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
Welcome to the latest edition of the Suffolk Economy newsletter – your inside track on investment, innovation, and growth opportunities across the county.
If you want to know what opportunity looks like in Suffolk right now, look no further than inward investment.
From showcasing our county at the UK’s biggest investment and infrastructure event to launching new skills funding and sector innovations, Suffolk is proving it’s ready for big ideas — and bold partnerships. We’re not waiting for change; we’re building it.
Whether you’re a start-up founder, an industry veteran, an investor with a vision, or someone who simply wants to see Suffolk thrive, this is your moment to get involved. The Local Growth Plan gives us the blueprint. Now we need the ambition to match.
Let’s build the future of Suffolk — and let’s make it investable.
📧 Contact the Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited team or email info@norfolksuffolkunlimited.co.uk
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We know you’re busy – so here’s your fast-track briefing on what’s making waves across Suffolk right now:
We took our boldest investment message yet to the UK’s premier property and infrastructure forum. From the “Invest Suffolk” stand to the Opportunity East launch, we showed national investors that Suffolk’s ready for business – and they listened.
Suffolk is proud to host the UK’s leading AI awards once again — and this year’s event at Adastral Park promises to be even bigger.
👉 Know a business using AI in a brilliant way? Nominate them before the deadline.
With funding from the UK Space Agency and over 270 businesses engaged, Suffolk’s space-tech cluster is lifting off — and putting the region on the national map.
Fresh investment into Sizewell C workforce training and skills bootcamps is helping Suffolk residents develop the skills that tomorrow’s economy needs.
Suffolk didn’t just show up at UKREiiF 2025 – we turned heads.
This year’s event marked our most coordinated pitch to national and international investors yet. Leading the charge was the Norfolk & Suffolk Unlimited (NSU) team, who worked closely with local authorities and business leaders to deliver a comprehensive regional showcase. From the “Invest Suffolk” stand to strategic discussions across the exhibition floor, NSU played a vital role in telling the Suffolk story – and in making sure it landed with the right people.
The Suffolk Business Board was front and centre throughout. Chair Mark Pendlington expertly led a well-attended NSU-hosted event titled “Fuelling the World through Innovation, Productivity, Growth, and Investment”, which brought together investors, national partners, and some of the region’s most dynamic enterprises. Business Board member Oliver Paul (co-founder, Suffolk Food Hall) and business leaders from Bosch and Gateway 14 shared the stage, offering direct insight into why Suffolk is such a compelling place to invest. Opening and closing remarks were delivered by Cllr Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council.
Another highlight was the launch of Opportunity East – a new investment prospectus for the region. With opportunities over £100 million featured, including the redevelopment of Portman Road in Ipswich, this new offer is designed to attract major backing into sectors like clean energy, life sciences, digital, and advanced manufacturing.
Eastern Promise supported the event throughout, capturing live insight, interviews and behind-the-scenes commentary from across the Suffolk delegation. Their podcast series from UKREiiF shines a light on the people, projects and passion driving Suffolk’s investment story – helping us tell it well beyond the exhibition floor. Check out podcast episode 131 & episode 132.
Suffolk’s message was clear: we have the talent, ambition, and sites to turn big plans into lasting value – and we’re open for business.
🔗 Explore current investment opportunities at Invest Suffolk, Contact our team or email info@norfolksuffolkunlimited.co.uk
📎 Learn more about the Local Growth Plan
No investment pays off like investing in people.
Suffolk is making serious moves to build the talent pipeline that will power our economy for years to come. Whether it’s training for tomorrow’s engineers or fast-tracking digital skills, we’re backing our people to succeed – and making sure no one gets left behind.
Let’s start with Sizewell C. This once-in-a-generation energy project isn’t just about clean power – It’s about jobs, training and a legacy of skilled workers. Through the £7.8m Asset Skills Enhancement Capability (ASEC) Fund, we’re investing directly into Suffolk’s workforce, preparing thousands of people for roles in construction, engineering, and infrastructure delivery. We’re not just filling jobs – we’re building careers.
