Think Big,
Grow Bigger
Explore the support, grants and programmes that help Suffolk businesses innovate, grow and create jobs.
LET’S MAKE YOUR BIG IDEAS HAPPEN.
Powering the UK, Feeding the UK, Connecting the UK
Suffolk Economy brings together businesses, investors and partners to drive sustainable economic growth across our county.
Growing Suffolk’s Economy
Our vision is to secure Suffolk at the forefront of UK innovation and industry, becoming an epicentre of technology convergence, skilled jobs and robust economic growth.
By strong collaboration between business, local government and sector leaders, we are focused on accelerating growth, attracting investment and creating opportunities that benefit Suffolk people and businesses.
Suffolk Economy provides the infrastructure, insight, support and connections to help you scale – locally and internationally.
What We Do
- Championing Suffolk at a regional and national level
- Supporting businesses to start, scale and innovate
- Attracting investment into key growth locations
- Connecting employers, skills providers and communities
How We Work
Suffolk Economy is led by the Suffolk Business Board, working with councils, education providers and industry to align investment, skills and business support.
OUR FOCUS IS ON
- Delivering the Suffolk Economic Strategy
- Coordinating business support and growth programmes
- Strengthening Suffolk’s investment proposition
- Amplifying the county’s economic strengths
Stay Up to Date
Sign up for insights, announcements and case studies from across Suffolk’s economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is Suffolk Economy?
Suffolk Economy leads the delivery of the Suffolk Economic Strategy (Local Growth Plan). We coordinate business support, investment activity, skills development and strategic programmes designed to strengthen the county’s economic performance.
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Who are the Suffolk Business Board?
The Suffolk Business Board is a partnership of leaders from business, education, the public sector and the VCSE community. It is responsible for shaping and driving Suffolk’s economic strategy, informing investment decisions, championing business priorities, and providing strategic leadership.
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What are Suffolk’s key strengths and priority sectors?
Suffolk’s economy is driven by strong, high‑growth sectors including:
- Agri‑food & Drinks
- Clean Energy
- Ports & Logistics
- Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering
These sectors are central to our strategic goals, contributing to productivity, job creation, innovation and clean growth.
Suffolk’s sectors are strengthened by tech convergence: the integration of digital, AI, robotics, satellite and clean‑tech capabilities into traditional industries.
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How can I learn more about Suffolk’s economic strategy?
In 2025, we published our Economic Strategy, which sets out the county’s long‑term priorities, missions and investment areas. The strategy provides a blueprint for economic decision‑making, infrastructure planning, skills development and sector‑focused growth.
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What resources are available for Suffolk businesses?
Suffolk businesses can tap into a range of support programmes and grants to help drive growth and innovation. These include access to funding streams, expert advice, and connections to regional partners who can support expansion, skills development and operational improvement.
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What are the advantages and opportunities for investing in Suffolk?
Suffolk offers a strong, future‑ready proposition for investors. The county is home to thriving businesses across key sectors including agri‑food, clean energy, logistics, digital technology and advanced manufacturing. Investors benefit from a supportive economic strategy, well‑connected growth locations and future opportunities.
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What support can I get for skills development or workforce training?
Suffolk Economy works with employers, skills providers and partners to strengthen the county’s training and workforce development offer. Through programmes such as the Skills Hub and Skills Deal initiatives, businesses can access new and improved courses, help shape sector‑specific training, and collaborate on tackling shared skills challenges.
Latest News
Want to know more about our new Chair of the Suffolk Business Board, Lisa Perkins?
We sat down with Lisa for a quick 60-second Q&A to hear about her career journey, her ambitions for Suffolk, and the opportunities she believes can drive growth across the county.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐦 𝐮𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬?
I joined BT as a graduate and enjoyed a 25y+ career in a variety of technology driven roles, culminating in driving research and innovation around an effective ecosystem to promote new solutions to big challenges. I continue that quest today at an expert innovation company, Plexal, who drive mission led innovation and consequential growth.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤’𝐬 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰?
Well, I would say this wouldn’t I! I think the biggest opportunity is to double down on our core strengths of energy, shipping & logistics and agrifood and to create innovation clusters that bring together academia, industry and entrepreneurs to apply digital technologies to realise new solutions and to promote growth for companies, to attract and retain talent for high value jobs and to solve societal challenges.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝?
I hope to deliver. I would like to turn our strategy and our ambitions into reality. I have a great board with huge expertise and passion and between us we can work in collaboration with the key stakeholders in the region to choose the best interventions for change.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲?
I would like to see everyone getting behind Suffolk, our strategy and our strengths and to shine the brightest spotlight on everything that we achieve. I would like to see people on the rooftops shouting about all that Suffolk has to offer!
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤?
There is so much to choose from! Place, People and Possibilities. But Paddleboarding down the river Deben is up there!
We’ll be sharing more 60 second interviews with our Business Board over the coming weeks – and you can learn more about all of them here.