Honouring 140 years of Suffolk business, shaping tomorrow and celebrating diversity.
Join the journey of the last 140 years of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and the county’s businesses, and explore Suffolk’s vibrant, diverse and prosperous economic evolution.
Booming Industry
The economy boomed with the Industrial Revolution, fuelled by local and migrant labour that led to the formation of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.
1774
1774
Silk industry established in Suffolk
Production moved from London to towns in Suffolk including Sudbury, Haverhill and Glemsford.
Over 250 years later, Suffolk is still home to some of the world’s most famous silks, producing nearly 95% of the UK’s woven silk textiles.
1789
1789
Robert Ransome begins trading
Robert Ransome, an ironmonger, began his business as a sole trader in Ipswich.
By 1884, the company was incorporated as Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ltd. Robert’s grandson, Robert Charles Ransome, was an engineer at the firm until his death in 1886 and a founding member of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.
1819
1819
Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds opens New Theatre
Although the original theatre dates back to the 1780s, a new building was designed and built in 1819 by William Wilkins.
With many of its original features still intact, it is the last remaining Regency playhouse in the country and one of the most beautiful, intimate and historic theatres in the world. Wilkins was an architect of national repute and was responsible for the National Gallery in London and Downing College, Cambridge.
1824
1824
Burton, Son & Sanders Ltd founded
Burton’s later director, Bunnell Henry Burton, was a founding member of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.
1831
1831
Port of Lowestoft harbour constructed
With the later addition of a railway in 1847, the town expanded as a major fishing port and seaside resort.
1831
Chamber member, the Suffolk Agricultural Association, was formed to promote and celebrate farming in the region.
1842
1842
Ipswich Wet Dock Constructed
The dock was constructed by the Chamber’s founding organisation, the Ipswich Dock Commission.
It helped to attract new industries to the dock and supported greater trading capabilities into Ipswich.
1842
R&W Pauls Ltd founded
The grain and malting business, based on the Ipswich docks, was founded by brothers, William Francis Paul & Robert Stocker Paul.
They were both founding members of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.
1849
1849
Chamber member Suffolk Building Society founded
The Society formed as Ipswich & Suffolk Freehold Land Society to improve the social position of ordinary people.
1851
Diversity & inclusion
1851
Phillips and Piper founded
The once Chamber member Phillips and Piper made quality clothing such as equestrian wear. Founded in 1851, it was operational for 131 years, and employed thousands of women throughout that time. Many employees joined the company as soon as they left school and stayed for decades.
Chamber records show the company exported many of their jackets abroad, particularly to European countries such as France and Denmark.
1855
1855
Robert Boby Ltd founded
Robert Boby founded the engineering works Robert Boby Ltd in Bury St Edmunds, employing hundreds of workers and providing products for the agriculture and malting industry.
1859
1859
East Suffolk Railway Line opens
The East Suffolk Line from Ipswich to Lowestoft opened in 1859, followed by the Felixstowe branch a few years later.
Lowestoft was a major manufacturing base until the 1930s and played a key role in the country’s economy. The arrival of rail line opened up business opportunities for industries with fish and other cargo able to be transported quicker to London.
The un-electrified 49-mile coastal railway line used to have branches to Framlingham, Snape Bridge, and in 1860, to Aldeburgh. The East Suffolk Line was absorbed into the new Great Eastern Railway in 1862.
1860
1860
The Association of Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom formed
The association first formed with sixteen founding members. Today, with a membership of fifty-three Chambers, the association is known as the British Chambers of Commerce.
1863
Diversity & inclusion
1863
Maharajah Duleep Singh arrived in Suffolk
The Maharajah purchased Elveden Estate where he employed local tradesmen to restore the local school, church and housing in the area, and to renovate Elveden Hall in the image of the Indian palaces of his childhood.
1866
1866
Edward Packard Jr joins his father’s business
Edward joined his father’s fertiliser business, E. Packard & Co, in 1866 with his brother, Henry.
