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Why Move Your Business to Suffolk?
With lots of open space and countryside, growing business hubs and excellent transport links to the capital, Suffolk is becoming an increasingly popular destination for businesses. Suffolk Observatory reported that, at the end of 2022, the county was home to more than 30,000 companies across a multitude of industries.
Hamiltons Removals, who can help with all types of Suffolk commercial removals, look at why the county is such an attractive place for companies to move to and operate from.
The Transport Links
Although the county doesn’t have an airport of its own, Stanstead (in Essex), Cambridge and Norwich are all nearby in neighbouring counties.
And, while there isn’t a motorway either, the major road routes are all dualled at least in part – the A14 (which runs from Felixstowe to the Midlands), the A11 (running from London to Norfolk), the A12 (from London to Suffolk) and the A140 (between Ipswich and Norfolk).
The Norwich to London rail line will get you from Suffolk into London Liverpool Street in little more than an hour. This line also makes it easy to reach Colchester, Chelmsford and Stratford, amongst other smaller stops on the way to London.
Another major industrial bonus is the presence of the port of Felixstowe, pictured, which is the UK’s busiest container port. It accounts for almost half of the country’s containerised trade and providing easy access to export markets); there are also ports at Lowestoft and Ipswich.
The Skills Base
Suffolk is home to a wide variety of businesses. As you might be able to tell from the ‘Tractor Boys’ moniker for Ipswich Town Football Club, agriculture remains a key driver of the county’s economy, as is tourism in the summer months, especially to destinations on the coast such as Southwold, Aldeburgh and Felixstowe.
There’s plenty of big businesses which have made Suffolk their home, for example BT in Adastral Park in Martlesham (where Huawei amongst many others also have offices), brewers Greene King and Adnams (which are based in Bury St Edmunds and Southwold respectively), utility company EDF Energy (who are responsible for the new Sizewell nuclear power station project) Birds Eye (in Lowestoft) and many major insurers based in the county town of Ipswich.
All of these have associated supply chains, which opens up even more business opportunities throughout the county.
The University of Suffolk, which accepted its first students in 2007, already generates more than £50million for the local economy – as well as bringing new talent and skills to the region (although the main campus is in Ipswich, there are satellite sites across the county).
The Back Up for Businesses
Suffolk and the neighbouring county of Norfolk are both covered by the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership. The two counties have been designated a strategic economic zone, and the LEP works with businesses, schools and colleges, and local authorities to provide a range of support and initiatives which will benefit all sectors of the economy.
There are several other potential sources of support for start-ups and businesses looking to move into the area. These include area-specific organisations such as Foundation East, and the national Regional Growth Loan Scheme. Both of these provide loans and grants to SMEs.
There are also more traditional sources of help, such as the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, as well as smaller Chambers in towns and districts. All provide valuable assistance and networking opportunities for businesses.
There are also Enterprise Zones in the north and east of the County (in Beccles and Lowestoft). Businesses moving into these areas may be eligible for business rate relief as well as other incentives.
Suffolk Commercial Removals with Hamiltons Removals
If you want to move your business to Suffolk or are trying to find self storage in East Anglia (for yourself or your business), then Hamiltons Removals can offer three decades’ worth of expertise. We are based on the Norfolk/Suffolk border and have plenty of local knowledge which you can tap into.
You may not be new to the area and may be looking to move from one part of Suffolk to another, or to downsize or upscale your business – Hamiltons can help with those types of moves too. We can undertake commercial removals for businesses of all types and sizes, ensuring minimum disruption to your business. Our commercial moving service includes full packing and unpacking as well as dismantling and reassembling of all furniture.
To find out more, you can email info@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk or give us a call on 0800 246 5622.
Five Interesting Facts About Wellington, New Zealand
Many people choose to move to New Zealand because it is a safe and friendly environment for families, offers great career opportunities and extraordinary possibilities for exploration and travel. The high quality of life New Zealand offers is what draws immigrants from all over the world to the country, and the capital of Wellington is no exception. As experts when it comes to international removals to Wellington, Hamiltons Removals have come up with five interesting facts about the country’s capital.
1. It’s Named After the English Duke
Although the area did have previous inhabitants, the Māori’s, as well as the Polynesian explorer Kupe, the modern city owes its name to the English Duke of Wellington.
English settlers from The New Zealand Company (who also colonised other parts of the region) suggested the name in 1840. The theory behind the founding of the modern city was that capitalists would provide the finance, and the local population the workforce.
2. It’s the Southernmost Capital of the World
The city lies at the south-western tip of the country’s North Island and, even though the country’s South Island contains the cities of Invercargill and Christchurch, Wellington can still lay claim to being the southernmost capital of the world.
Originally, Okiato (also known as Old Russell), then Auckland, was the country’s capital. However, the NZ Parliament wanted a more central location for their headquarters; they couldn’t agree on where so three Australian commissioners were brought in to make the ruling. With coordinates of 41°17′20″S 174°46′38″E Wellington beats Canberra in Australia, and Cape Town in South Africa, to the accolade.
3. It’s Also the Windiest City
For all the talk of Chicago being The Windy City, Wellington is actually the windiest; known as ‘Windy Welly’ by the locals.
It has an average wind speed of more than 16 miles per hour and it owes that status to its position on the Cook Strait, between the north and south islands, which creates a sort of wind tunnel through which ocean breezes strengthen.
This isn’t necessarily bad news – it means the coast around the city is popular with surfers, windsurfers and sailors. Air pollution is non-existent as any industrial fumes are quickly blown away and the wind power can easily be harnessed for electricity, helping to contribute to sustainability and clean energy.
4. The Parliament Building was Designed on the Back of a Napkin
When Wellington became the country’s capital in 1865, most of the Parliament buildings were made of timber. However, the harsh climate of the city took its toll – and the wooden structures made the buildings a fire risk. There was a huge blaze in 1907, and it was originally intended that the buildings would be replaced by a new, classically Edwardian structure; however, for a variety of reasons the project was never completed.
It wasn’t until the 1960s that Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence convinced then Prime Minister Keith Holyoake to complete the project with the modern ‘beehive’ design – allegedly taken from the logo on a box of a Bryant & May Beehive Safety Matches. The shape is reminiscent of a traditional woven form of beehive known as a skep.
Sir Basil persuaded the then PM with a drawing on the back of a napkin while they were having a meal together. The work was completed in stages, and it was finally opened in 1981 – it includes function rooms, cabinet meeting rooms, debating chambers and catering facilities. It is one of the most distinctive parliament buildings in the world as can be seen from the picture.
5. There’s an Excellent Quality of Life
In recent years the city has scored consistently highly in Quality of Life reports, topping Deutsche Bank’s survey in 2017 and 2018.
The survey looked at factors such as purchasing power, safety, health care, cost of living, property price to income ratios, traffic commutes, pollution and climate. Aside from the surveys, there’s plenty to enjoy here including galleries, museums and theatres aplenty.
Wellington is also well known as a culinary capital and is famed for its tucked-away bars, quirky cafés and award-winning restaurants.
Moving House to New Zealand with Hamiltons Removals
If you are considering moving to New Zealand, then Hamiltons Removals can help you. We offer deep sea removals to both the two countries, so you can be assured that all your belongings will make it over safely and swiftly.
Whether you’re looking to move to Wellington, Aukland, Christchurch or anywhere else in the country – and this applies to domestic and commercial moves – we offer dedicated shipping containers, groupage (meaning your belongings are shared with others en-route) and air freight, giving you lots of options for your international move.
If you have any questions, call Hamiltons on 01379 855203.