore wind industry with Virginia Beach Economic Development Partnership.

Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor - region’s Online Deal Platform goes live

The Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor (CNTC) has been working alongside a company called

Delio and partners at the Anglia Capital Group (ACG), to develop an innovative online deal

platform which will promote and facilitate investment into local companies. The digital platform acts

a portal /’shop window’ for live business investment opportunities/ ‘Deals’ in the Tech Corridor

region, offering investors 24/7 access to potential opportunities, from anywhere and at any time.

The platform will be managed and owned by ACG who will have a tailored, private version of the

platform, tailored to their member needs. A public access area reserved for deals selected by

CNTC will be viewable via the CNTC website. The platform was launched to ACG members on 9

September populated with ACG deals. CNTC and the LEP are in the process of approaching

interested companies to populate the platform with new deals with a launch event planned for end

Q4 2021, with more tailored introductions via CNTC pitching events planned.

Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor - Manchester Reception

The Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor is working with local authority partners to arrange a

reception in Manchester during the Conversative Party Political Conference in early October. The

event replaces a planned House of Commons reception.

MPs, local authority leaders, key politicians and senior business leads are being invited to attend a

private event (outside the main conference) which is intended to not only highlight some of our

successful investment case studies such as Lotus and Equipmake, but also to present potential

investment and development opportunities to Government as well as wider awareness raising of

the region.

4) Governance, Operations and Finance

Governance: We have been notified that our Mid-Year Conversation will take place 12

October.

We have recently received the detailed requirements and data collection form for completion by

September.

Management Accounts: Confirmation of the LEP core funding allocation was received on 27

July. The Government has decided to provide LEPs with an initial six months of core funding in

2021-22 to the value of £250k. This was received mid August. Government will use the LEP review

process to collect further financial data on LEP performance, to inform decisions on funding for the

remaining 6 months.

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

August 2021.

Media coverage

- 4 press releases

- 17 pieces of coverage

- 3 reactive media enquiries

Top 3 stories

Eastern Daily Press

Norfolk special effects experts pioneer new virtual studio technology

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/business/norfolk-special-effects-company-pioneers-new-

technology-8280228

Norwich Evening News

Pooches in pain to be helped by launch of hydrotherapy dogs

https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/business/hydrotherapy-for-dogs-launched-in-

norwich-8237106

Folk Features

A trailblazing taskforce

https://folkfeatures.co.uk/a-trailblazing-taskforce/

Website

- 13,058 page views (2,023 down on the previous month)

- 6% of traffic (the largest proportion) is to Employment Opportunities page, 5% to our

Renewal Plan page, and 5% to our Clean Growth for Business page

- Clean Growth for Business page has a new event calendar function and hosts lots of

free resources and toolkits for businesses.

Covid-19 response

- Five updates of Covid-19 business support script issued.

- Public health films detailing the preparations businesses made to control the spread

of Covid-19, funded by the Control Outbreak Management Fund, are now complete

and will launch on our website in early September.

Campaigns, events and other projects

• Our Clean Growth for Business support programme is live, including events, online

learning resources and a new podcast which will launch on 20 September. Details are

online here Clean Growth for business - New Anglia

Communications activity

during August 2021

• We have continued to promote the LEP’s achievements with case studies and social

media graphics, including Thyngs, Benthic Solutions , Lexhag VFX, Gravitilabs.

• The New Anglia LEP team is now also delivering the marketing and communications for

the New Anglia Growth Hub. This includes finalising a new website (to launch in

September) and delivering a marketing campaign to increase awareness of the Hub’s

support offer.

• Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited — 4 interviews with sector leaders published on the website.

Social media and e-newsletters

Aug 2021

July 2021

New Anglia LEP

Number of Twitter followers

9,114

9,094

Average Twitter engagements per day (likes, retweets etc.)

