Business group for Norfolk and Suffolk stages workshop

A workshop for a newly established business support group for Norfolk and Suffolk is to take place this week.

The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is to hold its first meeting at the University of East Anglia in Norwich on Friday.

Andy Wood and Peter Barry are the joint chairmen of the partnership which was set up by the coalition government at the end of 2010.

It replaces a regional development agency abolished by the new government.

Mr Wood, chief executive of Suffolk brewers Adnams, announced the inaugural meeting and said the New Anglia LEP would be the key to the future success of business in the two counties.

"The workshop will give businesses from across our counties the opportunity to come together and share their thoughts, ideas and hopes for the priorities we are working on."

Mr Barry, managing director of Pasta Foods based in Great Yarmouth, said: "New Anglia's focus will be on job creation and economic growth in the private sector.

"We are looking to understand how the various industries in our region can meet that challenge and what support they will need from New Anglia to achieve it."