Business in East Anglia

Wednesday 19th December 2018

Go ahead for major gas-fired power station in Norfolk

The government has granted EP(UK) Power Developments consent to build a new gas fired power station at its site at the Willows Business Park at Saddlebow in King’s Lynn with a capacity of up to 1,700 MW, enough to meet electricity needs of almost 2 million homes. Construction could start in mid-2020 creating up to 600 construction jobs with a further 40 permanent operational jobs once the plant is up and running. James Crankshaw, head of engineering at EPUKI, said: “We are delighted with the secretary of state’s decision. This new power station will help play a key role in both th...

Firms take action to avoid ‘working capital crunch’ on Brexit no deal

KPMG’s restructuring practice in the region is seeing a ‘flurry of enquiries’ from firms looking to head off a significant ‘working capital crunch’ resulting from a no deal on Brexit following the recent gloomy forecasts from the Treasury and the Bank of England.

Steve Elsigood, head of restructuring for KPMG in the East of England, said: “Businesses have been contingency planning for some time now, but the recent forecasts from both the Treasury and the Bank of England regarding the impact to the British economy of the various Brexit scenarios currently in play appear to hav...

Largest Suffolk companies increase investment despite 'more cautious approach'

Turnover and profit growth has slowed among Suffolk’s largest 100 companies and they are showing signs of caution with reduced debt, according to a study of their latest annual accounts. However, the Suffolk Limited study by Grant Thornton and law firm Birketts also showed that investment in fixed assets across the county's largest businesses rose 4.5 per cent to £1,612 million in their latest financial year and average salaries have risen by 4.4 per cent.

Rob Thomson, director at Grant Thornton's Ipswich office said:“With ongoing uncertainty around Brexit and its po...

£160 million airbase contract set to create new jobs in Suffolk

One of the region’s largest construction projects in the region got the go-ahead this week when the Ministry of Defence awarded a £160 million to contractor Kier VolkerFitzpatrick for infrastructure to prepare the RAF Lakenheath airbase in Suffolk for two squadrons of US F-35s fighter jets.

At its peak, the project will involve up to 700 contractors on site and it will give a boost to the local economy with over 1,000 personnel and family living at the base. The Suffolk airbase will be the first permanent international site for US Air Force F-35s in Europe and and will involve co-loc...

Approval for Stansted growth plans raises hopes for 5,000 new jobs

London Stansted’s planning application to raise the number of passengers it handles from 35 to 43 million annually has been approved by the airport’s local council, raising hopes of a boost to growth in the region and 5,000 new jobs . The approval for Stansted’s plans by Uttlesford District Council involves growth within existing flight limits and with a smaller noise footprint than previous permissions. It means Stansted will make the best-use of international connectivity, including more long-haul routes.

London Stansted CEO, Ken O’Toole, said: “Today’s decision offers London ...

Rebound in confidence gives boost to region’s SMEs

The health of SMEs in the East of England has shown one of the largest improvements in the country as fewer firms operate below capacity and confidence increases, accor...

Property & Construction

Strong interest in new Ipswich office space

The Maltings building which is currently being restored in Ipswich’s Princes Street has seen strong interest ahead of it being ready for occupation in April next yea...

Technology

Drug discovery business expands at Norwich's Innovation Centre

Inspiralis, a drug development business that grew out of research laboratories at Norwich’s John Innes Centre, has expanded into new premises at the Innovation Centre...

Regional Economic News

Cambridge tech and professional services set to bolster region’s growth

The East of England economy is set to grow slightly faster than the national average over coming years in the light of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, thanks partly ...

Finance/Legal/Deals

Cambridge-based energy management company sold to private equity firm

Cambridge-based eSight Energy Group, a developer and supplier of energy management software, has been acquired by Bid Equity, a German private equity firm.

BID Equity ac...

Transport

Tough new regs loom on e-commerce distribution

Tough new regulations are on the way for those involved in e-commerce distribution activities in the UK, with significant penalties for non-compliance – and yet many c...

