Haverhill Chamber Welcomes Government Announcement that British Chambers of Commerce will lead Local Enterprise Partnership Network

Haverhill Chamber of Commerce has welcomed news that British Chambers of Commerce, working with local business people around the country, will bring together a new, national network for local enterprise partnerships.

Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced yesterday (6 April) that the new network will help ensure that businesses are the heart and soul of local enterprise partnerships. It will provide a forum for local business leaders to share ideas, solve problems and get the latest data they need to promote economic growth across the country.

The Government wants local areas to take control of their economic future. Local enterprise partnerships are locally-owned partnerships between business and civic leaders that decide local economic priorities and drive forward growth and job creation in their local communities, helping to rebalance the national economy.

David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, has agreed to chair the new network. It will bring together a diverse range of local businesses, and will be inclusive of other business organisations, to tackle the big issues around local growth. The network will aim to encourage broad participation and private sector support within local enterprise partnerships in the months and years to come. Mr Pickles also confirmed that Government will make some grant funding available to support the network during its start-up phase.

Sarah Howard, Chairman of Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, said: “I recently met with Neville Rayner, President of the British Chambers of Commerce and Chair of Greater Cambridgeshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), to discuss our involvement with the LEP as Haverhill will be both represented by the Greater Cambridgeshire and the New Anglia LEPs.

“We are a very active Chamber of Commerce in Haverhill our members consider us as the voice of the town’s business community and it’s vital we build further links in both Cambridgeshire and the west of the county on behalf of our members.”

 Eric Pickles said yesterday: "British Chambers of Commerce came forward with a very strong proposal and with its existing business network across the country it is really well placed to anchor business at the centre of new local enterprise."

Local Chamber and Local enterprise partnerships have welcomed the new network.

Peter Funnell, President of Suffolk Chamber welcomed the appointment of David Frost and said: “The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, supported by both Suffolk and Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, will be an active partner in this work.”