Business in East Anglia

Monday 01st March 2021

Hopes grow for creation of 'hydrogen economy' on north Norfolk coast

A new study is being launched to look at the potential for large scale production of hydrogen as a source of clean energy off the north Norfolk coast at Bacton as part of a drive to create a ‘sigificant regional hydrogen economy’. The study ‘ Bacton Energy Hub: Exploring the potential for hydrogen from the Southern North Sea’ will provide a map of energy infrastructure in the area and look at how wind farms, gas platforms, subsea pipelines and cables could be used to support the production of hydrogen which could be injected into the national grid via the Bacton terminal. The gover...

Optimistic firms hoping for Budget growth measures as ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ emerges

Most firms in the East are optimistic on their prospects over the coming six months but want to see measures to encourage business growth and ‘digital transformation’ in the Budget ahead of more Covid support, according to a Grant Thornton UK survey. It shows that half of firms in the region believe the Chancellor should prioritise growth, compared to around a quarter who are looking for more help on Covid.

Support for digital transformation was cited as a top priority for 48 per cent of respondents. Incentives to support low carbon business strategies (40 per cent) and help with ski...

New body launched to boost growth across Oxford-Cambridge Arc

A government plan to boost economic growth across the so-called Oxford-Cambridge Arc has been unveiled by housing minister Christopher Pincher .

The new ‘spatial framework’ plan aims to create thousands of jobs, drive investment, and protect the environment across the area which covers Oxfordshire, Bucks, Northants, Beds and Cambs. The government says the results , due in 2022, will give communities a chance to shape the long-term future of the area and will help to ensure the benefits of growth are felt across the region. It involves the creation of an Arc Growth Body to foster gro...

Boost for Gt Yarmouth firms from offshore windfarm contract wins

Two Great Yarmouth-based firms have won significant contracts supplying offshore wind farms, reinforcing the region's ambitions to develop a major supply chain in the sector. Seajacks is one of two UK companies which have won export contracts on a Taiwanese wind farm which is going ahead thanks to a UK Export Finance £200 million buyer credit guarantee to help finance the project. Meanwhile East Anglia One windfarm developer ScottishPower Renewables has awarded a key contract to Gibb Safety & Survival, which is also based in the Norfolk port town, to provide personal protective ...

BT set to recruit as Ipswich R & D hub emerges as ‘key site’ for company’s future

BT is planning to recruit staff at its R &D base at Adastral Park, near Ipswich, after it emerged as a key site for the company’s future under a ‘consolidation and modernisation’ programme. Although this will involve the telecoms company cutting the number of its locations from around 300 nationally to 30, it plans to recruit some 78 apprentices and graduates at Adastral Park from this September, including roles in cyber security and applied research.

Meanwhile, Openreach, its digital network business, is set to create 295 full time engineering jobs across the East this year. Adas...

Call for speculative building to meet “desperate need” for lab space in Cambridge

Developers are being urged to build speculative R&D space around Cambridge to meet a “desperate need” for more laboratory space for expanding life sciences firms ...

Property & Construction

Plans submitted for major business park near A14 at Stowmarket

Plans have been submitted for a new mixed-use park of 2.45m sq ft of business, warehouse and industrial space at the Gateway 14 site in Stowmarket close to the A14 tha...

Technology

Region fares well on new ratio showing ‘ideal balance’ of tech companies

The East of England shows a healthy measure on a new yardstick created to show the ideal balance of tech firms to drive growth in a region between seed, early and lat...

Regional Economic News

Hopes rise for business activity in 2021 as job-shedding ends

Private firms' expectations for business activity in the East of England in 2021 improved further in December whilst the job-shedding seen over the previous nine mont...

Finance/Legal/Deals

MBO at Essex-based civil engineering firm

Essex-based, MDS Civil Engineering has been acquired by its management team, Darren Chaston, Richard Pullen and Matthew Pratt. Forward Corporate Finance acted as lead advi...

Transport

Bid launched for new freeport at ports of Felixstowe and Harwich

A bid has been launched for a new freeport centred on the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich which will act as a hub for UK importers and exporters with suppliers and cus...

New Media, Marketing & Advertising

Norwich-based agency strengthens its digital offer with new recruits

Norwich-based design and PR agency, FOUR, has strengthened its digital and PR offering with two new hires, both with over a decade’s experience in communications. Sop...

Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality

Hopes for jobs in Norfolk hospitality sector

Law firm Birketts has advised on a new lease for a restaurant and shop on the site of the Norfolk-based English Whisky Co. The Kitchen at the English Whisky Co.’s St ...

Other news . . .

Next Prev

Business Profiles

Begbies Traynor

Begbies Traynor is the UK’s leading business rescue and recovery specialist, with a national network of offices that deliver unrivalled levels of expertise in the areas of insolvency, liquidation, receivership and administration, as well as corporate restructuring and recovery. The firm’s Cambridge office was set up in 2009 and is lead by partner Louise Baxter, who has nearly30 years’ experience. Why choose Begbies Traynor? Our experts are ideally placed to advise on any type or scale of financial problem and to support individual directors through what can be exceptionally tough decision-making processes. If you or your business is looking for guidance on...