New Media, Marketing & Advertising

Anniversary at long-running Norwich design & PR business

A Norwich-based design and PR business which is thought to be the region’s longest running creative agency is marking its tenth anniversary since it rebranded as FOUR A...

Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality

Tourism & leisure businesses urged to join survey

Tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses are being urged to take part in Larking Gowen’s 12th annual tourism and leisure business survey, which launched this week . A...

Other news . . .

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Business Profiles

New Anglia Growth Hub

The New Anglia Growth Hub, part of the Growth Hub Network gives companies in Norfolk and Suffolk a single point of contact for business support. Powered by a team of experienced and fully accredited Business Growth Advisers, our support and guidance is completely free, impartial and confidential. You could be starting a new enterprise or looking grow an established business and our free service is open to companies across all sectors and legal status. Our support is focussed around four key areas: Access to Grants & Finance No need to search online for the answer. We can research on your behalf and identify...

SGA Video and Events

Award-winning creative communications for major brands & small businesses. Creating a video to post on Facebook or putting on a company event isn't always enough to get your business to where it needs to be. With 30 years' experience in the marketing and visual communications industry we understand what it takes to get your organisation noticed, your goals met and your business booming. Priding ourselves in our ability to solve your problems creatively, we will work with you from initial concept through to delivery and beyond, to ensure that you connect with your audience meaningfully, strategically, on-budget and with maximum return on...

Barclays Wealth & Investment Management

At Barclays, we work with wealthy individuals in the Eastern region to create banking, investment, wealth advisory, financing and lifestyle solutions that closely match our clients’ unique financial objectives. We are the gateway to the best of Barclays – benefitting from a local presence with a global offering, which allows us to bring together the best thinking, advice and solutions from across the global bank to support our Eastern clients. With a broad range of local clients – from entrepreneurs to Lottery winners – our wealth and investment management offering needs to be as bespoke as our clients’ needs. This...

Norwich Research Park

Dedicated to the businesss of life sciences, Norwich Research Park is the premier location for excellence in food, health and the environment. Set in over 230 hectares of parkland Norwich Research Park is home to over 12,000 people, including 40 science and technology based businesses and 3,000 researchers and clinicians. A thriving science and innovation park, it is a partnership between four research institutes - namely the John Innes Centre, the Institute of Food Research, the Sainsbury Laboratory and the Genome Analysis Centre as well as the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals. Facilities are varied and incorporate a...

Genesis PR

As one of the top PR agencies in the East of England, we are amongst the most dedicated and friendly teams you’ll meet. We provide PR, social media and marketing services that are strategic yet hands-on; passionate, dedicated and always committed to delivering the best we can by going the extra mile. Our head office is in Ipswich and we work with both national and regional brands to deliver successful corporate communications, business-to-business PR and consumer engagement programmes. We are the only PR agency in the region to be shortlisted for the ‘Outstanding Small Consultancy’ category in the 2016 Chartered Institute of...

Sandersons

Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Sanderson & Co. was founded in 1956 by Laurie Sanderson. Since then, the firm has established itself as a highly effective partner for clients all over the world. The firm moved again in March 2016 to the Knowledge Gateway at the University of Essex. Senior Partner, James Sanderson, says, “With the planned opening of the University Innovation Centre this is an exciting opportunity to be at the centre of a hub of new technology companies.” New name. New look. New faces. Same great service. October 2018 saw the launch of a new name and a new look for the...

Cambridge Cluster Map

The Cambridge Cluster Map is a big data resource highlighting the data on the cluster of businesses located within 20 miles of Cambridge, UK, and accurately maps the growth of the Cambridge sub-region over time. It is a free-to-access online resource which shows the vibrancy of the Cambridge technology and life science cluster, revealing the true extent of the success of the ‘Cambridge Phenomenon’. Created by Cambridge Ahead in partnership with Barclays, working with the Centre for Business Research (CBR) at the University of Cambridge, the map can be viewed at www.camclustermap.com The source, methodology and granular nature of...

