1
Public
New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Confirmed)
23
rd
June 2021
Present:
Kathy Atkinson (KA)
Kettle Foods
Claire Cullens (CC)
Norfolk Community Foundation
David Ellesmere (DE)
Ipswich Borough Council
C-J Green (CJG)
Brave Goose
John Griffiths (JG)
West Suffolk Council
Dominic Keen (DK)
Britbots
Helen Langton (HL)
University of Suffolk
Steve Oliver (SO)
MLM Group
Corrienne Peasgood (CP)
Norwich City College
Johnathan Reynolds (JR)
Opergy
Alan Waters (AW)
Norwich City Council
Jeanette Wheeler (JW)
Birketts
Attendees
Graham Plant (GP)
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
Christine Langton (CL)
Suffolk Wildlife Trust – For Item 2
Samantha Vinyard-Jones (SVJ)
New Anglia Growth Hub – For Item 7
Shan Lloyd (SL)
BEIS
Mark Ash (MA)
Suffolk County Council
Vince Muspratt (VM)
Norfolk County Council
Chris Dashper (CD)
New Anglia LEP – For Item 7
Chris Starkie (CS)
New Anglia LEP
Natasha Waller (NW)
New Anglia LEP – For Item 6
Rosanne Wijnberg (RW)
New Anglia LEP
Helen Wilton (HW)
New Anglia LEP
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Actions from the meeting: (23.6.21)
New Anglia Growth Hub Progress Report
The flyer containing details of business support and grants offered by the LEP is to be circulated
to board members
CS
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Welcome from the Chair
CJ Green (CJG) welcomed everyone to the meeting including Graham Plant (GP), deputy leader of
Norfolk Council, who was observing for Andrew Proctor and Christine Luxton (CL), Chief Executive of
the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
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Presentation from Christine Luxton, Suffolk Wildlfe Trust
CJG welcomed CL, Chief Executive of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust who provided the board with an
overiew of the £8m LEP supported Carlton Marshes project which covers 1000 acres of wetland
creating the more accessible nature reserve in East Anglia and which was opened by the Princess
Royal last month.
CL noted that although the pandemic has delayed the opening of development, lockdown and other
restrictions have allowed local people to enjoy the facility over the past few months and families and
nature enthusiasts have all benefited from the centre.
CL advisd that the trading income in the café & shop supports the centre enabling free access for local
families and that the specialised facilities and surface paths have made the centre as accessible as
possible for the public. Destination marketing has not yet begun but local marketing has started with
the aim of attracting 120,000 visitors per year supporting jobs at the centre and in the local economy.
Johnathan Reynolds (JR) noted the benefis of wetlands in locking in CO2 and asked if any work had
been done to assess this for Carlton Marshes. CL advised it had been considered but the data had
not been available when the centre was planned. The focus is on bringing back natural habitat and
wetland which have been lost and the centre has been created to take water during surge tides to
reduce the impact on Oulton Broad.
Helen Langton (HL) advised that the University of Suffolk offers wildlife and conservation degrees and
asked for further details on the approach to education. CL advised that there was a learning
programme from tots to adults and links to universites would be developed
Claire Cullens (CC) noted the skills development opportunies for visitors, staff and volunteers at the
centre.
CJG thanked CL for the presentation and CL left the meeting.
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Apologies
Apologies were received from Tim Whitley, Sandy Ruddock, Pete Joyner, Mattthew Hicks, Andrew
Proctor, Sam Chapman-Allen
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Declarations of Interest
None
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Actions/Minutes from the last Meeting
The minutes were accepted as a true record of the meeting held on 26
th
May.
CJG reviewed the action log and confirmed all been updated.
6
Skills Advisory Panel (SAP) Progress Update
CC presented the report to the board and highlighted key items starting with the SAP
membership, the vision of the group and its four objectives:
o Driving skills progression for the workforce - encouraging lifelong professional
development, upskilling and reskilling
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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
o Tackling barriers to employment - Developing 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
One project team has been set up under each objective and each has established 2 areas of
delivery on which to focus. The groups also challenge the SAP to maintain strategic focus to
ensure that long term aims remain relevant and emerging needs are fed back to the SAP.
CC advised that the pandemic has had some impact on deliverables but significant progress
has also been made on delivery as detailed it the report. Focus is currently on providing
lifelong skills and development in keys sectors.
