The Suffolk Business Board was established in May 2024 following the integration of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership functions into Suffolk County Council. It comprises representatives from business, education, the voluntary sector and local government.
Business Board members:
Chair: Mark Pendlington
Deputy Chair: Cllr Matthew Hicks, Suffolk County Council
Doug Field, East of England Co-Op
Oliver Paul, Suffolk Food Hall
Lisa Perkins, Tech East
Peter Brady, Orbital Global
Kelly Boosey, Oxford Innovation
Leanne Gittins, LME Recruitment
John Dugmore, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
Tom Ball, Ipswich Town Football Club
Hannah Bloom, Suffolk Community Foundation
Paul Ager, Associated British Ports
Marek Hornak, University of Suffolk
Nikos Savvas, Eastern Education Group
Cllr Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council
Cllr Andy Mellen, Mid Suffolk District Council
Cllr Neil MacDonald, Ipswich Borough Council
It has been an important week for skills in Suffolk, with the ambitious Get Suffolk Working plan published and the Connect to Work Suffolk programme launching. This is a crucial moment for Suffolk, as we put the pieces in place to ensure people can access meaningful employment, and address the barriers that may prevent them from working.
Get Suffolk Working sets out the first steps we will take to build a shared understanding of demand, and to better join up local work, health and skills support in a way that meets the needs of people and businesses across Suffolk.
It responds to the first of the challenges identified in Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ white paper, which was published in November 2024 and set out a long-term ambition for the UK to achieve an 80% employment rate.
Currently, we are specifically looking at how to reduce the amount of people excluded from the labour market by addressing economic inactivity. Future versions of the plan will expand the scope to all other Get Britain Working challenges.
Find out more about Get Suffolk Working and download the full plan or summary document here.
Our partners at Seetec have also now officially launched the Connect to Work Suffolk programme. Funded by UK Government, Connect to Work is a key activity that will support the delivery of our larger Get Suffolk Working plan.
Open to people who are over the age of 18 and living in Suffolk, Connect to Work takes an evidence-based approach to helping people tackle barriers that are preventing them from getting into work. Their offer includes one-to-one coaching as well as opportunities to engage with inclusive local employers – and there’s support for people who are in work but struggling, as well as those currently looking for a job.
Find out more on the Seetec website.
Head to our skills page if you want to find out more about Suffolk Economy’s approach to addressing skills gaps and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to find work that’s meaningful to them.
WHERE BIG
IDEAS HAPPEN.
