1
Confidential
New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Unconfirmed)
26
th
January 2022
Present:
Kathy Atkinson (KA)
Valeo Snack Foods
Claire Cullens (CC)
Norfolk Community Foundation
David Ellesmere (DE)
Ipswich Brough Council
C-J Green (CJG)
Brave Goose
Matthew Hicks (MH)
Suffolk County Council
Pete Joyner (PJ)
Shorthose Russell
Dominic Keen (DK)
Britbots
Helen Langton (HL)
University of Suffolk
Steve Oliver (SO)
SWECO
Corrienne Peasgood (CP)
Norwich City College
Andrew Proctor (AP)
Norfolk County Council
Johnathan Reynolds (JR)
Opergy
Sandy Ruddock (SR)
Scarlett & Mustard
Alan Waters (AW)
Norwich City Council
Jeanette Wheeler (JW)
Birketts
Attendees
Alexis Haggar (AH)
Vince Muspratt (VM)
Shan Lloyd (SL)
BEIS
Mark Ash (MA)
Suffolk County Council
Julian Munson (KM)
New Anglia LEP – For Item 7
Lisa Roberts (LR)
New Anglia LEP – For Item 6
Chris Starkie (CS)
New Anglia LEP
Rosanne Wijnberg (RW)
New Anglia LEP
Helen Wilton (HW)
New Anglia LEP
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Actions from the meeting: (26.1.22)
Chief Executives Report
Write a letter of thanks on behalf of the board to Mike Burrows
CS
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Welcome from the Chair
CJ Green (CJG) welcomed everyone to the meeting.
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Presentation from Alexis Haggar, Lexhag VFX
CJG presented Alexis Haggar (AH), creative director at Lexhag VFX, a visual effects company based
on the Scottow Enterprise Zone who received almost £25k from the Growth Through Innovation Fund.
AH explained how the GTI grant had been used to progress the technology used to insert
backgrounds into films and TV series by doing this on camera on the day of filming rather than the
adding such effects post production as has been done previously.
AH presented video clips demonstrating how the backgrounds are added, some built entirely virtually
and some using existing real footage and provided an overview of the process the company uses to
produce the scenes.
AH started the company following his move from the special effects industry to digital effects and it
now employs 10 people with others recruited for individual projects according to technical
requirements.
David Ellesmere (DE) queried whether AH felt that this process would replace live filming noting the
interest from film and TV companies in the region. AH felt that this was an add on tool to existing
filming techniques and that working with partners would attract more customers locally.
Dominic Keen (DK) asked whether a repeatable offering was possible or whether everything was
bespoke. AH advised that it depended on the customer’s budget but that data was being collected on
regularly used effects and requirements to enable stock film to be held.
CJG thanked AH for his presentation and AH left the meeting.
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Apologies
Apologies were received from John Griffiths and Stuart Dark
4
Declarations of Interest
None
5
Actions/Minutes from the last Meeting
Helen Langton (HL) asked for the minutes of the November meeting to be amended to refer
to her appointment to the “Board of Advanced HE”.
The minutes were then accepted as a true record of the meetings on 24
th
November and 14
th
January.
CS reviewed the action log and confirmed all items been updated.
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Norfolk & Suffolk Economic Strategy
Lisa Roberts (LR) presented the Norfolk & Suffolk Economic Strategy which has been
compiled in collaboration with partners across the counties with over 650 individuals taking
part in engagement sessions with more providing written feedback.
It looks to 2036 but focusses on the actions needed over the next 5 years to secure long term
success. LR noted that the strategy is aimed at guiding the work and investment of many
partners and provides a framework for partners to develop plans specific to their geography,
sector or institutions including potential county deals. Much of the delivery will take place
through these plans.
LR confirmed that both Norfolk and Suffolk Public Sector Leaders meetings approved the
strategy on 21
st
January and thanked all board members and their officers for input. CJG
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thanked LR and her team for the work which has gone into the strategy and noted the extent
of the collaboration involved.
Johnathan Reynolds (JR) asked whether the levelling up which paper would impact the
strategy. LR confirmed that it would not affect the opportunities which have been identified
but may provide alternative sources of funding. LR noted that the LEP would also be looking
for funding in addition to that offered by Government.
Andrew Proctor (AP) asked how the work would be publicised. LR advised it would be
launched on LEP social media with future focus on the collaboration with partners to raise the
profile of Norfolk & Suffolk.