26.6

33.7

Number of impressions (times a tweet showed in someone’s

timeline)

75.4K

81.7K

Number of LinkedIn followers

4,398

4,346

Number of impressions on LinkedIn

23.4K

31.4K

E-newsletter: open rate

32.82%

31.5%

E-newsletter: click-through rate

15.3%

20.18%

Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited

Number of Twitter followers

788

765

Average Twitter engagements per day (likes, retweets etc.)

18.1

31.7

Number of impressions (number of times users saw our tweet)

32K

39.3K

Number of LinkedIn followers

1,401

1,367



New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Board

Wednesday 22

September 2021

Agenda Item 10

September Programme Performance Reports

Author: Programme leads; Presenter: Rosanne Wijnberg

Summary

The following reports follow for review by the LEP Board this month:

- Growth Deal; Jonathan Rudd

- Getting Building Fund; Jonathan Rudd

- Enterprise Advisor Network; Glen Todd

- Programme Dashboards; reflect all LEP programme outputs; Simon Papworth

- Economic Dashboards; Simon Papworth

Recommendation

The board is asked to:

- Note the reports.

Growth Deal Performance Report Q1 2021/22

Programme Overview - What is the Growth Deal?

• Programme duration: April 2015 - March 2021.

• Value: £223.517 million (excluding funding awarded directly to Norfolk County Council).

• Aims: to boost the region’s skills, drive innovation, target support to help small businesses to grow and improve transport and infrastructure.

• Contribution to the Economic Strategy: estimated to create 54,750 new jobs, 6,800 new homes and to generate an additional £628m public and private investment.

Capital Projects Growing Places Fund Growing Business Fund EZ Accelerator Fund Business R&R Scheme

Total £M

£164.494 £26.925 £19.878 £8.720 £3.500 £223.517

What is the Overall Programme Status?

Finance

Amber↓

Outputs

Green↓

Delivery

Amber→

What are our Key Updates?

What is our Financial Position?

Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Forecast

2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 Total

0.000 12.008 0.000 19.189 18.060 16.355 19.656

36.900 38.549 41.334 34.660 24.662 47.412 0.000 223.517

-24.892 -50.556 -22.145 -35.789 -26.367 -44.111 -19.587 -223.447

0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

12.008 0.000 19.189 18.060 16.355 19.656 0.069 0.069

Spend progress quarter by quarter:

What is our contribution to the Economic Strategy?

Quarter/Year:

1 (Apr-Jun) 2020/21

Actual to date

Forecast to

2025

Percentage

Progress

Change

808 1005 80%

3,047.5 2,478 121%

43.5

2,189 6,707 33%

£725.203M

£622.374M 116%

£49.296M

What is the Project Delivery Status?

Overall:

Green↓

Totally

Complete

Physically

Complete

On track

Small

Variation

Significant

Variation

Under

Development

Total Projects

Black Blue Green Amber Red Purple

15 16 6 10 3 0 50

Change

+2 +4 -4 0 -2

0 0

What are the Next Steps?

Nearing full commitment, but outturn has not gone aexpectesd due to various factors, leading to substantial rollover into 2021-22 FY.

Reasonably on track to meet our forecast outputs, although a number of projects at risk of late acheivement.

Increased amount of delay across many projects, some due to COVID restrictions, in addition to land acquisition & planning permissions.

• Programme progress: reasonable, only a minority of projects are experiencing significant delay to delivery, with minimal impact on long term outcomes.

• Refining the forecast of expenditure for remaining outturn, much of which expected in the first half of the new 2021-22 financial year.

• Key concern: a small number of projects have uncertainty over elements of delivery, especially timescales and will require advance payment of final Grant amounts.

Financials (£ million)

Brought Forward

Financial Year

•Disrupted due to COVID restrictions, situation

improving.

Gov Allocation

Spend [Act/Fcst]

Unallocated

Carried forward

•Proceed with Evaluating completed Projects, in accordance with Evaluation Framework.

•Continue to monitor the impact of issues & risks, including COVID, on Growth Deal delivery schedule and expenditure profile, and offer support where possible.

Forecasts have been updated to include Homes, Jobs & Learners from projects anticipated out to 2025.

