AROUND 50 people from the Suffolk business community, the county council and the police met for the launch of a new partnership to promote mentoring.

Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Constabulary staged the event, at the council’s Endeavour House headquarters in Ipswich, to encourage senior business leaders to share their experience by providing mentoring support to benefit other sectors of society.

In return for a minimum commitment of 1.5 hours a month, they can then receive outside mentoring for their own teams.

Speakers at the event included county council chief executive Deborah Cadman, Suffolk Deputy Chief Constable Paul Marshall and Professor Robert Garvey from York St John University.

Deborah Cadman said: “As our organisations continue to go through change, we expect a lot from our people to adapt and deal with new challenges.

“There is an increase in the pace and pressure of work, and we increasingly need to use resources wisely. Mentoring provides a sensible solution.”