The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (NA LEP) is establishing a Norfolk and Suffolk Growth Hub with finance from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
The Growth Hub will provide Norfolk and Suffolk businesses with a ‘no wrong door’ route for accessing local and national business support, ensuring that businesses in these 2 counties maximize the advice and guidance and support available to help them grow and to help in new job creation.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding agreed between NA LEP, Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber will be responsible for the management of the Growth Hub, with other elements provided by delivery organisations in the project including Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, enterprise agencies NWES and MENTA, Finance East, University of East Anglia, University Campus Suffolk and Norwich University for the Arts.
As this is a Norfolk and Suffolk wide partnership the Growth Hub will be supported by many other partners including FSB, Institute of Directors, Eastern Enterprise Hub and the Norfolk and Suffolk Norfolk Local Authorities.
The Growth Hub team will provide a first point of contact for any business seeking business support and assistance. The Growth Hub will also give easier access to both local and national business support programmes and initiatives, as well as direct access to several new business support programmes, including: a Small Grants Fund; an Innovation Readiness Programme; Innovation Vouchers; and a Business Start-up.
Andy Wood, Chairman of the New Anglia LEP, said: “We know that business support is complex and often businesses aren’t able to find the help and support they require. Our aim is to break down the barriers caused by this uncertainty and guide businesses to help and support to enable them grow to their full potential.”
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, said: “Norfolk Chamber of Commerce is pleased to be a partner in this exciting new initiative to coordinate business advice and support across Norfolk and Suffolk. The launch of Norfolk and Suffolk Growth Hub comes at a time when positive economic recovery is starting to be seen. We are confident that the Growth Hub will help facilitate opportunities to allow more local businesses to reach their full potential, which in turn will be good for continuing economic and employment growth across our two counties.”
Brenda Arthur, Leader of Norwich City Council, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve secured funding for the business support element of our City Deal, which is a huge boost for the Greater Norwich economy. It will allow us to improve help available to local businesses for innovation and enterprise, which will in turn generate sustainable growth in quality local job opportunities.”
George Nobbs, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “This is the news we’ve been waiting for, for a long time. It will unlock even more business potential within our region. I can’t exaggerate how important this news is, not just for Norwich but for the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk. I want to thank all the people who’ve been working so hard for so long to achieve this fantastic outcome for us all. Any support to help boost business growth can only be a good thing and it appears that the Growth Hubs will allow the creation and development of business growth opportunities using practical and tangible means.”
Peter Funnell, President of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said: “The main barrier to businesses small and large taking up business advice and support is that the business community often finds the current landscape complex, opaque and difficult to engage with. The Chambers in Suffolk and Norfolk, and all our partners including NWES, Menta, Enterprise Hub, FSB and IoD, will introduce a ‘no wrong door’ service that will improve access and at the same time broaden the range of services on offer. This is the grass rooted support that businesses in Suffolk and Norfolk need and we are delighted to be leading such an exciting initiative working with our key partners.”
Councillor Mark Bee, Leader of Suffolk County Council, said: “Nationally, less than 50% of SMEs seek advice, but those that do are twice as likely to grow. The provision and promotion of business support programmes that help local businesses to thrive is therefore a vital part of supporting our economy to grow. The securing of this funding will help to enhance and coordinate business support across Suffolk and Norfolk, helping businesses to access the most effective support to help them grow and create jobs.”
David Ellsmere, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: ”This is very welcome news. The success of our City Deal bid has enabled the creation of a growth hub for Ipswich and surrounding area which complements the work the Council is doing with its own business support programmes through the Jobs & Skills Fund, Apprenticeship Brokerage and other schemes.”
Chris Soule, Policy Lead at the East Anglia Federation of Small Businesses, said: “The programme will bring real and tangible support to our members and will transform this region. The growth fund is for people like our members, it is about government putting its trust in Small and Medium businesses to deliver where others have failed.”