He went on to become a pioneering business leader in Suffolk and was the driving force behind the formation of the Chamber of Commerce in Suffolk.
1868
1868
Sterling Westhorp opens practice
Westhorp was a solicitor and ran his practice on Museum Street, Ipswich. The practice later merged to become Chamber Patron Birketts LLP.
Westhorp served as Mayor of Ipswich in the Suffolk Chamber’s founding year, 1884.
1869
1869
Ransomes & Rapier founded
Ransomes & Rapier was formed by four engineers from Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies, including Richard Christopher Rapier, a founding member of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.
1870
1870
Henry Clement Casley qualifies as a solicitor
Casley qualified as a solicitor in 1870, and later served as the solicitor to the Ipswich Dock Commission, the organisation responsible for the formation of the Suffolk Chamber.
Significantly, he was the Suffolk Chamber’s first and longest serving secretary – a position he held from 1884 to 1932.
1876
1876
Felix Thornley Cobbold joins the family business
The youngest son of John Chevallier Cobbold, Felix joined the family business, Cobbold & Co, in 1876.
Felix was a founding member of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.
1877
1877
Felixstowe Railway & Pier Company opens first station
On the 1st of May, 1877, Felixstowe’s first station opened, near what is now the Port of Felixstowe.
Today, the railway remains busy, transporting passengers to Ipswich in just 25 minutes and facilitating the movement of goods across the UK.
The Port of Felixstowe is now the busiest container port in the UK and a significant local employer. Felixstowe owes much of its growth and prosperity to the enduring impact of its railway.
1878
1878
Chamber patron Ipswich Town Football Club was formed
Diversifying Business
The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce emerged as a beacon of collaboration amidst a period of burgeoning business expansion. Meanwhile, women experienced a notable shift in their position in public life.
1884
1884
Founding of the Chamber of Commerce in Suffolk
Motivated by the challenge of competing ports across the Suffolk border in Essex, members of the Ipswich Dock Commission envisioned a unified Chamber of Commerce.
Learn more about the founding of the Suffolk Chamber here1884
Cranfield Brothers Ltd founded
John George Cranfield, a pioneer in steel roller milling, was one of the first members of the Suffolk Chamber and its Chairman in 1895.
With many years’ experience in mills in the USA and Northern Ireland, he founded Cranfield Flour Mills on the Ipswich Waterfront with his brother, Thomas, and the mills operated at the site for over a century.
1886
Diversity & inclusion
1886
Ellen Chaloner – ‘First Lady of the Turf’
Living in Newmarket, Ellen was a pioneering woman in the world of horse racing.
She became the first woman to receive a horse training permit in the UK, paving the way for other women in the industry.
1886
The first small dock was built at Felixstowe
The original dock could accommodate vessels up to 30 metres long – today, the port can accommodate the largest vessel in the world, which is 400 metres long!
1898
Diversity & inclusion
1898
Nina Layard
Nina was in a minority in the male-dominated areas of archaeology, prehistory and geology.
She led the first excavations in Blackfriars monastery, Ipswich. This made a massive contribution to the understanding of local history and the archaeology of the town.
In 1921, she made history as the first woman to be the president of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia.
1898
Paravanni’s Ice Cream
Suffolk-based Parravani’s Ice Cream in the oldest ice creamery in the UK. It was founded in Norwich in 1898 by Giuseppe Parravani, who was originally from Italy. Giuseppe expanded his business to Bungay, where he settled with his family.
Following Giuseppe’s untimely death in 1931, his eldest son, Augie, continued the business, which grew with the addition of ice cream vans. Augie and his brothers ran the business until Augie’s retirement in 1985. The business then shifted to Chedgrave in 1986, and by 1987, Domenico and his son Paul took over, expanding to Beccles in 2012.
They now supply premium ice creams, sorbets, and pastries across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.
