New Anglia: DCLG directors ‘impressed’ by LEP’s approach

BUSINESS top brass were said to be “full of praise” on a visit to the new Government Enterprise Zone at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.

Two senior business leaders were visiting the New Anglia Enterprise Zone in their capacity as non-executive directors at the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Diana Brightmore-Armour and Stewart Gilliland met Andy Wood, chairman of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the organisation supporting the enterprise zone, and board members Mark Goodall and Derrick Murphy at the Orbis renewables energy hub in Lowestoft .

Ms Brightmore-Armour is chief executive officer of corporate banking at the Lloyds Banking Group, while Mr Gilliland was previously chief executive of Muller UK and Ireland until his retirement at the end of 2010.

They were updated on progress so far and a given a presentation by Johnathan Reynolds from Orbis on the huge opportunities over the next few years for the energy sector, including continued gas production and decommissioning, nuclear, offshore wind and other renewable technologies.

Mr Wood said: “It was a very positive meeting and a good chance to inform these senior business figures about the great potential our area offers and the progress we are making on the Enterprise Zone. They seemed impressed and were full of praise for the approach being taken by New Anglia.”

The visit comes a week after Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles visited Great Yarmouth for an update on the Enterprise Zone.

Mr Wood said: “We are delighted that senior individuals from Government are so interested in our Enterprise Zone. We are working really hard with our partners to raise the profile of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft and our region as a whole as an attractive place for investment and an area where there are real prospects for growth.