The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership takes the next step forward tomorrow - Friday - week with stakeholders from both private and public sectors gathering for an event in Norwich.

Andy Wood and Peter Barry, joint chairmen of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Development Group, have been leading the development of the New Anglia LEP which was given the go-ahead by government at the end of 2010.

Tomorrow they are hosting a briefing and workshop at the University of East Anglia for founders and supporters of New Anglia.

'The New Anglia LEP, as the future of economic development and investment in Norfolk and Suffolk is passionate about listening to business, the key to our future success.' said Mr Wood, chief executive of Adnams, based in Southwold.

'This Friday's workshop and breakfast 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.'

Peter 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.'

The event, expected to see over 70 attendees, comes in the same week as the New Anglia LEP releases the first statistics on its web-based portal consultation site on which any individual, group or business can put forward and explain their priorities for the economic future of the region.

The portal, which can be found at www.newanglia.co.uk, went live at the end of 2010 and has already had over 200 submissions from across Norfolk and Suffolk.