West Suffolk Forum

West Suffolk Forum met at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket and appropriately given the location, the theme of the meeting was the visitor economy. A number of great speakers spoke with knowledge and enthusiasm about how the visitor economy is successfully adapting to the changing interests of visitors.

Tracey Harding of the National Horseracing Museum explained that the museum was a national asset that has an amazing archive that documents in the history of horseracing. However, Tracey also explained that the museum also caters for contemporary interests with additions such as an escape room. Also, These additions provide very welcome commercial income to supplement grants and donations.

Pete Waters of Visit East of England spoke about how traditionally there were many different destination management organisations across Norfolk and Suffolk, with each one focusing on promoting only a small part of the counties. Pete said that the aftermath of the pandemic brought about change with everyone realising that they needed to work together to promote Norfolk and Suffolk and build up visitor numbers again. Visit East of England is now not only helping to bring more overseas visitors to Norfolk and Suffolk but it has also raised the profile of Norfolk and Suffolk visitor economy with government.

Natalie Robinson of (Love Newmarket, Newmarket's Business Improvement District) referred to the increasing number of great places to eat in Newmarket and how Love Newmarket was using the move to spending more on eating and drinking out to encourage visitors to spend more time in Newmarket.

Andrew Wheeler of West Suffolk College talked about the need for businesses to create value by offering exceptional customer service. Andrew also stressed that visual communication as well as verbal communication was a key element of exceptional customer service.

Steve Elsom, Director Number 4 Consulting and chair of Suffolk Chamber in West Suffolk commented 'Our meeting highlighted how important the visitor economy is to West Suffolk and it was good to know that there some great people working in the sector, who are making sure that the visitor economy is adapting to changing times. Also, as with all our forum meetings, the meeting provided Chamber members with a great opportunity to network and make new business connections over breakfast.’

Suffolk Chamber's West Suffolk Forum met at the Rougham Estate on 26th March. Given the location, the focus of the meeting was the rural economy. 

George Agnew, partner and owner of Rougham Estate spoke about how the estate had needed to diversify over the years. The estate is now a great place to enjoy time out in the countryside. Spencer Claydon, Commercial Director of Claydon talked about the family farming and engineering business; referring to not just the challenges that farming businesses face but also the challenges that all family businesses face due not least, to changes in employers' national insurance contributions and inheritance tax.

John Greenwood of the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre pointed out that being rural doesn't protect a business from cyber crooks and spoke about some simple and straight forward steps that all businesses can take to protect themselves from cyber crime.

Steve Elsom, Director, Number 4 Consulting and Chair of the West Suffolk Forum commented 'The rural economy is very important in West Suffolk and it was clear that people like George and Spencer are entrepreneurs. However, they and many other Suffolk businesses are facing some strong head winds due particularly to the tax and national insurance changes. Suffolk Chamber will continue to make sure that the government and all Suffolk MPs are aware of the concerns of Suffolk businesses. The Chamber will also continue to help businesses tackle other issues that they face, such as cyber crime'.

The Suffolk Chamber in West Suffolk forum met at Treatt in Bury St Edmunds to find out more about the business benefits of corporate social responsibility and in particular the value of working towards net zero.

Chole Ludkin of Treatt talked about the business and staff benefits of corporate social responsibility. Graham Denny and Nick Theobald of Denny Brothers explained how the company's mission to achieve net zero by 2030 has resulted in reduced costs, good publicity and a boost in staff morale, as well as a reduction in emissions. Hannah Dersley of Groundwork East and Councillor Indy Wijenayaka and Andy Oswald of West Suffolk Council talked about the advice and funding that is available to help West Suffolk businesses work towards net zero.

After there was a tour of Treatt's new premises on the Suffolk Business Park, allowing members to learn more about how Treatt produce exceptional natural extracts and ingredients for food and drink companies across the globe. 

Ian White, chief executive of Becketts and chair of the meeting said 'It was great to meet at one of West Suffolk's leading businesses to understand more about how and why there is a strong business commitment to sustainability and working towards net zero. It was also good to hear that West Suffolk Council and Groundwork East are providing advice and funding to help businesses to reduce costs as well as emissions'.

West Suffolk businesses discuss innovation connections

Suffolk Chamber's West Suffolk Forum met on 26th June at the EpiCentre in Haverhill to discuss how businesses can take advantage of West Suffolk's innovation connections.

