Haverhill’s Sarah Howard reacts to her MBE honour

A Haverhill businesswoman has been made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) as part of the Queen’s birthday honours.

Sarah Howard, 47, was given the award for her services to the community in Haverhill.

Mrs Howard, who runs Sarand, a Haverhill based Business Software company, lives in nearby Sturmer.

Mrs Howard has given her time on a voluntary basis as Chair of Haverhill Chamber of Commerce and now as President of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to promote Suffolk as an excellent place to do business and has joined employers and young people together to reduce barriers to employment.

She said: “I feel very honoured and humbled to have been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. I think it is very important to give back to your local community and I have been privileged and fortunate to work with many wonderful people in Haverhill on projects to help the town, including ONE Haverhill, Abbeycroft Leisure and Haverhill and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce.

“It is only through people and organisations working together that we can achieve more for our town.

“For ONE Haverhill, for example, we have been able to make much progress in the last three years. I believe this award is recognition of the success of that team effort.

“However, the greatest award is watching a growing number of apprentices, steadily building confidence in the youth of Haverhill and offering great hope for the future of our town.”

As a board member and later chairman of One Haverhill, Mrs Howard secured an investment of £50,000 from JobCentre Plus to hire a Youth Skills Manager.

She has been a key influence behind a number of skills days run in local schools, bringing employers and young people together. She also Chairs Abbeycroft Leisure.