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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.
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