The Berkshire Business Board (BBB), made up of senior representatives working in business across the region, met at Slough & Langley College recently to discuss a range of initiatives including devolution, learning and skills and employment which can assist with growth across Berkshire.
Under the guidance of the new chair, Penny Rinta-Suksi, the BBB received an update from Saba Tahzib, director of devolution and growth for Berkshire.
Penny Rinta-Suksi, commercial partner at Blake Morgan LLP in Reading, said: “I am really pleased to be involved with the BBB as I believe that as a long-term resident in the Thames Valley and business owner in Reading and Oxford, I believe passionately in the business environment in the region and its continued success both now and for our families in the future.”
The BBB will work closely with the Berkshire Prosperity Board, which represents the Leaders of the six unitary authorities in Berkshire, to support growth across the region through the development and delivery of a Growth Plan.
The next meeting is due to be held in December and will be hosted at Newbury Racecourse.
Economic growth and how businesses can play their part will be discussed at the BerksProp Summit on 5 November at Reading Town Hall as part of the UKPF programme of events in Berkshire.
The Berkshire Prosperity Board aims to drive and deliver economic prosperity across Berkshire with the aim of securing more funding, creating more jobs and enabling more affordable housing for residents.
Berkshire has played a hugely significant role in driving the UK economy in recent decades, with great connectivity, and being considered by many to be home to the UK’s Silicon Valley, also containing many innovative and international businesses, with a highly skilled workforce.
The group believes working together on shared challenges and opportunities provides a more powerful voice than each Council would have individually, helping to effectively engage Government, secure more funding from both public and private investors, and to be an attractive location for inward investment.
If interested more details can be found once the BBB website launches on 30 September.
BerksProp Summit
Following this meeting, UKPF will launch next week 2026’s edition of the BerksProp Summit, set to take place on 5 Nov at Reading Town Hall, where many of the topics raised by the BBB will be discussed.
Members
The Berkshire Business Board consists of:
Penny Rinta- Suksi, commercial partner, Blake Morgan LLP– chair
Matthew Battle, managing director, UK Property Forums– vice chair
Gregor Murray, chief “so what” officer, Digital Commerce Global– vice chair
Anna Bond, head of Western Corridor, SEGRO
Paul Britton, chief executive, Thames Valley Chambers of Commerce
Cllr Jeff Brooks, leader, West Berkshire Council
Phil Brown, head of Reading Office, Savills
Karen Griffiths, acting group deputy principal, Windsor Forest Colleges Group
Shaun Hinds, chief executive, Newbury Racecourse
Joseph Homes, chief executive, West Berkshire Council
Tracy Jaques, director of global communications, Shadowbox Studios Shinfield
Tracey Jenkins, head of strategy and growth -UK public sector, VodafoneThree
Bryan Lyttle, estate planning & development lead, AWE
Robert Mansfield, chief technical officer, Redwood Technologies Group, Content Guru
Nicola Penfound, head of supply chain, Bayer
Jim Reay, global head of health and safety, Syngenta
James Tyler, managing director, Equinix
Robert Van de Noort, vice chancellor, University of Reading
Alison Webster, chief executive, The Skills and Business Hub
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