• Homes: 6 at Lark Grange, Bury St Edmunds (Eastern Relief Road).

• Jobs: Growing Business Fund: 42.5 and UoS Digi-Tech Centre: 1.

• Learners: None for this reporting period.

• Match funding: progessing well.

• Project change: Eye Airfield Access link Roads delivery totally complete; Blue to Black.

• Project change: Great Yarmouth Transport Package delivery totally complete; Green to Black.

Apportionment:

• Project change: Thetford Transport Pacakage delivery physically complete; Amber to Blue.

• Project change: Ipswich Cornhill delivery physically complete; Green to Blue.

• Project change: Great Yarmouth Rail Station Interchange delivery physically complete; Red to Blue.

• Project change: Honingham Food Enterprise Park delivery physically complete; Green to Blue.

• Project change: CEFAS Marine Science Hub delivery physically complete; Green to Blue.

• Project change: Norwich Area Transportation Strategy, City Centre Package claimed all grant funding; Red to Amber.

• Approx. £412k to be reapportioned to GBF to

meet pipeline applications

Contract Comittments:

New Jobs

• Approx. £281k of funds apportioned to GPF

not yet contractually committed.

New Learners

Match Funding (‘Non-LGF Expenditure’), forecast to March 2021 only.

Outputs – Cumulative from April 2015 to Quarter 4 2020/21

New Homes

Q1-21/22 Q2-21/22 Q3-21/22 Q4-21/22

Qtrly Forecast

6.93 5.46 3.44 3.75

Qtrly Spend

4.39 0.000 0.000 0.000

Available LGF

19.656 15.263 15.263 15.263

Forecast

& Claims

(£M)

Available LGF

(£M)

Financial Quarters

2021/22 Expenditure Profile

Getting Building fund Performance Report Q1 2021-22

Programme Overview - What is the Getting Building Fund?

• Programme duration: August 2020 - March 2022.

• Value: £32.1 million

• Aims: to boost the region’s skills, drive innovation, target support to help small businesses to grow and improve transport and infrastructure.

• Contribution to the Economic Strategy: estimated to create 1,100 new jobs, 26 new homes and to generate an additional £85M of public and private investment.

Capital Projects Business R & R Scheme Growing Business Fund EZ Accelerator Fund

Total £M

£27.726 £2.624 £1.000 £0.750 £32.100

What is the Overall Programme Status?

Finance

Amber→

Outputs

Green↓

Delivery

Amber↑

What are our Key Updates?

What is our Financial Position?

Actual Forecast Forecast Forecast

2020/21 2021/22 Total

0.000 12.117 0.000

16.050 16.050 32.100

-3.933 -26.615 -30.548

0.000 -0.500 -0.500

12.117 1.052 1.052

Contract Commitments:

What is our contribution to the Economic Strategy?

Quarter/Year:

1 (Apr-Jun) 2021/22

Actual to

date

Forecast to

2025

Percentage

Progress

Change

0 24 0%

0 1,100 0%

0 500 0%

0 400 0%

£4.844M

£92.533M 5%

£4.844M

What is the Project Delivery Status?

Overall:

Green→

Complete

Physically

Complete

On track Small Variation

Significant

Variation

Under

Development

Total Projects

Black Blue Green Amber Red Purple

0 0 6 0 0 7

Change

0 0 0 0 0

0 0

What are the Next Steps?

• No change to Project Status during Q1

•Continue to monitor issues & risks on Getting Building Fund delivery schedule and expenditure profile, and offer support to projects where possible.

•Continue development of legal agreements for the contractual commitment of funding toward capital projects.

Spend progress quarter by quarter:

•Capital Project expenditure has begun, although

later than anticipated.

•Funds may be re-apportioned to sustain

delivery of Growing Business Fund.

• Homes: Expected Q4 2021-22.

• Programme progress: reasonable in circumstances, only a few projects are experiencing significant delay, with minimal impact on long term outcomes.

