Opportunities for existing and new entrepreneurial tenants
Following a review of the County Council's rural estate, there are a number of smallholdings available from October. Four county council farms and four parcels of land are now available for let in Suffolk.
The properties, available from October this year, are Spring Hall Farm and Plantation Farm near Mildenhall; Dovefield Farm near Capel St Mary and Pleasurewood Farm, Lowestoft; together with areas of land in the Mildenhall area, Bardwell and Sudbury.
Applications are encouraged from both the farming sector, and from younger entrepreneurial minded persons and community groups, seeking to find an entrance into the rural business environment. Suffolk County Council is particularly seeking both social and private entrepreneurs with proposals that can contribute to the Council’s Corporate priorities. The holdings are available either as a whole or in part. Some may suit rural based initiatives such as Community or Care Farming.
Tenancies are available from October 2013 and expressions of interest or application forms need to be received no later than 12 noon Friday 28th June 2013.
Visit here for more information.
The county council, district and borough councils have been working to develop an effective strategy for Suffolk that will deliver economic growth, create more jobs and increase prosperity. The resulting document defines the public sectors ambitions and how local councils, by working together, intend to achieve these goals and enable the growth of the private sector across Suffolk as a whole.
Following a formal consultation period and a successful launch event the Suffolk Growth Strategy is now available to read in full online.
Suffolk Growth Strategy Summary
A delivery plan is currently being developed that will set the investment priorities, the principal activities to be undertaken and the key targets to be achieved in order to deliver our ambition.
For any queries regarding the Suffolk Growth Strategy and the Delivery Plan, please contact Alison Huxley.
The Growth Strategy was screened to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment should be prepared and concluded that one was not required. The screening process is available here.
Key Sectors
The economic development team focuses its activities on developing key sectors:
- Biotechnology
- Energy
- Food, Drink and Agriculture
- Information Communication Technology and
- Tourism
Suffolk has a diverse range of sectors providing significant employment such as:
- Ports and logistics
- Insurance
- Horse racing
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Creative industries
- Public sector
Suffolk has a range of other sectors where public sector intervention is vital to stimulate growth, jobs and investment. We and our partners are working on a range of sector related projects to achieve this growth.
Suffolk has now completed its Local Economic Assessment highlighting key actions to be undertaken in the future.
Business Services
The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership is working to improve businesses, skills and infrastructure across Suffolk and Norfolk. The Partnership has successfully bid for Enterprise Zone status for Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. The LEP is also hosting a business support portal to help local businesses with signposting to relevant agencies and organisations to assist start-ups, and growing businesses in the region.
The Local Enterprise Partnership launched its Growing Business Fund at the Salthouse Harbour Hotel in Ipswich on 24 April, further information and eligible criteria here. The fund can assist with grants of up to 20% to help businesses grow.
Please find further information below on some more of the county's business services:
Business Centre availability in Suffolk
Business 2 Business Trading Platform
Suffolk Business Women's Network
Suffolk is the bright choice for your business because it offers a winning combination of factors you need to succeed.
Suffolk sees the sunrise first in the UK - reflecting how we’re leading the way for enterprising businesses to innovate, grow and shine.
We’ve got excellent connections, room for growth, an innovative outlook, high calibre people, and you’ll be in good company with other go-ahead businesses.
Our county is home to some of the fastest growing sectors that will drive the UK economy, backed by pioneering technology and far-sighted investment that puts them ahead of the rest.
Suffolk businesses tell us they value being at the hub of trading activity, with a strong customer base, affordable premises, a skilled workforce and business-friendly networks.
And they all say what makes Suffolk really special is that it’s a great place to live as well as work. Visit the Invest in Suffolk web-site.
We are working in partnership with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to sustain our major towns and our market towns through Business Improvement Districts and Town Centre Management.
We are assisting to sustain our three major towns:
Ipswich www.ipswichcentralplus.com
Lowestoft www.lowestoftvision.co.uk
