Business in East Anglia

Thursday 22nd April 2021

Rising cost inflation takes shine off surge in new activity

New private business activity and business optimism surged upwards in the region in March although firms also faced a marked increase in costs, according to a key survey of purchasing managers . The NatWest East of England business activity index leapt from 49.0 in February to 60.9 in March, one of the sharpest rises in the 24 year history of the series. Firms benefitted from higher sales often linked to the easing of virus restrictions.

Only one region, Yorkshire & Humber, saw a steeper rate of new order growth than the East and business optimism linked to hopes of continuing recovery i...

Work starts on £13 million speculative industrial scheme in Norwich

The wave of new speculative industrial and warehousing development in the region gathered momentum this week with the start of construction on a £13 million scheme at a former Allied Bakeries site in Norwich.

Developer Chancerygate is building a 17-unit, 116,448 sq ft light industrial and warehousing scheme to be called Diamond Point. Development director George Dickens said: “Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of the industrial and logistics sector, there is pent-up demand for our high-quality product and this speculative development will provide Grade A space in a market of ve...

Prettys Solicitors

Our firm offers trusted legal assistance across East Anglia, London, the UK and overseas. Our client service is second to none and we draw on our legal expertise to deliver great results and peace of mind on every occasion.

Providing expert advice in every area

Our business clients benefit from exceptional legal advice on corporate and commercial law, employment law, health and care, commerc...

Surge in venture capital investment in Norwich-based tech firms

The volume of venture capital investment in Norwich-based businesses rose four-fold last year to £33 million, up from £8.3 million in 2019, reinforcing the city’s growing reputation as an attractive location for tech companies. Tim Robinson, chief operating officer at Tech East, said: “This is a great indicator of the potential and skills we have in Norwich and recognised by VC investors and will support the financial prosperity of the region and country as we bounce back from restrictions.” The annual Tech Nation Report , also showed that Cambridge – which attracted £217 milli...

Firms recruiting staff despite rising cost pressures

Private sector firms in the East of England increased staffing levels in February on expectations of higher output and demand over the coming months but faced marked rises in costs, according to a key survey of purchasing manager s.

The NatWest East of England business activity index showed pointed to a marked increase in input price inflation and the sharpest since June 2018. Both service providers and manufacturers saw a rise in cost burdens, although the latter noted a much sharper uptick. The survey showed private business activity stabilised in February and firms in the r...

Good reception for region's businesses for Project Gigabit

Cambridgeshire and Essex are to be among the first counties to benefit from Project Gigabit, a £5 billion government initiative unveiled last week to provide fast reli...

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 . . .

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Business Profiles

PEM Corporate Finance LLP

Our team of corporate finance specialists works closely with business owners, helping them maximise value and achieve their financial and commercial objectives. We work with owner managed businesses across a range of sectors in Cambridge and the surrounding counties on: company disposal corporate acquisition MBO and MBI succession planning raising debt and equity finance business valuation For more information about our services please visit www.pemcf.com. A specialist team with extensive resources With over 40 years' combined experience delivering transactions,...

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....

Barclays Wealth Management

At Barclays Wealth Management, we work with wealthy individuals in the Eastern region to create tailored solutions for each stage of their lives. We offer a personal and proactive approach to managing clients’ wealth and take the time to get to know and understand their ambitions in order to help them achieve their financial goals. Our range of services cover banking and credit, investments, wealth advisory, portfolio management, financing and lifestyle solutions that are tailored to our clients’ individual financial objectives. With a broad range of local clients – from entrepreneurs to Lottery winners – our wealth and investment management...

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...

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...

Prettys Solicitors

Prettys Solicitors is one of the Eastern region's leading law firms with extensive experience in providing legal services and advising on law for businesses, public sector, social enterprises and individuals. Our firm offers trusted legal assistance across East Anglia, London, the UK and overseas. Our client service is second to none and we draw on our legal expertise to deliver great results and peace of mind on every occasion. Providing expert advice in every area Our business clients benefit from exceptional legal advice on corporate and commercial law, employment law, health and care, commercial property, dispute resolution, transport and logistics, tech and retail....

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...

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...

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...

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...

Scrutton Bland

Scrutton Bland is a leading provider of financial services to both business and private clients. From our offices in Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, we have been providing tax, accountancy, insurance and independent financial planning advice to clients throughout the UK for over one hundred years. With so many specialists working together, we can deliver a broad range of professional advisory services to our clients, but our approach is more than that. Our philosophy is simple: we believe in delivering clear, jargon-free advice and in finding effective solutions for our clients. Jason Fayers Managing Partner Tel: 0330 058 6559 Email: hello@scruttonbland.co.uk Web: www.scruttonbland.co.uk...

MHA Larking Gowen

At MHA 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, MHA 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...

Gipping Occupational Health and Wellbeing

From our base in the Gipping Valley, Suffolk, we provide our comprehensive range of Occupational Health and Wellbeing services throughout the Eastern Counties; from Suffolk to Northants and from Lincolnshire to London. When our customers require it, our reach stretches out across the UK too. The protection of your workforce’s health is tremendously beneficial to their wellbeing and productivity, which in turn brings real benefits to your organisation and an excellent return on your investment in them. You can be assured that our experience and knowledge contribute greatly to the high level of service we deliver. We offer a flexible approach, which...

Fenn Wright

Fenn Wright is East Anglia’s leading, independently owned partnership of chartered surveyors, commercial property experts and estate agents, employing over 150 people. Our surveyors and agents offer an unrivalled range of professional skills and local market knowledge, and we aim to provide industry-leading levels of service. We have a network of offices across Essex and Suffolk with great links to London and represent a wide spectrum of clients. Whether working with investors and developers, landlords and tenants, property companies, pension funds, business owners, private individuals or local authorities, we know the sector inside out and are on hand to help with all...

Thompson Smith and Puxon

The firm: Thompson Smith and Puxon can trace its roots back to 1879 and has since grown to be one of the leading law firms in Essex, with 12 partners, some 70 employees, and offices in Colchester and Clacton. It offers a range of legal advice to businesses and individual clients. Its specialist practice areas, with accredited lawyers and attentive support staff, ensure clients receive the most professional and practical advice available. Business services team: TSP looks after the business issues that matter to its clients whether they are large or small. The corporate and commercial team includes 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...