• Refining the forecast of expenditure for remaining Getting Building Fund to March 22 with the cooperation of all approved projects.

• Key concerns: Delay in start of project delivery will undermine outturn and require careful management at the end of financial year.

Financials (£ million)

Brought Forward

Financial Year

•£14.224M funding contractually comitted.

•Further £6.75M of commitments likely in Q2

2021-22 FY.

Kilograms of Carbon Dioxide Avoided/Saved

Apportionment:

Partially committed with Legal Agreements, but expenditure has not begun and taking place as early as forecast.

None reported as yet, but then these are not expected to be realised until practical delivery is complete.

A quarter of projects have begun delivery, some with physical construction, although this is later than initially anticipated.

• Jobs: First reporting expected in Q2 2021-22.

• Match funding: Just begun, likely to pickup significantly in Q3 2021-22.

• Learners: First reporting expected in Q3 2021-22.

Forecasts have been updated to include Homes, Jobs & Learners from projects anticipated out to 2025.

Gov Allocation

Spend [Act/Fcst]

New Learners

Match Funding (Non-GtgBF Expenditure)

Outputs – Cumulative from June 2020 to Quarter 1 2021/22

New Homes

New Jobs

Unallocated

Carried forward

Q1-21/22 Q2-21/22 Q3-21/22 Q4-21/22

Qtrly Forecast

3.542 7.179 7.448 8.446

Qtrly Spend

2.665 0.000 0.000 -

Available GtgBF

26.615 23.949 23.949 23.949

Forecast

& Claims

(£M)

Available GtgBF

(£M)

Financial Quarters

2021/22 Expenditure Profile

EnterpriseAdviserNetworkandCareersHub

ProgrammeOverview‐WhatistheEnterpriseAdviserNetworkandCareersHub.

TheEnterpriseAdviserNetworkwascreatedandcommissionedbytheCareersandEnterpriseCompanywhichinturnwascommissionedbytheDepartmen

forEducation

TheNewAngliaEnterpriseAdviserNetworkisaccountabletotheLEPBoardwithdirectinputfromtheSkillsAdvisoryPanel

WithcurrentfundingfromtheCareersandEnterpriseCompanyalongwithmatchfundingfromtheLEPtheEANNetworkandCareersHubwillcurrentlyrununtil

untilAugust2021

•EnterpriseAdvisersareSeniorBusinessVolunteersrecruitedtosupportschoolswithassistingpupilstoexperiencetheworkplaceandhavemeaningful

encounterswithemployers

•TheCareersHubcomprises130schoolsacrossEastAngliawiththeaimofallschoolsachievingonaveragefiveGatsbyBenchmarksbyAug2021.

WhatistheoverallProgrammeStatus?

Finance

Green

MeetingthecontractapprovedCareersandEnterpriseGrantClaimwhichis50%oftherunningcostsandresourcesfortheEAN.

Outputs

Green

OntrackforAug2021targetdelivery.

Delivery

Green

TheProgrammeisperformingwellintermsofdeliverywithEA'sbeingbroughtintotheNetworkandBenchmarkperformanceincreasing.

Whatareourkeyupdates?

•90%of130MainstreamandFEInstitutestobematchedtoanEAbytheendofAugust2021.

•65%ofmatchedschoolstobefullyachievingBM5bytheendofAugust2021.

•Nomatchedschoolstobeat0%forBM6.CEChavereviewedourpositionandacceptedthisoutcomeinthecircumstances;workexperiencenotdirectlydeliveredbyEANteam.

Whatisourfinancialposition?

Financials(£)

Year 2020‐2021 2020‐2021

Quarter

Qtr.1(AprtoJun) Qtr.2(Jul‐Aug) Qtr.3(SeptoDec) Qtr.4(JantoMar) Qtr.1(AprtoJun) Qtr.2(Jul‐Aug) Qtr.3(SeptoDec) Qtr.4(JantoMar)

LEPCosts £108,968.10 £68,759.58 £154,982.23 £102,576.47 £121,613.78

CECGrant £69,361.78 £43,545.14 £97,952.75 £76,150.88 £77,850.90

FundingclaimstotheCECaremadefourtimesayear(quarterly).