1900
Diversity & inclusion
1900
Stephen Walters and Sons move to Cornard Road
Suffolk Chamber member, Stephen Walters and Sons, moved to their current site in Sudbury. They continue their legacy today as specialists in luxury woven jacquard fabrics and a mass employer of women.
1904
Diversity & inclusion
1904
William Pretty & Sons open onsite creche
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, there were an estimated 750,000 mothers working in Britain.
Unusual for its time, founding Chamber member William Pretty & Sons – the first corset factory in the country – provided parents with access to an onsite creche, enabling working class mothers to source an additional income for their families.
1908
Diversity & inclusion
1908
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson
Elizabeth was the first female mayor in the country, serving in Aldeburgh. She was also a suffragist and the first professional female physician in Britain.
Her sister, Millicent Fawcett, was a leading suffragist, writer and co-founder of Newham College, Cambridge. Another sister, Agnes Garrett, co-founded the first women-led interior design company in Britain.
1909
1909
The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce in Bury St Edmunds founded
In June 1909, prominent traders in the market town gathered to form a Chamber of Trade.
Founding members included Sidney Allingham, director of Robert Boby Ltd, and Henry Bankes Ashton, of Chamber member Ashtons Legal LLP.
1910
Diversity & inclusion
1910
Edith Maud Cook
Ipswich-born Edith was a parachutist and aviator. Having enrolled into the Bleriot aviation school in France, Edith went on to become the first British woman to pilot a plane in 1910.
Learn more about historic Suffolk womenCrisis & Collaboration
World War I saw businesses mobilise on a huge scale to serve the war effort. Women entered the workforce.
1915
1915
‘Stokes mortar’ invented in Ipswich
Vital on the Western Front, the weapon was invented by Sir Wilfred Stokes – the Managing Director of Chamber member Ransomes & Rapier.
Designed for infantry use in the trenches to match the German “Minenwerfer”, the Stokes Mortar had a short-range and high trajectory that was crucial for trench warfare.
Capable of firing up to 25 bombs per minute at a range of around 1,000 metres, over 11,000 Stokes mortars were manufactured during the war.
1915
East Anglian Munitions Committee formed
Under the leadership of Sir Wilfred Stokes, the committee formed as the first cooperative in Britain for munitions production, manufacturing over one million shells throughout the war.
Several Suffolk Chamber members were part of the committee, and many local businesses supported their work.
1916
Diversity & inclusion
1916
Chamber support “female substitutes”
Chamber discussion in Ipswich centred on the subject of “the provision of female substitutes for male clerical staff”.
The Chamber worked in conjunction with the Local Education Authority to start emergency training classes for women in clerical skills such as shorthand, typewriting and bookkeeping.
1916
Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies support war effort
During the war, over 2,000 women were employed at Chamber member Ransomes, producing a variety of shells and munitions.
They also manufactured early aircraft used by the Royal Flying Corps. Around 350 fighter planes were built in Ipswich.
1916
Summer Time Act
The introduction of the Summer Time Act in May 1916 marked the inception of daylight saving time – where the clocks are adjusted twice a year to extend daylight hours during the summer months. Recognized as an emergency war measure, its primary objective was to optimize daylight hours for increased wartime production.
In 1917, the Chamber provided details around the impact of this scheme on industry.
1916
E.R.F. Turner Ltd. support war effort
The longstanding Chamber member supported the work of the East Anglian Munitions Committee by producing factory equipment and tools that enabled women and unskilled labourers to manufacture shells.
1918
1918
Spanish Flu pandemic emerges
The first reports of the Spanish Flu emerged in the spring of 1918 in army bases in the US state of Kansas.
The disease disproportionately affected young adults, and was quickly spread by the movement of troops in Europe, infecting around 500 million people worldwide in two years.
The Suffolk Chamber’s then chairman, Sydney Bland, alongside other Chamber members, were part of a Suffolk-focused Public Health Committee that worked to stem the outbreak of the disease in the region.
