High-powered Suffolk delegation meets shadow business and trade secretary

As part of its influential and long-running Parliamentary engagement programme, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce last week organised a successful lunchtime meeting in the House of Commons between two dozen Suffolk organisations and Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

The meeting provided the perfect opportunity for the Suffolk delegation, which included representatives from Anglian Water, BT Group, Breheny, Frugalpac, Greene King, Kerr Farms, Siemens Healthineers and the University of Suffolk, to listen to the MP for Arundel and South Downs.

During his time in Government, Andrew Griffith held a number of important ministerial posts including Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Minister of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

He opened the meeting by stressing the importance of partnership between business and Government, acknowledged the hard times businesses have faced in recent years - particularly following the pandemic and in light of ongoing global tension and spoke of the importance of lifting the many ‘frictions’ that businesses face in dealing with the public sector.

The Suffolk delegation responded by asking a broad range of questions on topics as diverse as the impact of recent tax hikes on the hospitality sector, closing the skills gap, boosting international competitiveness, the need for a better HMRC- administered R&D tax credit system, planning reform, public sector procurement issues and much-needed improvements to the county’s rail and road networks.

Linda Cummings, managing director at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Manufacturing Ltd, said: “The engagement with Andrew Griffith MP was extremely valuable. It was encouraging to have him listen to the issues and challenges facing Suffolk businesses. The discussions were open and constructive, and I’m hopeful that these concerns will inform his future policy development.

“What I found particularly valuable was hearing from other members and speaking with them about their experiences. It has motivated me to make the most of this fantastic network.”

Paul Simon, head of public affairs at Suffolk Chamber added: “One of Suffolk Chamber’s many strengths is our reach into the Westminster system, allowing us to help our exemplary businesses of all sectors and sizes to meet with influential politicians and civil servants.

“The meeting with Andrew Griffith was excellent in this and other regards. We were even able to joke that the occasional confusion in some Whitehall departments between his home county of Sussex and Suffolk might be to our mutual advantages as both counties are economic powerhouses that need more investment from Government!”