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The man who oversaw the enterprise agency project to convert a Haverhill factory into a business and training centre is to retire at the end of this month.

The board of the Mid Anglian Enterprise Agency Menta has announced the retirement of its chief executive, John Riley, with effect from March 31. He will be retiring early to have time to pursue other interests.

Last year Menta joined forces with St Edmundsbury Borough Council to provide a £100,000 new business and training centre and supported offices in the former Miller Graphics premises in Hollands Road.

Mr Riley said at the opening of the centre they were very proud of this 'very special project', achieved with the help of money from the East of England Development Agency (the now-doomed EEDA), and Suffolk County Council.

Chair of the Menta board Jane Vincent said: “We all thank John for his hard work and efforts over the last four years since he joined us and wish him well for the future."

Mr Riley said: “It has been an interesting and enjoyable four years at MENTA and during this time the profile and work of the organisation has increased throughout not only the county of Suffolk but the whole Eastern Region.

"I have worked closely with a superb team and I wish them all the best for the future and for the future of MENTA.”

MENTA provides enterprise support services to those starting their own businesses and over the last 12 months has helped 889 individuals with impartial advice, more than 1,500 delegates have attended workshops and 207 new businesses have started with the help of MENTA.

In addition, MENTA runs three multi-tenure workspace units in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill providing 57 units in total for start-up and small businesses.

Over the last four years MENTA has become the 'Suffolk Enterprise Agency' winning accolades for its work in the enterprise sector.

The funding for MENTA comes from a variety of sources and will become a continuing challenge for 2011-2012 due to the spending cuts of central and local government under the Comprehensive Spending Review.