1
Public
New Anglia Board Meeting Minutes (Confirmed)
22nd June 2022
Present:
Kathy Atkinson (KA)
Valeo Snack Foods
Claire Cullens (CC)
Norfolk Community Foundation
Stuart Dark (SD)
King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Council
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)
SWECO
Corrienne Peasgood (CP)
Norwich City College
Andrew Proctor (AP)
Norfolk County Council
Johnathan Reynolds (JR)
Opergy
Alan Waters (AW)
Norwich City Council
Jeanette Wheeler (JW)
Birketts
Attendees
Shan Lloyd (SL)
BEIS
Carolyn Reid (CR)
Norfolk County Council
Rob Hancock (RH)
Suffolk County Council
Natasha Waller (NW)
New Anglia LEP
Julian Munson (JM)
New Anglia LEP
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: (22.6.22)
None
1
Welcome from the Chair
C-J Green (CJG) welcomed all board members to the meeting.
2
Apologies
Apologies were received from Matthew Hicks and Sandy Ruddock.
3
Declarations of Interest
None
4
Actions/Minutes from the last Meeting
The minutes of the meeting held on 25th May were agreed as accurate.
CJG noted that there are no outstanding items on the action log.
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Skills Advisory Panel Progress Update
Claire Cullens (CC) presented the board with an overview of the SAP’s main achievements
since the last board update including details on the evidence base which was commissioned
and which now provides a clear starting point for activities for all partners on which to build.
CC noted the key changes in the skills environment explaining that Local Skills Improvement
Plans (LSIPS) are part of a Government plan to give local businesses a stronger voice in
skills planning and advised that the Norfolk Chamber is leading on the local plan and the
Local Skills report will be the starting point for discussions.
CC advised that funding of SAPs has been reduced with nothing further expected and the
remining funding would be used to focus on two key objectives:
To produce and make available robust analysis of skills needs and the local labour
market
Work collaboratively with the Chambers to develop the LSIP
CC highlighted the main skills challenges:
• Building a life-long learning culture
• Increase in higher-value jobs and upskilling/reskilling of the local workforce
• Harnessing opportunities provided by ICT
• Increasing performance at school, particularly in our areas of deprivation
• Supporting entry points and progression into Health & Social Care
• Increasing training in leadership and management
CC provided an overview of the Shared Prosperity Fund and noted that funds have been
allocated to Norfolk and Suffolk to improve numeracy.
CC also advised that £1m has been secured for Skills Bootcamps to support 240 learners and
the tender is currently open for providers. Funding has only just been confirmed and
timescales are challenging with 50% of learners required to start by September.
Moving forwards CC stressed that it is important to ensure there is a core team able to act
rapidly to take advantage of opportunities. Collaboration continues to be vital both in terms of
working with partners and listening to the challenges being voiced across the region.
CC advised that it was clear what works well for the SAP and what challenges were faced
therefore it was vital to keep momentum going and not wait for a new structure to evolve.
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Helen Langton (HL) agreed that Government timescales were punishing and this was being
seen access the board with other funds and expressed concern that this would impact on the
delivery when funding is delayed as the tight deadlines cause issues for both learners and
staff working on the projects.
Johnathan Reynolds (JR) expressed concern about the disconnect between the national
plans and local and cluster issues. He noted that a lot of work had been carried out and it was
important not to lose what had already been done given future changes in the skills arena.
Chris Starkie (CS) provided the board with details of the team of LEP staff working on the
various skills arenas. CS agreed that slow Government decision making was the block in
delivering across range of programmes where agreements were delayed but timescales were
not being changed to accommodate the delays.
The Board agreed:
To note the content of the report
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Norfolk and Suffolk Enterprise Zones: Progress Update
Julian Munson (JM) provided an overview of the Enterprise Zones (EZ) successes to date
and advised that over the past 10 years over £620m of public and private match funding has
been secured providing nearly 5000 jobs. This investment has released a number of sites
which would not otherwise have been suitable for businesses to use.
JM highlighted the developments of successful partner projects where the LEP has been
involved in collaboration including the Ella May Barnes and Proserv buildings, Treatt HQ and
Nar Ouse Phase 1.
JM noted that the board had signed off the 5 Year Strategic Plan in March 2021 which aligns
with Government’s plans for clean growth and innovation and strategically aligns with growth
corridors and priority places and clusters.
Even though Government has turned down requests to extend the benefits of Enterprise
Zones work is continuing such as providing grow on space for businesses on the NRP,
making improvements to the entry point at Scottow and working with Hethel to investigate the
development of other energy sources such as hydrogen.
John Griffiths (JG) noted that West Suffolk Park was virtually full and thanked the LEP team
for their support in achieving this success.
CS advised that LEPs and partners had been lobbying Government to extend EZs and would
continue to do so.
The Board agreed:
To note the content of the report
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Chief Executive’s Report
CS presented his report to the board and highlighted key items.
Shared Prosperity Fund – CS noted that this fund includes business support and stressed
that, while the Growth Hub has supported over 12000 busineses and 53000 hours of face to
face help, funding ends in the middle of next year. A collborative proposal is being develped
and will be brought to the July board meeting.
CS advised that discussions around County Deals are continuing.
HL asked if there was still confidence in the target date of April 2023 given other Government
delays.
CS agreed that the current transition path would be challenging and that work was underway
to produce a plan for funding in 2023/24 looking at a slimmed down LEP and agreeing areas
of focus.
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JR asked whether intelligence was being collated on the impacts of inflation and the cost of
living crisis.
CS confirmed that this was being gathered and fed into the Cabinet office on a regular basis
although frequency of the reporting has been reduced by Government.
CS noted the significant amount of work ongoing the deliveries this year and encouraged the
board to continue to support this work
The Board agreed:
To note the content of the report
8
HR & Operating Policies
Rosanne Wijnberg (RW) presented the following LEP policies presented for their annual
review and approval by the board:
Modern Slavery Statement
Sustainable Development Policy
Equality & Diversity Policy and Statement
Board Attendance & Observers Policy
Gender Pay Gap report
The board was also invited to approve the Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference.
The Board agreed:
To note the content of the report
To approve the policies listed and the Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference.
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June Programme Performance Reports
RW presented the June reports.
Enterprise Advisor Network – This programme will now be match funded from ESF funds
rather than Pot C.
Gatsby benchmark 1 – the careers programme target runs to August 2023 and has an
incremental approach to achieving it.
RW advised that the Careers Hub manager, Glen Todd, is leaving to become a teacher and
David Ladbrook from the Opportunity Area will be taking on the role.
The Board agreed:
To note the content of the report
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Board Forward Plan
CJG reviewed the items on the agenda for the June meeting.
The Board agreed:
To note the content of the plan
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Any Other Business
None.