Interwar Years
Despite the lasting effects of the war, Suffolk business expanded in this period.
1919
Diversity & inclusion
1919
Lady Evelyn Balfour moves to Suffolk
A leading organic farming pioneer and founder of The Soil Association, Lady Eve Balfour, bought her first farm in Stowmarket aged just 21.
Find out more about Lady Balfour1921
1921
Hughes Electrical founded
In 1921 Frank Hughes opened his workshop in Lowestoft. By 1928, he opened his first shop, specialising in radios tailored to the needs of the local community.
A member of the Suffolk Chamber, Hughes is now the UK’s third largest electrical retailer. The business is run by the third generation of the Hughes family – Robert and Jeremy – and continues its legacy of innovation.
1923
1923
The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce in Lowestoft formed
Driven by issues around local infrastructure, ship broker George Frederick Spashett and local draper Charlie Culf sought the foundation of a Chamber to collectively represent the local business community.
1923
S. Sacker Limited founded
Chamber patron Sackers, a scrap metal and waste recycling company, was founded by Sydney Sacker.
His son-in-law, David Myer, joined the business in 1946. He later became President of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce in Ipswich, serving two terms from 1971 to 1973, and for a second time in 1982 – with a hiatus to serve as Mayor of Ipswich in 1977.
1924
1924
British Sugar factory opens in Bury St Edmunds
In a region now renowned for its sugar beet industry, the site in Bury St Edmunds began operating under the management of the United Sugar Company who quickly joined the ranks of the Chamber of Commerce.
In 1936, the sugar beet industry was nationalised and taken over by the British Sugar Corporation, who remain a loyal member of the Chamber.
Diversity & inclusion
1924
Mrs Ethel Norton joins Suffolk Chamber
Uncovered in our research are the early minute notes of the Suffolk Chamber in Lowestoft, which reveal the first female member of a Chamber of Commerce in Suffolk as early as April 1924.
Mrs Ethel Norton, of the Sunnydene Private Hotel, on North Parade, joined the Chamber and its group for Hotel Proprietors, Licensed Victuallers, and Boarding Housekeepers Committee.
1929
1929
Bartrums founded
Leonard Bartrum first founded haulage firm Bartrums after he purchased a single vehicle in February 1929.
Today the family’s legacy continues after almost a century in business, committed to providing reliable and quality haulage services to customers across the UK.
1930
Diversity & inclusion
1930
Ras Prince Monolulu at Newmarket Racecourse
Ras Prince Monolulu, one of the first Black people to appear on British television, made his money selling tips at Chamber member Newmarket Racecourse and other racecourses across Britain.
His exclamation, “I’ve got a horse!”, became a symbol of his enthusiasm for the sport.
1930
Chamber lobby for trade in Bury St Edmunds
The Suffolk Chamber in Bury St Edmunds fervently supported local trade by organising a series of trade exhibitions, one of which occurred in the Cornhill in September 1930.
1933
Diversity & inclusion
1933
Ernst Freud flees Nazi Germany, builds in Suffolk
The youngest son of Sigmund Freud, architect Ernst Freud escaped Jewish persecution in Nazi Germany and fled to Britain.
1933
Funfair opens at Mannings Amusements
The funfair at Mannings Amusements, Felixstowe, first open as an attraction in 1933 when Sir Billy Butlin built one of his earliest resorts.
The site was taken over by the Manning family in 1946, and is still owned by the family today.
1934
1934
Muntons PLC acquired site in Ipswich
The Baker-Munton family have a history of trading in malt and grain going back to the nineteenth century. Following the success of their first malting factory in Bedford in 1921, Chamber member Muntons soon acquired Edward Fison Ltd, on the Ipswich docks.
In 1948, a rapid increase in trade led to purchasing a site in Stowmarket formally owned by British Nylon Spinners, before moving to the purpose-built Cedars Maltings site in Stowmarket in 1976 where Muntons remains to this day.
