Business in East Anglia

Pick-up in new business in the region despite uncertain times

Private sector activity in the East of England picked up in July helped by the fastest rise in new business in 2019 although firms were less confident on the outlook for the coming 12 months than in June, according to a key survey of purchasing managers.

The NatWest East of England business activity index rose to 51.6 in July from 51.3 in June; the second month running that private output has risen in the region although it remains below its long term average. Employment also rose solidly - albeit more slowly than in June - while input price inflation slowed to a three-year low. Althoug...

Suffolk businesses back campaign for £150 million investment in A14

The campaign to secure £150 million of government investment in the A14 in Suffolk is making its concluding case – ahead of an expected announcement later in the year. The Suffolk Chamber -led campaign No More A14 Delays in Suffolk , which is seeking funds from the second roads investment strategy to tackle seven ’pinch points’, has secured the backing of 150 businesses along the route. Mark Pendlington, chair of the A14 Strategy Board, has written to transport secretary Chris Grayling highlighting the support for the campaign and the boost to jobs which the investment would bring. ...

New digital skills centres to be set up in Norfolk and Suffolk in £14.5 million investment

Four new projects to boost digital skills in Norfolk and Suffolk which involve new education and training centres in Ipswich and Norwich have been announced by New Anglia LEP in a new £14.5 million capital growth funding package.

At the University of Suffolk, a new £6.5 million digital skills & innovation accelerator will be set up as a 'nationally significant' ICT research and training centre with 1,600 sq m of space. Working with BT and the Adastral Park tech cluster, it envisages some 520 new students, 145 apprentices and 36 new jobs. Meanwhile, at City College Norwich a new £6.1...

Boost to region’s growing MedTech sector

A new report has been launched to help the region’s growing number of medical technology businesses sector navigate what has been described as the ‘often confusing’ pathway for firms to access the National Health Service.

The NHS spends £6bn a year on MedTech and there is significant growth potential for companies in the region. Cambridge ranks as the largest cluster of firms in the sector in Europe and the East of England has seen 27 life sciences sites set up over 2007-19 with over 1200 people thought to have joined the sector.

The new report from The Eastern Academic Health Sci...

Boost to genetics research and Oxford-Cambridge Arc from Spring Statement

The Chancellor’s Spring Statement included £45 million for genomics research in Cambridge and further measures to boost growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

The European Bioinformatics Institute (right) at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Hinxton will benefit from extra cash from the government’s National Productivity Investment Fund to help Britain maintain its lead in genomics research. Steve Elsom, regional director for the East of England at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said the announcement on genetics research was: “…welcome news and a vote of confidence in the regio...