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Samantha, who has been with the Growth Hub for over four years, is now heading up its operations following her promotion from senior business adviser to manager. She replaces Richard Glinn who has served as the team’s manager for over a year and retired at the beginning of March. 

Samantha brings to the role a wealth of knowledge and experience of the business community and has been an integral part of the team since joining as a business adviser in 2016.

Before joining the Hub, Samantha had a varied background, working and managing teams in the retail, education, sales and care sectors as well as being a talented local artist.

John Dugmore, Suffolk Chamber’s Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted to welcome Sam to the management team.”

“The Growth Hub has never experienced a more important time to help businesses get back on their feet again and the team have gone above and beyond in recent months to give businesses the support they need.”

“I’m confident that Sam’s experience and expertise will be key in helping them achieve further successes in the months and years to come.”

Samantha said: “It has been an incredibly challenging time over the last year, all round.”

“Businesses in our region have been amazingly resilient and it has been a real privilege to support them, whether that has been by assisting to access funding, connecting with new resources and programmes or just by being a listening ear and, where appropriate, making sure their experience through the pandemic is reported and heard by Government.”

“I am now able to use my own skills of adaptability and creativity to help the whole team to continue to deliver our broad-ranging service as our clients grow, diversify and rebuild.”

The Growth Hub, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and BEIS (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy), was set up in 2014 and is managed by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

So far, the Growth Hub has provided support to more than 10,000 businesses, including 2,000 companies and individuals who have been provided with Covid-19 related support.

Chris Starkie, Chief Executive of New Anglia LEP, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sam into her new role at New Anglia Growth Hub. Her business support experience, and knowledge of our local economy, will stand her in really good stead to deliver the advice, guidance and programmes which our firms need as they look to recover from the pandemic.”