CC noted that the skills data set was published in January 2021 and identified the need for
more people qualifying in the sectors identified in the Local Industrial Strategy. LEP activites
support this area as the LEP has invested in the STEM Centre and the Digitech Centre and
also in supporting apprenticeships.
Corrienne Peasgood (CP) noted that the Agrifood Industry council had raised the issue of the
current difficulty in recruiting in all areas and this should be fed back into the next SAP
meeting to highlight skills shortages. There was also the opportunity to work with the DWP on
this issue.
Jeanette Wheer (JW) noted that the current trend to work virtually opens up opportinites but
also means that local jobs are open to wider competition.
HL confirmed that there is still an issue around salaries in the region as the earning power is
not as strong as elsewhere
Alan Waters (AW) noted the the deadline for applying for settled status was approaching and
this could act as a deterrent for some to move to the area. The impact of this needs to be
tracked.
The board thanked Claire for work as chair of the SAP.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the report
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New Anglia Growth Hub Progress Report
Samantha Vinyard-Jones (SVJ) manager of the New Anglia Growth Hub provided the board
with an overview of the work of the Growth Hub including the support which has been provided
to businesses during the pandemic.
SVJ noted the the Growth Hub works with a wide range of businesses and sectors across the
region from one person start ups to large scale plants.
SVJ advsed that the volume and nature of contacts had changed during the pandemic and the
response had been adapted accordingly including the use of the regularly updated script,
woking closely with districts to help businesses in findng grants, directing calls via Teams,
helpng businesses supply and find PPE and delivering workshops and training virtually. The
Growth Hub took 16,000 incoming calls from businesses during the pandemic.
Support with the EU transition is also being provided with advisors in place at the Suffolk
Chamber, intelligence shared with the LEP for reporting to Governments and referrals being
made to the DIT regarding exports.
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SVJ advised that work is is ongoing to identify skills gaps and support companies in meeting
them both with training and apprenticeships.
In summary SVJ advised that, to date, the Growth Hub has supported over 12,000 businesses
with one to onie support of more than three hours, awarded over 1200 grants at a value of over
£40m and provided over 57,000 hours of support.
ACTION – The flyer containing details of support and grants offered by the LEP is to be
circulated to board members
CS advised that the previously confirmed funding totalling £28m including match funding is
ending in May 2023. The LEP has been requesting an extension for around a year and this
has now been agreed in principle and a £3.3m extension is being put together – including match
worth £6.6m.
Dominic Keen (DK) asked what else can be done to ensure that all businesses are aware of
the services provided by the Growth Hub.
SVJ advised that the Hub needs to be seen as a first point of call for any enquiry as it can
signpost businesess to alternative contacts as required as well as providing its own support.
JR suggested strengthening the links to the industry councils and also ensuring that businesses
are supported in emissions reductions as they grow.
CC suggested the need to link back to the SAP regarding skills shortfalls to advise businesses
on how their feedback is being actioned.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the report and presentation
CS
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Government Review of LEPS – confidential
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the report
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Chief Executive’s Report
CS presented the report and was pleased to confirm that work had now begun on the units at
the Nar Ouse Enterprise Zone site.
CS noted that he and CJG had participated in the second East Anglia Regional Productivity
Forum which has identified five themes and sectors as areas of focus. The work of the forum
provides an opportunity to enhance the regions evidence base and inform the development of the
Economic Renewal Plan and the LEP executive will support the work of the forum with the aim to
link its research to delivery.
CS advised that the LEP will be hosting a series of webinars, on 7
th
and 21
st
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 and invited LEP Board members to
join the sessions as well as promote them through their networks.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the report
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10
June Performance Reports
Rosanne Wijnberg (RW) presented the reports to the Board and highlighted key items.
Enterprise Advisor Network – The Careers Enterprise Company has confirmed that they will
fund the project from September 2021 to August 2022. ESF funding means that the Pot C
funding will no longer be required going forward.
RW highlighted the ongoing need for enterprise advisors and noted that any board member
can apply or highlight the opportunity to colleagues.
Enterprise Zones - RW advised the Enterprise Zones reporting requirements to Government
have changed to bi-annually and RW proposed amending the EZ reporting scheduled to tie in
with this. The board was advised that this is the last report to use the old targets and the next
report will be based on those targets ideintified in the new plan.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the reports
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Operating and HR Policies - confidential
RW presented the report and HR polices for annual review.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the reports
• To approve the HR and Operating Policies
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Board Forward Plan
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the plan
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Any Other Business
None
