Message from EEDA

Help shape the economic future of the East of England

Being part of the EEDA Board gives you a real chance to shape the future of the region and influence the country’s financial prosperity – and you could help make those decisions.

Two new members will join the board later this year – and if you have expertise in the trade union movement or in higher education – it could be you!

The East of England covers Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, including the unitary authorities of Thurrock, Peterborough, Luton, Southend-on-Sea, Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough. It is the national innovation region and a net economic contributor to UK plc.

The board, chaired by Richard Ellis, is made up of 15 members. Around half have business backgrounds, with the remainder having expertise in trade unions, education, local government, rural issues and the voluntary sector.

Richard said:

“Board members have a wide range of skills and expertise and these are brought together to make wide-ranging decisions. These can cover decisions on sustainable development and business efficiency, through to regional investment, economic development, skills and employment.”

He said that recent board items had included building on the support for universities in recognition of their impact on local and regional economies,

“Members agreed to a three-year term of office but this can be extended to six years. Karen Livingstone, who has represented trade union interests, and Tim Wilson, our higher education member, are both coming to the end of their six-year terms and we are looking to replace them.”

Recruitment will commence in June 2009 so watch this space…..

Karen and Tim both feel that their time as board members has been a valuable experience – both for them and the region.

They share their thoughts on being board members below.

Karen Livingstone

The future prosperity of the region depends on the people and the communities within it, according to East of England Development Agency board member Karen Livingstone.

Karen, who joined the board in 2003 as a trade union representative, has seen first-hand how EEDA’s targeted support has helped individuals to improve their lives. This support has also had a positive impact on both their local communities and the regional economy.

“Being a board member means that you help make decisions which will have an impact on every level – from helping individuals gain new skills through to backing multi-million pound developments which will help the region compete in the world marketplace.

“For instance, EEDA has provided funding for Inspiring Women’s Enterprise which will help individual women across the region get the skills and confidence to get back into the workplace.

“EEDA has also provided funding for a new disability studies centre in Rochford, Essex, which will help provide training for people with disabilities, women returners and ex-service personnel. The new centre will also benefit the community as a whole by providing meeting areas for use by local groups.”

Karen added that EEDA provided a wide-ranging package of business support, to provide and maintain the jobs that people needed to be economically active.

“This support covers all levels. There is help for individuals to set up their businesses and funding for firms to research the new ideas which could provide the commercial successes of the future. EEDA then continues its support by backing the business parks and innovation hubs where these firms can compete in the world-wide marketplace.”

During a varied career, Karen has been a special advisor on health and been a director of campaigns at the Transport and General Workers’ Union.

At EEDA, she helped develop enterprise and opportunity for women and has been involved in EEDA’s Olympic activity.

Karen, who lives in Hertfordshire, said combining being a board member, with being a single parent, working at the East of England Strategic Health Authority and her other commitments, was a constant struggle.

“It’s been a challenge but it can be done with a lot of diary management and by being very clear about what I can realistically take on. I have shown that you can combine being an effective board member with other commitments, and the experience has been very rewarding.

“The board members have different backgrounds and different views. But we all have the same goal of improving the regional economy and we work well together to strive to achieve this.

And Karen’s advice to her replacement?

“Don’t be scared to ask awkward questions. Many of the board members have business backgrounds, and as the union representative, you have a real opportunity to stand up for individuals and communities. All the board members are experts within their fields but no-one has all the answers. Board decisions are a team effort and your opinions are an important part of that decision-making process.”

Tim Wilson

Education and training are vital to creating the vibrant communities of the future, according to Professor Tim Wilson of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

During his five years as a board Member, Tim has seen first-hand how EEDA has played a vital part in supporting training, business and communities.

Tim is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hertfordshire but started his career in heavy industry and is a champion of business-facing universities.

“During my time on the board, I’ve been able to see how EEDA has supported existing world-class centres of education and research in the region, as well as helping newer centres to develop.

“EEDA has helped fund the creation of the University College of Suffolk and is helping the University of Essex expand into Southend. These schemes not only provide learning opportunities but will help the local economy by regenerating urban areas and creating commercial opportunities.

“Funding from EEDA has also helped new training centres in specialised skills such as dance in Ipswich, construction at Wayland in Norfolk and green, accessible building design in Rochford.

“EEDA recognises the importance of education, skills and training, at all levels, as a key to future prosperity. The new centres will help the region to improve its skills levels. At the moment we have below national average levels in both high level skills and  low level skills, such as NVQ2s and below,

Tim said that EEDA also helped create the innovation centres where ideas could flourish and then provide the business support to turn these ideas into commercial reality.

“Projects like InCrops are working to improve the links between research and business, which help turn ideas into commercial reality. With EEDA’s help in linking the scientists with business experts, more new companies have been created.

“EEDA also has a range of business support which can help such as Research and Development grants and the Proof of Concept Fund to test potential markets for products.”

Tim believes strongly that by creating clusters of expertise, knowledge can be shared creating commercial success.

“Modern businesses depend on knowledge generation and exchange, which all depends on people. The flow of ideas, collaboration, innovation and new thinking benefit from the cluster effect of people and businesses getting together.

“Examples of this include the pharmaceutical and creative media companies in Hertfordshire, the bio-science clusters in Cambridge and the environmental expertise around Peterborough.”

Tim said that EEDA was backing the Colworth Science Park development in Bedfordshire which will be the home to a knowledge hub and innovation centre, with companies like Unilever working with Cranfield and Cambridge Universities.

Tim’s term ends in December and he believes that his replacement needs to have educational expertise and, essentially, an open mind.

“The board is made up of people who are experts across a range of areas, for instance, members who are experts in education, trade union matters, local government and business. Listening to the opinions of professionals in other fields and respecting their expertise is a vital part of being a board member.”

“But your input into the board can help make a real difference to projects across the East of England and that’s something I’m immensely proud to have been involved in.”