CECpay50%oftheEANandcontribute100%oftheCareersHubManagerand2xOpportunityAreaECsalaries.

Outputs



Target‐August

2021

EndofAugust

2021

Diff Notes

MainstreamandFESchoolsSigneduptotheNetwork. 130 131 1

MainstreamandFESchoolsmatchedtoanEA. 117 119 2

MatchedschoolsfullyachievingBM5. 65% 66.30% 1.30%

Nomatchedschoolstobeat0%forBM6. 0 9 9

Whatistheprojectstatus?

TheCareersHubhassecuredfundingforthenewacademicyear2021‐2022fromtheCareersandEnterpriseCompanywiththematchrequirmentmetbythesuccessful

ESFbid.ThesecuredESFfundingrunsthroughtotheendof2023withtheexpectationthattheCareersandEnterpriseCompanywillcontinuetofundCareersHub

throughthisperiod.

Overall:

Green→



EANNetwor

Green→

TheEANNetworkisontracktomeetitsrevisedCECtargets.

CareersHub

Green→

TheCareersHubisontracktomeetitstargets.

Whatarethenextsteps?

•Providingvirtualandonlinesupporttoteachersandcareersleadsduringlockdown.

•ContinuetorecruitEA'stomatchtoschoolsvirtuallyduringlockdown.

TheEnterpriseAdviserNetworkconsistsoftenEnterpriseCoordinatorsandoneEnterpriseAdviserManager.

Outputs‐ToAug2021.

Jobs created Private sector investment unlocked New dwellings supported

Data as of Aug 2021

New Anglia LEP programme outputs dashboard - Q1 2021/22

Primary Economic Strategy (ES) indicators supported Primary Economic Strategy (ES) indicators supported Primary Economic Strategy (ES) indicators supported

Delivery, this quarter (Q1, Apr-Jun 2021): 159

Delivery, year to date (2021-22 financial year): 159

Target, this year (21-22 financial year): 1,179

Delivery, year to date, as % of target: 9.3%

With a proven track record of creating jobs and supporting employment

opportunities in the local economy, LEP programmes have a demonstra-

ble and clearly measurable impact on the ambitions of the Economic

Strategy, and associated indicators.

The Enterprise Zones, Growing Business Fund (GBF), Growth Deal pro-

jects, and Business Growth Programmes were the primary drivers of the

jobs created to date in 2020/21.

In Q1 of 2021/22 the Business Growth Programme and the Growing

Business Fund continue to make the most significant contributions.

Compared to previous trend data,, the figures for Q4 2020 and Q1 2021

were below the expected average, though this is unsurprising, given the

prevailing economic conditions.

Current outturn for 21/22 does not include any outputs for Enterprise

Zones, which have moved to six monthly output reporting.

Delivery, this quarter (Q1, Apr-Jun 2021): £23m

Delivery, year to date (2021-22 financial year): £23m

Delivery, cumulative to date (2012-): £544.3m

Target, this year (21-22 financial year): £41.25m

Delivery, year to date, as % of target 56%

Delivery, this quarter (Q1, Apr-Jun 2021): 6

Delivery, year to date (2021-22 financial year): 6

Delivery, cumulative to date (2012-): 617

Target, this year (21-22 financial year): 360

Delivery, year to date, as % of target: 1.6%

Though typically small-scale and limited in terms of direct tangible out-

puts, LEP programmes still have a demonstrable role in supporting the

delivery of new homes and leveraging in resources to unlock sites and

development. There are a limited number of sites generating direct out-

puts towards the annual housing target but housing delivery information

from partners could increase the number of indirect outputs achieved as

a result of other LEP interventions.