1936
Diversity & inclusion
1936
Invention of Radar
In September 1937, RAF Bawdsey became the first fully operational Radar station in the world, just a short eighteen months after the first experiment, conducted by Robert Watson Watt and
Arnold Wilkins, established that by using transmitted radio waves it was possible to detect an approaching aircraft. Bawdsey Manor Estate became the national hub of a radar research and operations, with 240ft wooden receiver towers and 360ft steel transmitter towers.
Many women worked at Bawdsey during the Second World War, providing intelligence during the Battle of Britain. The site remained operational until 1991, and now hosts the Bawdsey Radar Museum.
1936 & 1938
Diversity & inclusion
1936 & 1938
Herring Lassies go on strike
Every year thousands of women were employed in Lowestoft to gut and pack herring. Known as the Herring Lassies, they followed the fish migration down the east coast, from Scotland to Suffolk.
Learn more about the Herring Lassies here1938
Diversity & inclusion
1938
Devora Peake established first orchard
Born in Tel Aviv, 23-year-old Devora Peake set up a 120-acre apple farm in Boxford near Sudbury with her first husband.
Today, the farm now forms part of the Boxford Group.
Suffolk at War
Many Chamber of Commerce businesses were once again mobilised to war.
1938
1938
Chamber supports the Air Raid Precaution Committee
The Air Raid Precaution Committee was in place to coordinate action against enemy air raids. In preparation for aerial attack, many Chamber members enrolled their employees in training to deal with the aftermath of air raids.
Businesses around the docks in Ipswich and Lowestoft had their own fire brigades to deal with the effects of German bombardment.
1939
Diversity & inclusion
1939
Edith Pretty
Edith oversaw the excavations of the Sutton Hoo ship on her estate in Suffolk, which the British Museum considered to be ‘one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time’.
She was also the daughter-in-law of Chamber member William Pretty.
Diversity & inclusion
1939
Suffolk Women’s Land Army
Reformed in June, many women swiftly joined the the Women’s Land Army (WLA) to support farming in Suffolk, with many women living away from home in hostels and experiencing the countryside and agricultural work for the first time. At its peak in 1944, there were more than 80,000 women involved doing tough, physical and sometimes dangerous work.
Now, luxury accommodation at the Stoke by Nayland Resort stands on the site of one of these hostels.
1939
A special Christmas gathering
From September 1939, 1.5 million people were relocated through “Operation Pied Piper”. As well as school children, over half a million young mothers, babies and pregnant women were evacuated to rural areas across the country, including towns such as Bury St Edmunds.
Conscious of the upheaval caused by evacuation, the Chamber of Commerce in Bury St Edmunds organised a Christmas party for these families and other children in the community.
1939
Ports at War
All along the coast, the major Suffolk ports were commissioned by the navy as military bases to protect from invasion by sea. Lowestoft housed HMS Europa from 1939, and Felixstowe followed suit with HMS Beehive in 1940.
As the most easterly point in Britain with the headquarters of the Royal Naval Patrol Service , Lowestoft was a major target for enemy bombing. Often the last point of Britain to be flown over, any leftover bombs were dropped on Lowestoft before German bombers returned to base.
1940
1940
Possibility of Compulsory Evacuation
Following the emergency evacuation of the British military from Dunkirk in June, Britain faced a very real threat of invasion.
3,500 children were evacuated from Lowestoft in June, and in September a meeting of the Chamber in Lowestoft addressed the possibility of evacuating the rest of the town’s non-essential population as the threat of coastal invasion grew.
Diversity & inclusion
1940
Greene King’s “Bottle Girls”
During WWII, breweries recruited women into their bottling teams. With many men stationed abroad, the women worked on bottling lines, inspecting and packing bottles. These women made up a huge part of Chamber member Greene King’s team in Bury St Edmunds.
1941
1941
“Save Your Way to Victory!”
