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About Suffolk Chamber of Commerce in Central Suffolk

Suffolk Chamber in Central Suffolk, part of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, hosts a wide range of innovative and enterprising businesses, with development opportunities that will create further jobs, opportunities and trade for the future. We provide the tools to ensure our members can operate more effectively and productively, secure in the knowledge that they have an active, supportive and well-respected organisation behind them.

As a grassroots organisation, it both contributes to campaigns that benefit the whole of the county’s business community and also seeks to deliver improvements that are specific to our area.

Mid Suffolk & Babergh make up the central belt of Suffolk, a key location for much of the economic activity within the county. As a largely rural area, the two districts host a wealth of agricultural businesses including a growing and hugely successful food and drink sector. Logistics is also vital for the area and the new Gateway14 site will benefit from the tax and custom benefits of Freeport East. Additional industries including manufacturing, engineering, as well as professional and financial services, retail, and a growing hospitality and tourism sector thanks to the presence of traditional market towns and leisure facilities. With a combined population of 197,600, and an eligible workforce of 97,100, unemployment sits around 3.4% which is below the East of England average of 4%.

Enterprises

Babergh

% share

Mid Suffolk

% share

Micro (0 – 9)

3,725

89.5%

4,525

90.0%

Small (10 – 49)

370

8.9%

410

8.2%

Medium (50 – 249)

55

1.3%

80

1.6%

Large (250+)

10

0.2%

15

0.3%

People

Babergh

% share

Mid Suffolk

% share

Economically active

41,500

72.8%

45,200

70.6%

In employment

38,800

67.5%

45,200

70.6%

Employees

30,000

52.7%

36,300

57.9%

Self employed

8,700

14.8%

9,000

12.7%

Unemployed

1,400

3.5%

1,500

3.2%

Source: Labour Market Profile - Babergh (ONS), Labour Market Profile - Mid Suffolk (ONS)

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