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Growing Business Fund Grant Panel Interim Meeting Minutes (Unconfirmed)

Wednesday, 15 December 2021 | 09.30am - 12.30pm

Held via conference call on Microsoft Teams

Present - Panel

Mike Burrows (MB)

Martin Ince (MI)

Daryl Griffiths (DG)

Dr Sumathi Sundram (SS)

Kathy Atkinson (KA)

Jackie Potter (JP)

Paul Stewart (PS)

In attendance

Allen Hall (AH)

Neil Sargent (NS)

Amanda Castell (AC)

Beverley Davies (BD)

Chris Dashper (CD)

Jason Middleton (JM)

Julie West (JW)

Rose Joy (RJ)

Chair

Martin Ince Communications

Burnett, Barker Solicitors

S&V Consultants Limited

Kettle Foods Limited

Micropress Limited

Center Parcs

Finance East

Suffolk County Council

New Anglia LEP

Welcome and Introductions

MB welcomed members. Meeting quorate.

Not present on telecon call

Apologies received:

Dominic Keen, Britbots

Declarations of Interest and GDPR

KA pointed out a potential conflict of interest with Creative Management Limited and Gnaw

Chocolate Limited. KD to participate in discussion but will refrain from voting on both applications.

NS pointed out a potential conflict of interest with Dunnella Limited.

Meeting Minutes: Panel Meeting held on Wednesday, 01 November 2021

Meeting notes approved.

Applications returning to Panel (2)

(1) New Form Construction Ltd - Agreed to support.

Local Authority of business - South Norfolk District Council

£120,000 - GBER

Six new full-time jobs to be created.

NS provided background information on the grant. The Panel noted this is a re-submission, with a

revised application, to the one discussed, and agreed in principle, at the November Panel meeting.

Key changes to the application outlined. The grant request is unchanged and match funding has

been amended to reflect expenditure change. General discussion took place.

The Panel noted NS had received assurance from the business that they are going to be able to

complete, and claim, before the end of January 2022. A strong project and a good fit for the GBF

scheme.

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The grant application meets the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requirements.

The Panel gave thanks to NS for bringing the revised application back to Panel so quickly.

(2) Harford Attachments Limited - Agreed to support

Local Authority of business - Norwich City Council

£28,283 - GBER

Four new full-time jobs and three part-time jobs to be created

AC provided background information on the grant application. The Panel noted the application had

been deferred by the Panel at the December 2021 meeting, subject to the Recommendation that the

business provide additional written evidence. AC confirmed that the required evidence had been

provided by the business - details outlined. This written evidence had been submitted to the LEP

Management Board and CD confirmed that the Board had discussed the application and were

satisfied with the evidence provided, concluding the risk category as low, and that the Board was in

agreement the application should be re-submitted to the GBF Panel. Lengthy discussion took place.

The grant application meets the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requirements.

New Applications for Approval (5)

(1) Creative Image Management Limited - Agreed to support

Local Authority of business -

£54,200 - GBER

Four new full-time jobs to be created

NS provided background information. A straight-forward application to support the purchase of a new

print machine, with capability to print on green recyclable media, to meet growing demand. NS

confirmed he had checked delivery timescales with the business, however BD expressed

apprehension that they may not be able to achieve the spend within the Claim timescale.

JM endorsed BD comment and suggested NS re-emphasised to the business the need to evidence

spend, and claim, before the end of January deadline. Lengthy discussion took place.

Recommendation: NS to obtain assurance from the business that they are going to be able to

complete, and claim, before the end of January 2022.

The Panel noted one of the proposed jobs is a Trainee which is good to see.

The grant application meets the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requirements.

(2) Dunnella Limited - Agreed to support

Local authority of business - Norwich City Council

£38, 568 - GBER

Four new full-time jobs to be created.

NS provided background to the application. Grant is for an EV Charger installation operation.

The Panel noted Dunnella Limited has been the recipient of a Business Resilience & Recovery

(BR&R) grant and BD confirmed status of current BR&R grant awarded. The Panel noted that this is

a separate project and will run independently to the proposed GBF grant application.

Lengthy discussion took place on the purchase of a franchise, however the Panel noted that the

franchise fee is excluded as a pre-payment in the financials and is not included in the project.

A good project for a company wishing to offer a new service in an expanding market.

The Panel noted four jobs are to be created with good salaries being offered.

The grant application meets the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requirements.

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(3) Gnaw Chocolate Limited - Agreed to support

Local Authority of business - Norwich City Council

£91,400 - GBER

Five new full-time jobs to be created.

NS provided background to the application. Application is for re-location and fit out of new premises

due to expansion. The Panel noted the strong financial commitment by the business to this project

The Panel noted the business has had previous grant awards: a GBF grant, BR&R grant and two

Small Grant Scheme grants in March 2018 and May 2020. Previous grants do not affect current

application. BD pointed out that there may be a potential clawback from the last SGS grant awarded

for a mezzanine floor installation.

Recommendations: (1) NS to bring potential SGS clawback to the attention of the business and

(2) NS to obtain assurance from the business that all equipment and machinery paid for with

previous grants will be re-located. These two Recommendations to be made conditions in the Offer

Letter issued by Suffolk County Council.

Gnaw Chocolate Limited is a high-profile business in the local area, which is committed to growth,

with a growing brand for premium chocolate.

A quality application and the Panel gave thanks to NS for turning the application around in a short

space of time.

The grant application meets the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requirements.

(4) Laser Patterns Limited - Agreed to support

Local Authority of the business - East Suffolk

£120,000 - GBER

Six new full-time jobs to be created.

AC provided background on the application. Application is for the purchase of new equipment to

increase capacity and efficiency. Observation made that the business is dependent on one particular

customer, however the business is aware of this and is actively looking for new business

opportunities to minimise risk. General discussion took place on company financials and the number

of employees.

A straight-forward application, by a good local company, and a good fit for a GBF grant.

The grant application meets the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) requirements.

(5) A further application was considered and declined by the Panel.

Small Grant Scheme (SGS) | Growth Through Innovation Fund (GTIF) Updates

No updates given.

Funding, Updates and Jobs Creation

No update given.

GBF Applications ‘Pipeline’

AC/NS working ‘flat out’ to push applications through and Finance East are hopeful of 3-4

applications being presented at the January GBF Panel meeting.

The Panel gave thanks to AC/NS for their hard work on progressing the GBF applications.

PR and Marketing

Ongoing. New Anglia LEP has a duty to deliver and consider its responsibility under the

Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). – we will be creating case studies that promote PSED, one is

being worked on now and once the grant has been paid, we can also put Creative Image

Management Limited forward as a case study in the New Year.

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Action 10.1: JW to send the link to the case study on Gnaw Chocolate to the GBF Panel

Any Other Business

None.

JW gave thanks to the Panel for finding the time to join the extra GBF panel meetings.

The meeting closed at 10.49am.

Meeting to be held via Microsoft Teams

Wednesday, 19 January 2022 | 10.00am - 12.00pm