Wanted: Three to spend £150m

How would you spend £150 million? This is the question being asked by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) in its search for three new board members.

"We are looking for people who are passionate about the region, passionate about improving its economy, and passionate about making it a better place to live, work, visit and invest in," says Richard Ellis, EEDA chairman.

The News asked this year's winners of the Business Excellence Awards how they would spend the money.

Martin Sabry, (aIDEAS), winner of the Barclays Business Excellence Award said: "Community accessibility and social inclusion are key to the region's success and vitality. Barrier-free products and environments allow use by the full public spectrum, regardless of age, physical ability or background." "EEDA support could promote this inclusion through establishment of a community resourcebase for peers and mentors, where individuals can gather support, resources or expertise to develop their ideas and personal competencies, or simply contribute to existing teams, on an ad hoc basis, as their time, interests and other commitments allow. Such an innovation-hub would fuel the technological growth of the region and devise revolutionary solutions to improving many existing products and services, as well as develop many new ones."