A new Suffolk Business Board has been established to represent the local business community, help steer Suffolk's economic strategy and create a stronger, higher-skilled local economy.

The Business Board takes over the role of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in providing a voice for business in Suffolk. It will start meeting later this month.

Mark Pendlington, local business leader and former High Sheriff of Suffolk, will serve as interim chair for the first year. Cllr Matthew Hicks, leader of Suffolk County Council, will serve as deputy chair.

Representatives from business, education and local government will join them on the Board and bring experience in key Suffolk sectors including agri-food, retail, technology, ports and logistics, and the visitor economy.

The other board members are:

• 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 Reid, Community Action Suffolk
• Paul Ager, Associated British Ports
• Gurpreet Jagpal, 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 Board will be supported by Suffolk County Council's Economic Development team. One of its key objectives in the first six months will be to define a refreshed economic strategy for Suffolk.

Mr Pendlington said: "I am delighted to have been invited to chair the Board and to work with senior leaders from business, education and local government to create a new economic strategy for Suffolk.

"Our county is full of talent, ideas and innovation, and our job is to harness all of that expertise and experience to help secure a long-term sustainable future for our county in the competitive national and international economy.

"We have inherited from the New Anglian LEP a strong legacy of inward investment, improved skills and new jobs. Suffolk is home to many world-class businesses, with thousands more that have big ambitions for growth. The Board will be looking to deliver a strategy that underpins this success and establishes the county as one of the best places in the UK to live, work and learn."

The Suffolk Business Board has been established following the government's decision to bring the function of Local Enterprise Partnerships into local authorities from April 2024.