As part of the National Savings Movement, the War Savings Campaign was critical in funding vital military equipment, including aircraft, ships and weapons. Local events were organised to encourage people to invest their savings in government bonds.
With support of the local Chamber of Commerce, Bury St Edmunds hosted a programme of events to raise funds and boost morale. The campaign was a huge success – within two days, it surpassed its target of £150,000.
Global Connections
An era of diversification and international trade for Suffolk businesses.
1945
1945
Denny Brothers founded
In the humble confines of their garden shed in Bury St Edmunds, brothers Douglas and Russell Denny laid the foundation for Chamber member Denny Bros on their 1930s printing press. An army veteran, Douglas honed his craft, printing an array of items from letterheads to children’s colouring books.
The brothers quickly expanded their business. A pivotal moment came in 1977, when Denny Bros patented the innovative Fix-a-Form label which became a huge success on global markets, allowing information leaflets to be printed as fixed labels on products. In 2001 Denny Bros built their environmentally accredited production site at Kempson Way in Bury St Edmunds.
Their legacy endures, and in 2023, Denny Bros were awarded the East Anglian Daily Times Suffolk Business of the Year Award.
1946
1946
Re-establishing international networks
A collection of letters, received by the Suffolk Chamber in Lowestoft in the aftermath of the war, reveals the significance of the Chamber as a means of re-establishing imperative peacetime trading connections.
Click here to download the collection
1946
Support for the ‘Hub of East Anglia’
To support trade in to Bury St Edmunds, the Chamber launched a new Trader magazine, which highlighted Bury St Edmunds as a “the Hub of East Anglia”.
1949
Diversity & inclusion
1949
Arrival of Suffolk’s first working Sikh family
The Singh family settled in Ipswich, bringing their entrepreneurial skills to the county.
Members of the Swali and Digpal families initially became property landlords, door-to-door peddlers, and skilled industry workers.
They went on to run other businesses, including shops selling household items, food, toys and clothing.
1961
Diversity & inclusion
1961
Traders Appoint First Woman as Chair
Miss Joyce Ely, who ran a gift shop called “The Corner Shop” in Bury St Edmunds, became the first female chair Suffolk Chamber in Bury St Edmunds. Miss Ely was appointed in Bury St Edmunds after serving as vice-president in 1960.
1961
PCE Automation founded
Originating in Beccles, this Chamber member business was founded by Ernest James Cook as a boat building enterprise. Adapting to the challenges faced by a downturn in the local tourism industry, they diversified into packaging machinery to become PCE Automation.
Six decades later, under four generations of family leadership, their factory is still based in the heart of Suffolk, with customers based across the world.
1962
1962
Container Innovation in Suffolk
The 1960s saw the introduction of containerised shipping at the Port of Felixstowe, marking a pivotal moment in trade.
As the UK’s first purpose-built container handling facility, it revolutionised shipping practices. The installation of the first crane in 1966, boasting a 32-ton capacity, symbolised this transformation.
Today, Chamber member the Port of Felixstowe remains the nation’s largest and busiest container port, with ongoing developments like Berths 8 and 9 catering to the world’s largest container ships.
1962
Chamber Patron Ipswich Football Town Club win the First Division title
The Tractor Boys win the league for the first time, under the guidance of Sir Alfred Ramsey.
1964
Diversity & inclusion
1964
Taj Mahal restaurant opened
Syed Robbani opened the Taj Mahal in Norwich Road, Ipswich in 1964.
It is said to be the first Indian restaurant in the East of England and was a popular dining spot for many locals including Sir Bobby Robson while he was ITFC’s manager between 1969 and 1982.
Robbani retired in 2022, and the restaurant has since closed.
1965
1965
East Suffolk Line campaign
Instructed by the infamous “Beeching Report”, the British government planned to axe the East Suffolk Line between Ipswich and Lowestoft.
The Chamber successfully campaigned across the county, saving most of the railway line and stations.