Gotelee Solicitors

Gotelee Solicitors LLP is a full service law firm in Suffolk. The firm has a well established presence throughout the County acting for private individuals, families in business and organisations. We are competitive on price, offering fixed fees across many areas of law. Our offices are based in Ipswich, Hadleigh, Felixstowe and Woodbridge. Gotelee is the largest purely Suffolk law firm and is proud of its heritage in the county. Our reputation is one of reliability with a genuine focus on client care. Our commercial lawyers are well known and respected in the business community and our private client teams demonstrate...

Barclays

At Barclays, we are fully committed to supporting our clients, in particular, helping them to fulfil their growth potential. In this Brexit era many businesses will be reassessing their plans for growth and may need to re-plan or increase the resilience of their finances. It's in times like these when strong banks should stand tall and help ensure the stability in our economy by continuing our commitment to lend – and that is exactly what Barclays is doing. We continue to enjoy working with existing and new clients and aim to ensure they are at the heart of everything we do....

Sandersons

Intellectual Property Protection, Advice & Strategy Our patent and trade mark attorneys provide practical, commercially-focused advice to businesses across the UK, Europe and worldwide. Services Patent Applications Trade Mark Registration Design Registration IP Searches & Watching IP Renewals IP Oppositions & Litigation IP Advice & Strategy IP Portfolio Management IP Valuations IP Due Diligence For more information on how we can help please call 01206 571187 or email mail@sandersons.co.uk www.sandersons.co.uk What our clients think “They are absolutely superb – they have done a great job for us. They are responsive and know what they are doing. I don’t hesitate in putting anything into their hands. Their pricing...

Barclays Wealth 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...

Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton UK LLP We’re a business adviser that helps organisations navigate today’s volatile markets, has a strong focus on quality and delivers insights to succeed. We understand what you need today and what you’ll need tomorrow. And we tailor our service to get you there. Whether you’re looking to finance growth, manage risk and regulation, optimise your operations or realise stakeholder value, we can help you. In the UK we’re led by 190 partners and over 4,500 people. And because of our shared enterprise model in the UK, every one of us gives our all towards your future success. Global strength Grant Thornton UK...

Rapleys

Established in 1951, Rapleys is a property & planning consultancy offering comprehensive professional and agency services, on a personal and value added basis. We work across the UK, with offices located in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London and Manchester. Our national office network is strategically located to deliver a service based on local and regional knowledge but with a national understanding and focus of the wider commercial property market. We are highly active in the East Anglian region, managing the work from our Cambridge and London offices. We provide a fresh and different perspective to the commercial property and planning process...

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...

Genesis PR

Genesis is a leading PR and marketing agency providing award winning consultancy and tactical delivery for today’s digital world. We are the 2018/19 and 2019/20 Outstanding PR Consultancy of the Year for Anglia, Thames and Chiltern Region, also winning Gold for Outstanding Corporate and Business Campaign. We were also recognised for two national titles at the 2019 CIPR Excellence awards. What makes us special Our team, because we care deeply about giving the best advice and expert tactical delivery! Our focus is our clients – listening and understanding their challenges, and providing insightful and trustworthy strategic advice and strategic direction to their marketing...

Rogers & Norton

Rogers & Norton is an established and successful law firm based in Norfolk, with offices in Norwich and Attleborough and meeting facilities in London, as it expands its services and client base. We offer a specialist range of legal services to both businesses and individuals and are committed to offering excellent service to all our clients. It is important to us that we ensure that all legal matters are dealt with the personal attention to detail and efficiency that they deserve. We use our proven, specialist expertise in all areas of the law to achieve the best possible outcomes. Rogers and Norton provides...

Penn Commercial

Since its launch 12 years ago, Penn Commercial has grown to become one of the most respected commercial property agents in the east of England. The team of six, which is based in Fox's Marina, offers a wide ranging and award winning service to clients in a variety of sectors. The team is made up of negotiators, property managers and administrators and supported by consultants providing additional specialist services. Managing director, Vanessa Penn, said: "One of our key strengths is that we have a finger on the pulse of what is going on locally. We know where the demand is and how to...

Cozens-Hardy LLP

Cozens-Hardy has been operating from its Norwich city centre premises for over a century, offering a wide range of legal services to businesses and private individuals. This leading practice has built a reputation for honesty, integrity and exemplary standards of service and is committed to supporting its clients with cost effective, clear solutions to all their legal needs. The firm’s highly experienced and personable commercial department provides a comprehensive range of legal services to clients of all sizes including limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, partnerships, sole traders, farming sector businesses, manufacturers, retail/wholesale services and professional service firms. Their main commercial services include: · Establishing...

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, building services engineering, project management, quantity surveying, planning, interior design, CDM and health & safety 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 and Billericay, we cover the entire Eastern region and beyond, delivering projects in a number of...

Forward Corporate Finance

Based in Bishop’s Stortford, we are a small team providing independent, tailored corporate finance services to our clients in East Anglia. At Forward, we help owners and managers of businesses to plan for and achieve their goals. Whether that is a business sale, structuring and completing a management buy-out or making a strategic acquisition, we are committed to delivering success for our clients. We are with you from the start to completion, ensuring your transaction is properly planned and efficiently executed. Planning, thinking and moving you FORWARD. Please visit us at www.forwardcf.co.uk How can we help? We focus only on transactions, helping business...