The Suffolk Business Board was established in May 2024 following the integration of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership functions into Suffolk County Council. It comprises representatives from business, education, the voluntary sector and local government.
Business Board members:
Chair: Mark Pendlington
Deputy Chair: Cllr Matthew Hicks, Suffolk County Council
Doug Field, East of England Co-Op
Oliver Paul, Suffolk Food Hall
Lisa Perkins, Tech East
Peter Brady, Orbital Global
Kelly Boosey, Oxford Innovation
Leanne Gittins, LME Recruitment
John Dugmore, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
Tom Ball, Ipswich Town Football Club
Hannah Bloom, Suffolk Community Foundation
Paul Ager, Associated British Ports
Marek Hornak, University of Suffolk
Nikos Savvas, Eastern Education Group
Cllr Richard Smith MVO, Suffolk County Council
Cllr Andy Mellen, Mid Suffolk District Council
Cllr Neil MacDonald, Ipswich Borough Council
As CEO of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, John Dugmore has his ear firmly on the ground to hear what local businesses need from Suffolk’s economy. We spoke to him about the current issues affecting business, and what he sees for Suffolk’s future.
How would you sum up your role and experience in a couple of sentences?
I am one part of an immensely talented, dedicated and hardworking team of Suffolk Chamber staff who are delivering vital positive services and outcomes for businesses of all sizes and sectors in our county. This is by far the best role of my career.
What motivated you to join the Suffolk Business Board?
Suffolk Chamber is by far the largest and most active business body in the county. We felt that it was essential that all of the private sector had a voice on the Suffolk Business Board. And that’s what we provide.
What are local businesses talking about most right now?
Over-taxation (and the wrong type of taxation). The need for the Suffolk system to work in an even more coordinated way to deliver much need infrastructure improvements. The unfair outcomes of many aspects of the public sector’s procurement cultures and systems that undermine our circular economy ambitions and the growth opportunities for SMEs in particular. The importance of having a Norfolk and Suffolk mayor and not being left behind once again.
What’s been the most memorable moment of your career so far?
Becoming chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber and bringing my family to the county.
What excites you most about Suffolk’s future?
Suffolk has all the basics in place: an entrepreneurial spirit, a diverse business base with particular strengths in nationally vital sectors such a renewables, ports & logistics and defence, a hardworking workforce, the benefits of geography and so international trade. What we now need, is join all these dots, so we secure fairer funding by central, regional and local administrations in terms of better infrastructure, a surer skills pipeline and a single Suffolk voice that supports Suffolk Chamber in advocating for businesses.
What makes Suffolk businesses different from those in other parts of the country?
The widespread commitment of businesses to positive civic outcomes. Suffolk business leaders are usually also community leaders, supporting so many local initiatives and good causes.
Find out more about all our Suffolk Economy board members here.
WHERE BIG
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