New Anglia LEP

Who Are We?

Map of Norfolk & Suffolk Image

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is developing a new dynamic approach to grow the Norfolk and Suffolk economy, putting businesses in the driving seat to create jobs for the future.

The two counties have similar strengths and challenges. With 60,000 enterprises in Suffolk and Norfolk and a population of 1.5 million, New Anglia represents a significant economic area. Tourism and Energy are just two examples of major sectors which employ significant numbers of people, bring wealth to the local economy and have the potential to grow.

However, Suffolk and Norfolk have below national average skills, poor infrastructure and deprivation in urban, rural and coastal areas.

In 2010, the coalition government decided to abolish the regional development agencies - the government organisations tasked with driving the economy of the country's regions. Businesses and local authorities were invited to put forward proposals to government, for the formation of Local Enterprise Partnerships, to help drive local economies. The LEPs are not a replacement for Regional Development Agencies. They are independent of government, business-led, and autonomous.

One of 38 Local Enterprise Partnerships, New Anglia has been established as a catalyst to create jobs and remove the barriers to growth, and was approved by the government in December 2010.

The Chairman of New Anglia is Andy Wood, the Chief Executive of Adnams plc. He leads a talented and dynamic board of 7 local business leaders, 6 local authority leaders and a senior representative from the HE/FE sector. The Board's focus is:

  • growing important business sectors
  • providing information and support for small and medium sized enterprises
  • improving infrastructure to enable businesses to thrive

Achievements to date include securing:

  • an enterprise zone for Suffolk and Norfolk
  • green pathfinder status. New Anglia will be the national lead and exemplar for developing the green economy
  • £185k in start-up funding from government to establish the organisation

The day to day running of New Anglia is undertaken by a small transition team led by Chris Starkie, the former Chief Executive of Shaping Norfolk's Future, Norfolk's economic development partnership.

New Anglia has developed an Operating Plan covering the years 2013 - 2015. To read the plan, please click here.