The Suffolk Convention

The Suffolk Convention is a by-invitation only summit aimed at bringing together in one place as many of the key decision-makers and senior influencers within the Suffolk system as possible.

The first summit hosted by BT Martlesham took place on 18^th October 2024, where we were joined by all eight Suffolk MPs, senior business leaders from the county’s biggest and growing employers, the political and managerial leadership of all principal councils, plus top executives from the media, health and VCSE sectors.

This Suffolk Convention1 summit identified ten key economic asks that the Suffolk system is looking for Westminster to approve and deliver during the current Parliament:

1.  Progress on Ely-Haughley rail upgrades, with £2.1bn investment to provide a clean growth productivity boost for the region.
   
   
2.  Investment along the A11 and A14 corridors and wider strategic roads network brought forward into RIS3, including identified junction upgrades, Orwell Bridge, and surrounding road network.
    
3.  Boost skills, training, and education outcomes by lifting education spending per capita in Suffolk year-on-year to match the national average by the end of the current Parliament.
   
   
4.  Pilot an enhanced direct community benefits scheme for low-carbon infrastructure sites.
   
   
5.  Planning reform to expedite a network of smaller reservoirs and lagoons, such as a North Suffolk Reservoir delivery plan.
   
   
6.  Government grant support for water credit pilot schemes, to scale up UK-wide.
   
   
7.  Establishment of a UK Business Bank scheme for East Anglia by 2027.
   
   
8. Facilitate Adastral Park and Innovation Martlesham to generate support from DSIT and DBT and determine funding options.

These asks are also key enablers identified within the Suffolk Economic Strategy, ensuring a close alignment in purpose and delivery between The Suffolk Convention and the Suffolk Business Board.  Suffolk Chamber’s role is to work across all elements of this system through the Suffolk Coordination Office to achieve maximum advocacy impact and lobbying cut through via the #OneSuffolkVoice approach.

The Suffolk Convention2 summit will take place on 24^th October 2025 and will comprise three keynote speakers, an opportunity for Suffolk’s MPs to give a Parliamentary report back against the ten economic asks and a facilitated reflection on Suffolk’s expectations from the new proposed Norfolk & Suffolk Mayoral Combined Authority.