This was another metric where we saw considerable over-achievement

through 2019/20, however, Q1 through Q3 of 2020 saw only a modest

increase on delivery. However, sites reopened from July 2020, and we are

confident that demand for housing will continue to bounce back through

21/22. Many regional sites are now working at capacity with limited im-

pact from later lockdowns, although availability of labour and materials is

likely to have an impact on delivery during the year.

LEP programmes continue to leverage in significant private sector invest-

ment, helping to unlock jobs, housing, capital and growth. In fact, the IMF

estimates every £1 of private sector investment can stimulate a further £3

of economic growth, highlighting its direct impact on the delivery of the

aims and ambitions in the Economic Strategy.

Delivery through last year was very challenging—given the outbreak of the

pandemic and subsequent economic turmoil caused by various lockdowns.

In Q1 of this year there are some encouraging signs, despite the overall

impact of prolonged economic uncertainty. Assuming the economy is able

to return to a more normal pattern through he rest of the year, we are

confident of achieving the target.

New businesses created Jobs paying above the median salary* Learners & apprenticeships supported

Delivery, this quarter (Q1, Apr-Jun 2021): 110

Delivery, year to date (2021-22 financial year): 110

Delivery, cumulative to date (2012-): 1,826

Target, this year (21-22 financial year): 230

Delivery, year to date, as % of target: 48%

Delivery, this quarter (Q1, Apr-Jun 2021): 14

Delivery, year to date (2021-22 financial year): 14

% of Jobs paying above the Median wage in Q1: 33%

Target, this year as % of all GBF job creation 33%

Delivery, Year to date, as % of target 33%

Delivery, this quarter (Q1, Apr-Jun 2021): 0

Delivery, year to date (2021-22 financial year): 0

Delivery, cumulative to date (2018-): 2,095

Target, this year (21-22 financial year): 726

Delivery, year to date, as % of target 0%

The scale and breadth of the LEPs activity within enterprise support

means it has a vital and unrivalled role to play in supporting and stimu-

lating the uplift in enterprise required to achieve the aims and ambitions

of the Economic Strategy.

This was a metric where delivery exceeded expectations last year, with

the end of year target very nearly being achieved—business creation

stood at 93% of the stated target..

Q1 of 2021/22 has continued a steady upward trend of growth—which

started last year. Despite the impact of lockdowns on the economy as a

whole—business creation has remained relatively robust. While we

should be confident, this remains a very difficult metric to evaluate, as

while we can easily track the start up rate, we do not have data around

the sustainably of those businesses.

LEP programmes play an important role in creating and supporting

learners and apprenticeships, ensuring a demonstrable impact on the

ambitious skills-related aims of the Economic Strategy and associated

indicators.

In 2020/21 delivery against target fell below what was anticipated—and

the prevailing economic and social restrictions must be taken into ac-

count.

While learner numbers for Q1 this year again look disappointing, deliv-

ery against this metric is cyclical, and we very rarely see encouraging

numbers in Q1 of any year. We anticipate that in line with previous

years (prior to the pandemic), Q3 and Q4 will see healthy returns. Sup-

porting this, a number of skills projects including those based at City

College Norwich, UEA, Suffolk New College and University of Suffolk

will open for student enrolment for the new academic year from Sep-

tember 2021.

The overall volume of jobs created declined last year compared to the

previous year, down from to 230 in 2019/20, to 119 in 2020/21. In this re-

spect, the prevailing economic conditions must be taken into account.

However, 2021/22 Q1 figures appear to be healthy, when compared to the

previous 3 year’s Q1 job creation data.

The proportion of those jobs directly supported that are paying above the

median wage was also in line with the target, and reflect an improved per-

formance compared to the trend we were seeing through the latter half of

last year.

* The baseline median salary figure for Norfolk and Suffolk using by Office for National

Statistics is £26,500 p.a.

Primary Economic Strategy (ES) indicators supported Primary Economic Strategy (ES) indicators supported Primary Economic Strategy (ES) indicators supported

Data as of Aug 2021

New Anglia LEP programme outputs dashboard - Q1 2021/22

Furlough Data Self Employment Support

Unemployment - Proxy Indicator

The above data illustrates that the effects of the second major lockdown

kicked in through the first quarter of the year. The furlough rate increased to

around 15%, though not to the levels seen through the summer of 2020 —

which were around 30-33% of the eligible workforce.

