Our History
Suffolk’s business community has been served by an active Chamber of Commerce since 1884 when, a group of local business men decided they needed a voice. They registered a company and it is now one of the oldest companies in the UK with registered number 20194.
Through the years, the Chamber has been responding to the changing needs of its members, never more so than now as the speed of change in the business community increases.
Chambers of Commerce started in Marseille in 1599 with the first British Chamber in Jersey in 1768. The history of Chambers of Commerce around the world has been based on the need for the Business Voice to be heard loud, clear and authoritatively.
1860 saw the formation of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce and in 1991 developed a UK strategy resulting in an Approved Network of British Chambers of Commerce in February 1997.
Suffolk Chamber was one of the first to achieve this recognition and is now a very professional business organisation with ISO 9001:2000 and Investors in People recognition.
Over the years, Suffolk Chamber has been the independent voice of business. The Chamber is largely funded by voluntary membership subscriptions and is owned, driven and governed by its members.
Suffolk Chamber is proud of its historical roots in the County’s Commerce, Industry and Shipping and this is reflected in its full company name "Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Shipping Incorporated".