Business is a ‘force for good’ in Suffolk, Chamber says

In the first full week of work in 2012, Leaders of Business in Suffolk have joined their national partners in a clarion call that Business is Good for Britain - and that there is the talent, energy and enterprise to lead the county’s economy out of recession.

The British Chambers of Commerce 2012 campaign theme will be ‘Business is Good for Britain’ which is emphasising the positive role that companies play in economic recovery, the growth of our communities, and in individuals’ lives.

“We believe that there is a clear need to rebuild confidence among businesses by highlighting the contribution of the UK’s private sector to our local and national well-being,” said President of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Dr Peter Funnell.

“We have the talent, the energy, and the enterprise,” he added.  “We need an environment that puts business first. Boosting growth in our businesses will boost the economy and let Suffolk and Britain lead on the national and international stage.”

At the end of 2011, Suffolk Chamber launched its own theme for 2012, Year of Health in the Workplace which will see businesses across the county being encouraged to find ways to have a healthier workforce leading to higher productivity and reductions in absence and stress.

“In the face of economic concerns, and the debt crisis in Europe, businesses across Suffolk, large and small, are busting a gut to find new markets and grow their firms,” Dr Peter Funnell added. “That is why we all have to recognise that business is a force for good. It is at the centre of the economy, and it is only business that can create recovery and deliver all the good things we want, like education, healthcare and pensions.”

Leaders of the Chamber also referred to their A14 survey, launched in the East Anglian Daily Times shortly before Christmas, as a sign of how business wants to make sure the environment is right for growth in 2012.

“Having the right infrastructure for example is vital to business,” Dr Funnell said. “The great response so far to our online survey on the A14 shows a real strength of feeling.”

“Business is the foundation of local communities, creating the wealth that helps them thrive, providing hard working people with purpose and self respect, and employment and training for those that want to learn.”

“2012 could provide the tipping point for our economy. Not just because the next year is the nadir of a crisis, but because it provides an opportunity for lasting change. It could be a new start to an exciting future, the beginning of a renaissance in our fortunes based on enterprise, wealth creation and a new world view.”