Norfolk and Suffolk have tracked sightly below the national and regional lev-

els throughout the restrictions.

In terms of Norfolk and Suffolk sector data, as of May 2021, Accommodation

& Food services are still seeing around 25% of eligible employments fur-

loughed, while the Arts & Entertainment sector has around 15% of its work-

force still on the furlough scheme.

Other notable sectors include the Wholesale & Retail sector—seeing around

6.5% of eligible employments on furlough, and the manufacturing sector still

seeing around 6%. None of these trends deviate significantly from national

or regional patterns.

Unemployment data at a local, county, and LEP level, is updated on a rolling

monthly basis, reflecting the average unemployment rate over the preceding 12

month period. This means that the ‘official’ data will not provide a timely indication

on the impact of the current restrictions in terms of increases in unemployment.

Therefore, we have agreed with the Norfolk Office for Data Analytics (NODA) and

the Suffolk Office for Data Analytics (SODA) to use a ‘proxy’ unemployment indica-

tor—the Alternative Claimant Count..

We can see from the above figures that Norfolk and Suffolk are once again tracking

in line, but just below national and regional levels. The levels peaked through April

of 2020, and remained consisted through the autumn, before falling over the festive

period.

We can see from the above table that unemployment rates are above where they

were prior to the pandemic outbreak—though still much lower than we were antici-

pating in terms of ‘worst case’ scenarios. However, it is worth noting that the raft of

government support measures for businesses have still not been withdrawn by gov-

ernment, and therefore we could see further increases in unemployment—as these

support measures our wound down.

The above data reflects the contrasting nature of the SEISS (Self Employ-

ment Income Support) support, compared to the furlough scheme. SEISS

support has been released in distinct ‘segments’, in order to capture more

recent self-employed people becoming eligible over specific periods of

time.

SEISS data shows that the take-up rate in Norfolk and Suffolk peaked in July

2020 at around 74% of eligible self-employed, just below the UK peak of

77%.

As the second lockdown took effect the rate edged back up to around 65%,

but has subsequently dropped back down to just over 50% by June 2021.

Once again, Norfolk and Suffolk’s take-up rate of this support scheme has

tracked below regional and national levels.

The data suggests that the self-employed are still requiring support, as the

economy reopens, not least as they face the challenge of re-establishing

customer bases and dealing with on-going social distancing and NHS isola-

tion protocols.

Comparator profile January 2021 to June 2021

Comparator profile January 2020—May 2021

New Anglia LEP Interim Economic Indicators

Comparator profile January 2021 to June 2021

Data as of Sept 2021

Enterprise Rate

Vacancies

Wages

The above table shows only a selection of the year on year comparative vol-

ume of job postings in Norfolk and Suffolk by sector groupings, selected on

the basis of those we thought were most relevant/notable.

We are tracking a healthy increase in the volume of job vacancies across all

sectors. While this is encouraging to an extent, it is also likely reflective of the

difficulties many sectors are facing in terms of

filling

vacancies.

We are tracking qualitative intelligence from employers in the hospitality in-

dustry that they are struggling to resurrect their pre-pandemic staffing levels.

Similarly, there is a nationwide severe shortage of HGV drivers. Its important to

view these shortages in the context of the combined impact of both lockdown

restrictions and the impact of Brexit—as both have restricted the free move-

ment of people form the EU.

The data above shows us the enterprise start-up rate in relation to the eco-

nomically active population.

The data reflects only those businesses registered with Companies House,

and is therefore a proxy of enterprise activity, rather than a direct reflection

of overall activity.

We can see that the initial lockdown caused a very short dip in business

formations, then a rapid uptick through the first half of the summer of

2020. There was a another notable dip through December of 2020, before

another peak through March of this year, before a gradual tailing off of ac-

tivity through summer. 2021.