1966
1966
Suffolk Chamber campaigned on the Orwell Bridge
Almost two decades before it was officially opened, the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce recognised the need for a bridge over the River Orwell in Ipswich to support the county’s prospering trade.
1967
Diversity & inclusion
1967
Fitzroy Matthew joins Cranes Foundry
The renowned Cranes Foundry, established in the 1920s, had become a major employer of Windrush Generations by the 1960s. It earned the local nickname “the United Nations” due to its diverse workforce from around the world.
Fitzroy Matthew, from St Kitts, started working as a machine operator in 1967 at the age of 16, and remained at the firm for 32 years.
1967
The Seagull Theatre founded
In 1967, Suffolk County Council converted a disused ex-school building into an arts centre. It was named “The Seagull Theatre” by the local acting group, and remained a theatre and Arts College until funding was withdrawn in 2006.
Following the formation of the “Save our Seagull” group, with patrons including Dame Judi Dench and Desmond Barrit, the theatre was saved and reopened in February 2009.
Today, it remains an important performing arts venue, offering a diverse range of shows, classes and workshops.
1969
Diversity & inclusion
1969
Golden House Takeaway opened
Opened by Hong-Kong born Charles Chung, the Golden House Takeaway was the first Chinese takeaway opened in East Anglia.
The restaurant remains at the same location in Bury St Edmunds today.
1971
1971
Treatt established headquarters in Bury St Edmunds
Treatt are a trusted natural extracts and ingredients manufacturer, with bases in the UK, the US and China.
The company began in 1886, when its founder, Richard Court Treatt began trading in essential oils on Bond Street. In 1971, the company moved its headquarters to Suffolk, where it still operates in Bury St Edmunds today.
1972
1972
David Redhead initiates trade in the Middle East
As a young salesman representing Chamber member BSP Tex Ltd, David Redhead embarked on his first overseas mission to Iran. David played a pivotal role in establishing BSP’s trade relations overseas, representing the Suffolk business in over 80 countries.
His vast wealth of knowledge and experience in international trade laid the foundations for the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce’s later trade missions in the 1980s and 90s, as David provided vital support to the Chamber and its members as they journeyed abroad. David served as a Chamber President in 2002 and was a longtime chair of the Suffolk Chamber International Trade Group.
1973
1973
Britain joins the European Economic Community
Britain joins the EEC after signing the Treaty of Accession in January 1972.
1974
1974
Energy Crisis
As a result of ongoing industrial action, the government announced a series of measures to conserve electricity including the Three-Day Week, which limited commercial use of electricity to three shortened days per week.
Amidst the crisis, the Suffolk Chamber provided essential updates from the Department of Trade and Industry to local businesses and gathered information from industry that informed government support strategies.
1974
Campaign for Christmas
With unanimous Chamber support, a campaign was launched to fix Christmas as a bank holiday! The aim was to ensure women working in shops could spend the holidays with their industry-employed husbands, who were on leave at Christmas.
More on the campaign hereThe Age of Transformation
The growth of technology, services sectors and the migrant economy.
1975
1975
Chamber Patron BT formally opens ‘BT Laboratories’ at Martlesham
Planning began for the telecommunications research site in 1968, replacing the wartime Dollis Hill research station in North London.
It was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, and in 1999 it was rebranded as Adastral Park. Today, the site boasts nearly 5,000 patents and is renowned as a centre of innovation in the UK and houses an ecosystem of over 150 ICT companies through Innovation Martlesham.
1975
The Willis building opened in Ipswich
This iconic building was designed by world-renowned architect Lord Norman Foster and houses our Chamber Patron WTW.
Formally opened by Sir Harold Macmillan, it was a major milestone in Lord Foster’s career, being the first open plan office building in Britain.
In 1991, the building was listed Grade 1 – the youngest building in Britain to be given this status.