And we’re reaching the people who need it most. The Employment Outreach and Bursary Funds are designed to break down barriers and open doors – helping underrepresented groups find their place in Suffolk’s economy, today and tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Norfolk and Suffolk Skills Bootcamps are already making an impact. With over 1,400 places across 14 high-demand sectors – from digital to early years, construction to health care – these bootcamps offer flexible, employer-led training that actually fits people’s lives.
For businesses, it’s a smart way to upskill staff or recruit new talent with the latest industry know-how. For learners, it’s a fast track to better opportunities – complete with tailored support and guaranteed interviews.
And with contributions as low as 10% for SMEs, it’s a win-win.
📎 Learn more about the Skills Bootcamps
📧 Contact skillsbootcamp@suffolk.gov.uk for more information
We don’t just look to the skies in Suffolk – we’re helping shape what happens up there.
Over the past two years, Space East has quietly grown into one of the UK’s most exciting space sector clusters – and it’s headquartered right here. Backed by the UK Space Agency and fuelled by partnerships across six counties, it’s turning bold ideas into business reality.
The East of England is already the UK’s third-largest space region, generating £1.5 billion in revenue – and Space East is the engine driving that growth. With over 270 organisations involved and £4 million invested in just seven projects, this isn’t hype – it’s momentum.
Hosted by Suffolk County Council and working hand-in-hand with partners like the Satellite Applications Catapult and European Space Agency, Space East connects innovators, researchers and investors to the people and infrastructure that make progress possible.
What makes this cluster stand out? It’s not just about satellites or rockets – it’s about convergence. Agri-tech, marine science, AI, and clean energy are all being transformed through space-based technology.
From Freeport East to the Quantum Optical Discovery Lab and Adastral Park, Suffolk’s assets are giving the space sector room to grow — and reasons to stay.
Space East is scaling up. That means more commercial support, stronger global connections, and more chances for Suffolk businesses to benefit from the £18.2 billion UK space economy.
📎 Discover what Space East can do for your business
📧 Contact Cluster Manager Stuart Catchpole at stuart@spaceeast.co.uk
Artificial intelligence isn’t on the way – it’s already here. And Suffolk’s ready to lead.
From data science to automation, digital innovation is reshaping the way we live and work – and Suffolk is stepping up with real momentum and national attention.
Once again, Suffolk is hosting the UK’s flagship AI celebration – and this year’s National AI Awards will return to Adastral Park on 16 October.
There’s no better platform to shine a light on the businesses, products, and people shaping the future through AI – and we want to see Suffolk front and centre.
With over 20 categories, from ethical innovation to game-changing start-ups, now’s the time to get your nominations in.
👉 Nominate now — entries close 20 June
Also in the pipeline:
From enterprise AI tools to grassroots innovation, Suffolk’s digital ecosystem is growing fast – and the AI Awards are just the beginning.
📣 Help us show what Suffolk can do – nominate today and join the celebration this October.
There’s plenty happening in Suffolk this year – and it’s all about showcasing the talent, ideas, and opportunities shaping our economy.
It’s Happening Now
It’s Coming
Suffolk isn’t waiting for opportunity – we’re creating it.
Across every corner of our county, businesses are scaling, skills are growing, and big ideas are turning into real-world investment. From boardrooms to bootcamps, we’re seeing the Local Growth Plan come to life – and it’s just the beginning.
What stands out most? The energy. The belief. The willingness to get behind something bigger. That’s the Suffolk difference – and that’s what will keep driving us forward.
So, whether you’re a founder, a funder, a policymaker, or just someone who wants to see this region thrive – thank you for being part of it.
Let’s keep building. Let’s keep believing. And let’s keep showing the world what Suffolk can do.
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WHERE BIG
IDEAS HAPPEN.
