Chamber branch unveils new campaign to make area more attractive for growing businesses

Some of the Suffolk Chamber in Central Suffolk board, pictured, left to right, Phil Clark, Kirsten Alderson, Nigel Slinn, Charles Downie, Marlini Finney and Dr Peter Funnell. Photo: Suffolk Chamber.

The branch of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, covering the Babergh and Mid Suffolk districts, has unveiled its new campaign priorities to make the area even more attractive for growing businesses.

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce in Central Suffolk was set up two years ago as part of a wider restructuring of Suffolk Chamber’s local place boards.

In that time, chaired by Dr Peter Funnell, it has worked closely with key stakeholders, including the two district councils, to improve the influence of business in shaping and supporting key initiatives.

These include the potential employment and skills centre at Gateway 14, near Stowmarket, new forums set up in a number of market towns, active backing for the recent Kickstart scheme and advice and support to SMEs looking to go Net Zero.

The new campaign priorities look to build on these early successes by identifying the issues which Suffolk Chamber in Central Suffolk can best inform and influence.

These include place specific priorities such as contributing business input into strategic planning and economic development strategies, local initiatives to address the climate emergency and helping to boost the attractiveness of the area for those working and living in it and the visitor economy.

These sit alongside campaign aims under the Chamber’s main headings of infrastructure, people and trade.

The new campaign priorities were launched at a recent meeting of the Suffolk Chamber in Central Suffolk board held in Hadleigh and hosted by board member and leading global cleaning products manufacturer, Challs International.

Commenting on the launch, Dr Funnell said: “Suffolk Chamber in Central Suffolk is at the forefront of a new wave of campaigning priorities that will be rolled out across the Suffolk Chamber network over the following months.

“During our start-up phase we have developed new approaches and ways of working with our members, stakeholders and the wider business communities.

“The area covered by Central Suffolk is full of diverse and energetic businesses and our new campaign priorities reflect their views and aspirations for the future.”

Suffolk Chamber in Central Suffolk’s campaign priorities document is available here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *