Business in East Anglia

Surge in new jobs in region as business output picks up

New jobs in the East of England were created at the fastest rate in over a year in August as private sector output rose sharply during the month. The NatWest growth tracker index for the East of England rose to 53.9, from July's 51.0, its fastest rate in over two years. Workforce numbers across the region’s private sector rose for the third month running in August as firms stepped up recruitment to handle growing workloads. Meanwhile, the rate of charge inflation fell for the second month running easing to a 44-month low.

Dipesh Mistry, chair of the NatWest Midlands and East of England...

Growing demand for non-executive directors to boost business performance

Demand is growing for non-executive directors in the region with varied skills and backgrounds that complement the make-up of the overall composition of boards, according to a new report from recruitment group Pure Executive.

It says non-executives are having a positive impact on business performance in the region and more appointments to boards reflects a growing recognition of their strategic value in governance and oversight and adding value to the bottom line. The report looks at remuneration and best practice for non-executive directors and chair and points to a narrowing...

Developer plans major £11.5 million industrial scheme in Newmarket

Developer Chancerygate has submitted plans to build a major Grade A industrial, warehouse and R & D scheme in Newmarket which could create up to 100 jobs.

The speculative scheme, called Nucleus, is on a 2.5-acre site which was formerly home to an electronics manufacturers on Exning Road, two miles south of the A14. It will cover 51,000 sq ft and involve 10 units ranging from 3,595-6,685 sq ft, available on freehold and leasehold and with a gross development value of around £11.5m.

Chancerygate senior development director George Dickens said: “There is strong demand for high-quality, s...

More parents urge young to apply for apprenticeships rather than university

As A level results loom, parents have become more likely to encourage their child to apply for an apprenticeship than to university after leaving school, according to research from Grant Thornton.

Its survey of 2,000 parents with offspring aged 12-21 showed that 44 per cent are more likely to encourage their child to apply for a school leaver apprenticeship than for university (40pc). The chance to gain practical on the job experience; get paid while gaining a certified qualification and avoiding student debt were the main reasons cited. Two thirds of parents also believe that the cost of a uni...

Farmland prices come under pressure as more acreage is put up for sale

The acreage of farmland put up for sale in the East of England rose by almost ten per cent in the first half and prices are coming under pressure as the sector adapts to reduced government subsidies. Savills quarterly farmland survey shows that 14,292 acres of farmland was publicly marketed in the East in the first half, up from 13,072 acres in the period last year. The report also shows a dip in value for some farmland types in the East although prices remain above the national average.

Harry Kennedy at Savills in Norfolk said: “Our last survey forecast the supply of farmland would co...