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
The Innovation Grant Mentoring programme is open to more applications from Suffolk-based micro, small and medium sized businesses – could you benefit from their expertise and support?
For many businesses, securing funding can be one of the biggest barriers to developing a new product, service or process. The Innovation Grant Mentoring programme aims to help overcome that challenge by providing free, specialist guidance to companies seeking innovation funding and looking to bring new ideas to market.
Funded by Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex County Councils, the programme supports ambitious businesses developing innovative products or services for the UK market. Through a combination of one-to-one mentoring, bid coaching and practical advice, participants receive tailored support to strengthen funding applications and identify the most suitable opportunities for their projects.
Businesses are matched with experienced Innovation Mentors and Bid Coaches who can help refine project proposals, improve bid-writing skills and navigate the often-complex funding landscape. Whether applying for innovation funding for the first time or building on previous experience, the programme is designed to improve the quality and competitiveness of applications.
In addition to personalised support, businesses can access workshops and webinars covering topics such as innovation funding, project development and best practice for successful grant applications. The programme has already helped companies across the region secure funding for research and development projects, enabling them to accelerate growth and bring innovative solutions to market.
To be eligible, businesses must:
As competition for innovation funding continues to grow, expert guidance can make a significant difference to both the quality of an application and its likelihood of success. With applications currently open, eligible businesses are encouraged to explore the support available and take the next step towards securing funding for their innovative ideas.
To find out more or register your interest, contact the Innovation Grant Mentoring team at info@innovationmentoring.co.uk or visit the programme website.
WHERE BIG
IDEAS HAPPEN.
