A new project manager has been appointed to help drive the growth of Plymouth's business community.

Elaine Budd leaves her role as project manager at the Diving Diseases Research Centre to work on a full-time basis with the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, where she will spend three days a week project-managing the Plymouth Business Growth programme.

Elaine brings varied and valuable experience to the role, with a background in commerce and public-private sector partnerships, having previously worked at the Westcountry Development Corporation and then as a founding partner of web developer Tell. That move saw her working with the Plymouth Youth Business Trust, Enterprise Plymouth and Business Link - partners with which she is engaging again in her new role as part of a new contract between Business Link and the Chamber of Commerce.

Elaine's role will include project-managing the implementation of Plymouth Business Growth by co-ordinating action teams, plans and activities, brokering appropriate private- and public-sector support for the action teams, assisting them in realising their ambitions and potential and - in the event that Plymouth is successful in obtaining LEGI (Local Economic Growth Initiative) funding - helping them develop innovative actions to raise the levels of aspiration and entrepreneurship.

Elaine said: "Plymouth is my home city and I have always felt that the city is a great place to live and work. Having spent time away from the city professionally in the last 10 years, this was further reinforced, and to have the opportunity to work for the chamber on this project is something I'm very excited about.

"There's a great deal of commitment to Plymouth Business Growth which has been evident from my initial dealings, and further evidence of the positive attitudes present in the city."

David Parlby, the chamber's chief executive, said: "I'm delighted that Elaine has joined the chamber to work as the project manager for Plymouth Business Growth.

"I believe that her wide experience of project management and her commitment to and knowledge of Plymouth will be instrumental in building upon the previous success of the programme and taking it to new heights."

Alan Courts, chairman of Plymouth Business Growth, said: "I see the chamber's new project delivery role in Plymouth Business Growth as a key initiative in the development and growth of the city. It demonstrates the ability of the public and private sectors to work in partnership for the benefit of the city and provides a highly effective model for the city going forward."