Norfolk has world leading biosciences at the Norwich Research Park, a clean energy hub generating a third of the UK's clean energy through wind, gas and nuclear – and a high concentration of defence infrastructure as well as significant financial and insurance services. In Suffolk, at Martlesham Heath, Adastral Park including BT, is at the heart of the UK's digital ecosystem, and the ports and logistics capability is a major national asset. Devolution is therefore a huge opportunity to address our economic and regional skills needs

As devolution potentially brings our two counties together for the first time under a single combined authority, we can consider the skills needs of our economies in a more strategic and holistic way. The public consultation on the new Norfolk and Suffolk County Combined Authority (CCA) gives people a chance to express their hopes, aspirations and concerns about devolution. And this is just the first step of a two-part process, with local government reorganisation following closely behind. This, too, promises to be controversial with strong opinions already expressed on the number and configuration of councils.