Claire Cullens (CC) noted the strategy needed to the linked to the Levelling Up White Paper
and the SPF when published to ensure it stays relevant and pertinent to all deliveries.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the report
• To approve the sign off the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic Strategy
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New Anglia LEP Strategic Priorities
New Anglia LEP Future Options – Finance – Confidential
CS presented the board with New Anglia LEP’s proposed strategic priorities for the 2022/23
financial year noting that, although the Levelling Up White Paper has not yet been published,
the LEP needs to continue to support businesses in the current challenging times while also
identifying opportunities for growth. This means the LEP will need more focused priorities
and will have to reduce activity in certain areas.
CS highlighted the LEP’s USP namely its ability to convene partners in the private, public,
third and education sectors enabling the team to identify key issues facing businesses,
develop solutions, secure funding and investment from the public and private sectors and
advocate on behalf of the area.
CS outlined the five strategic priorities:
Priority One: Business support and Innovation - ensuring that businesses affected by the
pandemic continue have the support needed whilst increasing the availability and visibility of
support for high growth firms as well increasing the number of businesses investing in clean
growth and innovation/R&D.
Priority Two: Labour market and skills – through the Skills Advisory Panel and industry
councils and sector groups the LEP will work with partners to identify solutions to the short-
term skills shortages and also continuing to work on the planning and implementation of
longer-term skills provision to meet the future needs of business.
Priority Three: Supporting place – The LEP will continue to attract investment through the
inward investment service and driving forward Enterprise Zone sites. The LEP will also
provide support and expertise to local partners on the implementation of Town Deals and bids
to the Levelling Up fund as well as other place based investment.
Priority Four: Nationally significant projects – The LEP will work with partners to maximise
the economic benefits and business opportunities presented by Freeport East, Sizewell C,
offshore wind developments and other investments of scale.
Priority Five: Future role of the LEP – The future role of the LEP will in large part be
determined by the Levelling Up White Paper however the overarching internal priority will be
to work with partners locally and nationally to understand the implications of the White Paper
and begin to plan accordingly. This will include securing funding for LEP services such as
inward investment, innovation and the Growth Hub.
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The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the report
• To agree the proposed strategic priorities for 2022/23
• To agree to work proceeding on the 2022/23 budget based on the proposal provided.
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Innovation Board Update
Julian Munson (JM) provided the board with an update on the work of the Innovation board
and highlighted key deliveries such as the success of the Connected Innovation Programme
promotion of the Norfolk and Suffolk Innovation Prospectus and supporting the development
of capital skills projects such as the Digitech Centre.
JM presented the priorities for 2022/23 including the submission of a proposal to Government
on a place based innovation pilot aimed at driving innovation across all sectors raising the
profile of key innovation activities and reviewing the new sector plans e.g. the National Space
Strategy, the Net Zero Strategy and the UK Hydrogen Strategy.
JM noted the challenges from Government which is targeting a move from innovation out of
the Greater South East area and confirmed that innovation funding in Norfolk and Suffolk is
around half of that of the rest of that region.
JR thanked JM and his team and noted the range of the sectors they cover and the
significant amount of work which has been carried out.
He agreed that there is a real risk that the status of Cambridge and London dominate the
region with Norfolk and Suffolk losing funding as a result. The local relationship with George
Freeman MP as Minister for Innovation will continue to be promoted.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the report
• Note the contents of the paper and sub-board delivery plan
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Quarterly Management Accounts - Confidential
The Board agreed:
• To note the management accounts and accompanying graphs.
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Chief Executive’s Report
CS highlighted key items in addition to those included in the report.
Skills Bootcamp Fund - The LEP is woking with both County Councils to submit bid to the
fund which will provide short business lead training courses.
Growing Busnees Fund – The final panel was held last week with 308 business supported
and £32.5m given out and over 3000 jobs created.
CS asked for the board to write a letter of thanks to Mike Burrows as chair of the GBF panel
for all his support since the inception of the board.
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Freeport East – Michael Cousens has been seconded in as PM and is working on the full
business case which is using additional resouce from the LEP team. CS noted that around
50% of these costs will be recovered and the resouce has been deployed given the
importance of the project.
ACTION
CS to write a letter of thanks on behalf of the board to Mike Burrows
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the report
CS
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January Performance Reports
RW presented the January Programme Performance Reports and confirmed that as the focus
has been on approving those grants with looming end dates the approvals to the Small
Grants Scheme have stopped.
Work is progressing on the Nar Ouse projects but the first claim is still awaited.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the reports
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Board Forward Plan
CJG presented for forward plan for the February 2022 meeting.
The Board agreed:
• To note the content of the plan
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Any Other Business
None