Julian Munson of Suffolk County Council talked about Suffolk's many innovation initiatives and the grants available to support business innovation. Steven Wilson of Freeport East explained that whilst the Freeport East project is focused on Felixstowe and Harwich, it is benefitting businesses across Suffolk. Dan Thorp of Cambridge Ahead briefed the meeting on the Cambridge innovation eco-system and discussed how West Suffolk could build its knowledge economy and become more closely connected with the Cambridge innovation eco-system. Julie Baird of West Suffolk Council gave an overview of how the council supports business innovation.

Steve Elsom, Chair of Suffolk Chamber's West Suffolk Forum commented 'The meeting identified some things we can do in the short term, to encourage even more business innovation in West Suffolk. In particular we need to encourage more knowledge sharing between businesses in West Suffolk and between businesses in West Suffolk and Cambridge. Suffolk and Cambridgeshire chambers of commerce working through the Chambers East initiative, Cambridge Ahead and West Suffolk Council could help to do this'.

Wednesday 24 April 2024 - Claas UK Ltd, Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk Chamber member CLAAS UK hosts skills discussion

Suffolk Chamber member CLAAS is the European market leader in combine harvesters and world leader in forage harvesters. It is also a top performer in worldwide agricultural engineering with its tractors, agricultural balers and green harvesting machinery. It runs its own apprenticeship programme for its dealers across Britain and Ireland.

West Suffolk Chamber members learnt more about the CLAAS apprenticeship programme and toured the training facility which includes a TV studio. Members of course, had a chance for a close up look at some very impressive farm  machinery and found out CLAAS speedily delivers spare parts to farmers in busy times like harvest.

Phil Stittle of West Suffolk College also updated members on how its XR lab is opening up new ways of learning and Emma Taylor of Suffolk New College explained how the Chamber led Norfolk and Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan has resulted in a successful bid for £4.7 million of funding to meet the skills needs of employers across the region.

Steve Elsom, Director of Number 4 Consulting and chair of Suffolk Chamber in West Suffolk said 'It was great to visit CLAAS. I'm pleased that Chamber members in West Suffolk are strongly behind the skills agenda and that our local colleges are supporting and signposting them, so as to make the training programmes more accessible and relevant to the needs of the businesses’. 

Monday 4 September 2023 - EpiCentre, Haverhill

Steve Elsom of Number4 Consulting and the Chair of Suffolk Chamber in West Suffolk welcomed Chamber members and guests to the breakfast forum meeting at the EpiCentre in Haverhill.

Councillor Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council explained to Chamber members that the new council administration has a clear vision for stable and sustainable growth bringing prosperity to our community.  West Suffolk geographically has a unique position as part of the Cambridge sub-region and a vital gateway to the East.  Cliff stressed that we must all work together to leverage our influence to lobby government for the infrastructure improvements which are long overdue.  The council is seeking opportunities to develop its core commitment to sustainable, thriving future for all - for example in the Solar for Business Scheme.

Tim Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at Tech East told Chamber about the Eastern Region’s position as the third most important tech cluster in the national context. 

Tia and Ashley Sparling of K9 Digital demonstrated some of their amazing concept art and graphics in 2D and 3D that has resulted in them building a growing business that has many clients across the globe.  They showed how the digital landscape is changing and how the creative industries are bringing new employment to Haverhill and West Suffolk.

Toby Warren, Senior Policy Officer at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce gave a presentation about Social Value and its importance for Suffolk businesses.  

Please let us know by email your thoughts and suggestions for future West Suffolk forum meetings. We welcome suggestions about venues, topics and times for meetings.

Presentations

Social Value - Toby Warren

22nd May 2023 - Extended reality forum

The Suffolk Chamber in West Suffolk Forum held its meeting at West Suffolk College's XR Learning Lab on 22nd May.

The XR or extended reality lab provides employers with an innovative training and learning environment for their present and future workforce. The XR lab allows students to train and learn on 3D models. The lab also equips students with the digital skills which all businesses increasingly need.

West Suffolk Chamber members were also briefed on the range of apprenticeships the college can provide and the flexible ways that the college can meet employers training needs.

Steve Elsom, chair of the West Suffolk Forum said 'Everyone was very impressed that West Suffolk College is updating the way in which it provides training, so that it meets the changing needs of employers. The XR lab opens up many more training opportunities and the college is keen to meet with more employers to find out how their new facilities and services can help with training needs'.

Presentations 

XR Lab - Tom Lloyd

Apprenticeships - Lisa Parish

Eastern Colleges Group - Phil Stittle

Personal & Professional Learning - Deborah Barton