Growing the economy is a key plank of Labour Government policy. Locally, the new Suffolk Business Board (SBB) will be taking a leading role in growing the local economy. 

SBB is the successor to the LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) which covered both Suffolk and Norfolk.  

Ipswich benefited from grants and loans, provided through the LEP, of at least £16.6 million. Key projects that were helped include: Ipswich Flood Defence Scheme, Winerack, Malthouse, St Stephens church, New Wolsey Theatre and, through enterprise zones, some companies have been able to expand and develop including Birketts, Connexions, La Doria and Amazon.

The LEP worked closely with Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) to bring the Eastern Gateway site (former sugar beet factory) on Sproughton Road to fruition.

The acquisition marked a significant investment for the council and was undertaken due to the potential of the site to make a major contribution towards economic growth within the town and wider area, and to provide significant employment opportunities.

I am pleased to say that IBC is about to sell the last site and I believe around 1,000 jobs in total will have been created.

It's important the SBB continues benefitting Ipswich businesses like the LEP did.

I am delighted to be on the board, representing the county town, and will ensure that support for businesses in the town continues.

The SBB is currently forming its strategy, with the aim of presenting this to central government, along with a request for funding.

As part of strategy building, the board has been out meeting businesses across the county.

Five events were held with just under 300 people attending, from across business, academic and public and voluntary sectors.

I was pleased to be involved with a couple of these events, in Haverhill and Ipswich.

The Haverhill event had around 20 people. I was interested to hear that manufacturing was alive and well in the west of the county.

It seems infrastructure like mobile phones, internet and transportation need work. Apparently, the biggest employer in Haverhill is Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge!

That event was in the Epicentre, which I was interested to see around.  The upper floors are office space and businesses can rent a desk or a room or multiple rooms.  

On the ground floor businesses can rent a laboratory room or even just one bench. Yes, scientists in white coats with test tubes and scientific apparatus.

The event in Ipswich had over 100 people. Again, I was sat next to someone who owned a manufacturing business.

It’s not all high tech and green energy around here! You won’t be surprised to hear that the Orwell Bridge was discussed.  

There was discussion about attracting skilled people to Suffolk which needs a better quality of housing and social offer for incomers.

The workshops were interesting and have influenced the SBB strategy. There will be stronger links with energy, Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering (AME) and micro businesses, as a result.

Growth is the Labour Government’s number one mission. The aim is to create jobs that pay enough to raise a family on, put real money in the pockets of working people and wealth in all our communities.

It’s good to hear the government’s commitment to investment, in partnership with the private sector to forge ahead in the industries of the future and have a modern industrial strategy that will make Britain competitive on the global stage.

The SBB strategy will be published shortly and it will set out how the board will take Suffolk businesses forward.

Playing our part in creating good jobs and productivity growth making everyone, not just a few, better off.