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% |