Norfolk and Suffolk track below the UK average figure, with a consistent

gap of around 6-7 enterprises less per 10,000 head of 16-64 year old popu-

lation. This gap remained in place, regardless of lockdown conditions.

However, it is worth bearing in mind this data set only reflects the number

of start-ups, rather than indicating the sustainability of enterprises regis-

tered with Companies House.

The data shows us that median wages continue to track significantly below

the UK national average and appears to have not seen the most recent up-

tick.

Median wages at both a national and local level have only marginally fluctu-

ated over the past 12 months, though overall median wage levels have in-

crementally increased since 2018.

While it may seem counter intuitive to see that median wages have re-

mained stable during a time of economic challenge and recession, it is im-

portant to bear in mind that this particular recession has reduced the vacan-

cy rate at the lower end of the pay scale in particular, resulting in a modest

increase in the overall average figure across those occupations who are less

directly affected..

Its also important to bear in mind that median wage data do not inform us

of disposable incomes, and that costs of living vary considerably across the

UK—the cost of living in Norfolk and Suffolk is still comparatively low—

especially in relation to other areas in the South East of England.

Comparator profile: March 2020—Jul 2021

Comparator Profile January 2020—June 2021

New Anglia LEP Interim Economic Indicators

Data as of Sept 2021

Profile: June 2020-June 2021



New Anglia LEP Board Forward Plan – 2021

Date Presente

Strategic Operational

January Ian Whitehead

Lane Farm

 2021 LEP Strategic Priorities

 Agri-Food Industry Council Report

 Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Between the EU and the UK

 Connected Innovation

 NAC Report

 Growth Programme, EAN, Enterprise Zones

PPRs



Quarterly Management Accounts

February Helen Langton

University of Suffolk

 Energy Sector Recovery Plan

 Local Transport Board Report

 Economic and Programme Dashboards

 Growth Deal PPR



Capital G

owth Projects x 3

March Peter Brady

Stowmarket Hub

 Enterprise Zones 5 Year Strategic

Plan

 ICT Digital Industry Council Report

 LEP Governance

 LEP Operating Budget 21/22

 Delivery Plan 21/22

 Large Company Grant Application

 Getting Building Fund (Suffolk Broadband)

 Future Role of LEPs

 Enterprise Zones & EAN PPRs



CEO Pay Award

il No Board Meeting

May

Tim Green & David

Carlin

Cefas

 New Anglia Innovation Board

 Developing the Renewal Plan

 Clean Growth Taskforce

 Capital Budget 21/22

 Quarterly Management Accounts

 NAC Report



Growth Programme and Growth Deal PPRs

June

Christine Luxton

Carton Marshes

 Skills Advisory Panel Report  Enterprise Zones & EAN PPRs

 New Anglia Growth Hub

 Operating & HR Policies including Gender Pay

Gap Report

July

Chris Graveling

The Grove

 All Energy Industry Council Report

 Tourism Action Plan

 Freeport East

 Growth Programme PPR

 Accounts Approval



Q2 Management Accounts

August No Board Meeting

September

 Agri-Food Industry Council Report  GPF Application

 Getting Building Fund, Growth Deal & EAN PPRs



Economic and Programme Dashboards

September

New Anglia LEP AGM

October

 ICT Digital Industry Council Report  Programmes Evaluation

 CRF

 Growth Programme PPR



Qua

ly Management Accounts

November

 Local Transport Board Report

 Inward Investment

 Economic and Programme Dashboards

 Growth Deal PPR



NAC Report

December No Board Meeting



Meetingsarevirtualunlessotherwisestated.



Standing Items (where relevant)

 LEP Review

 IAC recommendations

 Chief Executive’s Report

Items to be Scheduled

 Freeports

 Towns Deals

 CNTC

 Sizewell C - February 2022

 Transport East strategy endorsement –January 2022

 Renewal Plan – January 2022



lternative Fuel Strate

 