Jobs and growth in every postcode for Norfolk and Suffolk
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Last week in Westminster, we put the spotlight on Norfolk and Suffolk, highlighting our successful service, and calling for job creation support and backing an ambitious region. Through the National Enterprise Network, we met with The Lord Leong CBE, to discuss how to deliver the Government’s ambition of ‘jobs and growth in every postcode’.
During the meeting, we highlighted the widening regional divide in business growth and that the lack of funding for business support means that a number of local and national support schemes have closed, while demand has been rising sharply, particularly among young people.
New Anglia Growth Hub’s Programme Manager Jason Middleton briefed the Minister about the support that the Growth Hub provides across Norfolk and Suffolk and the commitment that Norfolk County Council has made to support start-ups, business growth, and high streets through our Love Your Market Town and High Streets Matter schemes. The delegation emphasised the importance of trusted face-to-face business support and asked the Minister to agree a working session with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade’s officials before the end of November to secure funding certainty from April 2027 onwards.
The delegation brought together leaders from across the network and partner organisations, including Alex Till (NEN Chair), Carol Daniels (NEN Operations Director), Peter Ibbetson (NEN Director), Jason Middleton (Norfolk County Council), Colin Humphreys (Start Up Croydon (UP), Conrad Ford (Allica Bank) and Phil Sanders (Instro AI Solutions).
Thank you all for a positive meeting and we are looking forward to next steps.
Lesley van Dijk