Angela Rushforth, managing director of East Anglian builders’ merchant chain Ridgeons, is to become regional chairman of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) from next month.

She will serve a two-year term as chairman of the employer organisation’s East of England Regional Council, with responsibility for ensuring that the voice of businesses in the region is heard in Westminster, Whitehall, Brussels and beyond, while also promoting the interest of businesses across the region.

“It is a real honour to be invited to take this key strategic role within the region,” said Angela, who is currently vice chairman of the council and will take over the chairmanship from Andy Wood, chief executive of Adnams.

“There are a number of strands from the CBI’s priorities under the ‘delivering prosperity for businesses’ theme that particularly resonates with me. Helping to drive these will be key objectives for me over the forthcoming year.

“Getting Britain building to deliver jobs and investment is an area where I feel that I can add real weight and expertise. Through my day-to-day involvement within the construction industry I am hoping that we can make real in roads in increasing the supply of new homes for the future.

“Leveraging opportunities to work with schools around the region to ensure growth makes a difference to everyone is another priority where I can add real value,” she added.

“For a number of years the Ridgeons Group has worked closely with local schools to address employability skills and these partnerships will provide a great foundation from which we can start to raise ambitions for all within schools.

“I am very much looking forward to ensuring that the challenges that businesses in the East of England face, are shared with policymakers ahead of next year’s election – there has never been a better time to ensure that our voices are heard.”