Penn Commercial

Since launching in Ipswich 10 years ago, Penn Commercial has grown to become one of the most influential and most respected commercial property agents in the east of England. Regularly scooping industry accolades and winning plaudits from clients, it continues to expand and has recently appointed two further staff members. Vanessa Penn, who heads up the team of negotiators, property managers, consultants and administrators, says the local market is very vibrant. Penn Commercial has recently overseen several major deals: the letting of 120,000 sq ft in Norwich to a global e-commerce operator as a distribution centre, the sale of nearly £6 million worth...

Larking Gowen

At Larking Gowen, we see ourselves as more than purely chartered accountants. We’ll look after all your tax and finance issues, and we’ll be trusted business advisors with a friendly one-to-one service you can count on. Whatever you do, whether you’re a large organisation or an individual, Larking Gowen can help you protect your wealth and reach your financial goals. Our expertise Our partners are all qualified accountants covering a full range of specialist areas including personal tax, VAT, corporate finance, business strategy and business recovery. We have teams of experts with years of experience who can help you with all accountancy issues. Knowing...

Creative Sponge

We are Creative Sponge and we are a full service marketing agency based in the heart of Norwich. Our client list includes Anglian Water, business enterprise agency Nwes, Whitlingham Adventure and Holt Hall, Premier Education Group, M+A Partners, Jarrold Training, the AST Group, Pumpkin Tree Organics and ZSEA (Banham Zoo, Africa Alive and the Dinosaur Adventure Park). We also have a number of London based clients, including Warner Bros and The Daily Mail Group, which we service from our London base. As you can see, we work with a diverse range of clients in both the B2B and B2C arenas. Our...

Ashtons Legal

Ashtons Legal is an award winning law firm with a strong focus on customer service. The legal teams provide a wide range of advice to businesses and private individuals regionally, nationally and internationally from offices across East Anglia. Ashtons Legal has specialist lawyers ready to help clients with: agriculture and estates, commercial property, corporate and commercial services, construction, dispute resolution, employment law, franchising, HR advice and transport and regulatory matters family law and mediation, private client matters including wills, powers of attorney, probate and tax and trusts, residential conveyancing, French legal services and inheritance disputes medical negligence, personal injury and industrial disease claims. Ashtons Legal...

Suffolk Park

It has been a hive of activity at Suffolk Park, in Bury St Edmunds over the last 12 months with all the infrastructure installed, further occupiers signed up and two new logistics units completing this Autumn ready for prospective occupiers to move into. The park located close to Junction 45 of the A14 linking the project to the port of Felixstowe, Cambridge, the M11 and the UK motorway system, has consent for 2m sq ft of business, manufacturing and distribution space and is attracting plenty of interest from potential occupiers for units of all sizes. Ben Oughton, development director of...

Ingleton Wood

Ingleton Wood is one of the leading multi-disciplinary property and construction consultancies in the East of England. An award-winning Practice, that provides architecture, building surveying, civil and structural engineering, project management, quantity surveying, planning, interior design and sustainability services. What we do Working across both the public and private sector, Ingleton Wood deliver functional, high quality building solutions where the work is tailored to meet our clients’ individual needs and aspirations. With offices in London, Colchester, Cambridge, Norwich, Billericay and Hertford, we cover the entire Eastern region and beyond, delivering projects in a number of sectors including education, health, leisure and retail, as well...

Artisan (UK) Developments

Artisan (UK) Developments has huge experience in the development of a wide range of business parks throughout East Anglia and the Northern Home Counties, delivering high quality commercial accommodation falling principally within B1, B2 & B8 planning class uses. Artisan have developed more than 114 commercial space projects including 13 business parks. In recent years Artisan has acted as the development partner for a number of companies to assist in resolving their property requirements, either on sites controlled by Artisan or third party controlled sites. The spaces Artisan create for businesses are used for numerous industries and sectors including Office accommodation,...