1977
Diversity & inclusion
1977
Ipswich Suffolk Council for Racial Equality founded
Chamber member ISCRE was created from the need to address racial inequalities in Suffolk. It became a registered charity in 1996. Today, it strives to promote policies and practices that erase discrimination and foster equality and good relations among all individuals.
Click here for more about the founders1979
1979
New Wolsey Theatre opened
Situated on Civic Drive in Ipswich, the theatre was designed by Roderick Ham and opened in October 1979 as a replacement for the Ipswich Arts Theatre which had opened in 1947.
Today, the theatre is operated by the New Wolsey Theatre Company, with a mission to create, develop and produce a dynamic programme of theatre for people across Suffolk and surrounding areas.
1982
1982
Eastern Angles founded
Eastern Angles is a touring theatre company based in Ipswich.
Established in 1982, the company brings high-quality productions of new writing to the rural towns and villages of the East of England. The group also offers school tours and workshops, site-specific performances and occasional national tours, including performances in London and at the Edinburgh Festival.
Eastern Angles’ aspiration to be radically hospitable aims to remove barriers that prevent people from participating in the shared experience of arts, heritage and culture. They place an extraordinary emphasis on making all people feel welcome and are committed to enhancing engagement in culture in the East of England – to children, young people and an intergenerational audience.
1983
1983
DanceEast founded
Founded as Suffolk Dance in 1983 by Dr Scilla Dyke MBE, DanceEast is based in the striking Jerwood DanceHouse on the Ipswich Waterfront and has become known for its excellence.
It has a diverse programme, including world class performances and classes, and its digital suite offers broadcast-quality green screen and production facilities.
1987
1987
The Chamber founded Suffolk International Trade Group
The establishment of the Suffolk International Trade Group marked a new era of expansion for the Chamber and international trade.
1987
Associated British Ports invest in Suffolk ports
Following an investment of £1.4 million by Chamber Patron ABP, a new fish market opened at Lowestoft in October 1987.
ABP have continued to expand its operations to this day, with further investment in the local area and support for the growing renewables sector on the east coast.
1989
Diversity & inclusion
1989
Rafi’s Spicebox founded
Born in India, Rafi Fernandez moved to England in 1965. An expert in Indian and Malaysian cooking, she opened her own delicatessen in Sudbury.
Her innovative curry packs quickly gained fame, and she became the UK’s first well-known South Asian chef and author of cookbooks.
1992
Diversity & inclusion
1992
Challenger Shipping founded
The UK economy re-structured during the 1980s and 1990s, resulting in the reduction in UK manufacturing. A vast number of jobs were lost, including many people from the Caribbean who had been invited to the UK to work. Left without employment, many returned home.
Charles Challenger set up Challenger Shipping to provide people with a specialist cargo service to transport their belongings back home. A former Chamber member, Charles was pleased to see that although many Windrush Pioneers arrived in the UK with just a suitcase – known as a ‘grip’ – they returned with full shipping containers!
1993
Diversity & inclusion
1993
Chamber’s First Woman President
Annette Whybrow became the first female president of the Chamber in Ipswich. This was a significant step forwards in recognising women’s contributions to the economy, and a milestone for the Suffolk Chamber.
Annette was also a well-respected partner in corporate law at Chamber Patron Birketts LLP, and a pioneer for women in business.
1998
Diversity & inclusion
1998
Bangladeshi Support Centre founded
Founded in Ipswich by a dedicated group of volunteers, the Bangladeshi Support Centre – now BSC Multicultural Services – remains a beacon of support for local communities.
Achieving charity status in 2001, it has since helped thousands of people, providing vital support services and programmes to people from all faiths and backgrounds.
Connectivity in times of Challenge
Suffolk businesses remained resilient, diverse and collaborative.
2000
2000
4YP founded
4YP was first established as the Suffolk Young People’s Health Project in 2000, and became known as 4YP in 2005.
Their vision today is that all children, young people and young adults have somewhere safe to go, something positive to do and someone trusted to connect and journey with.
They provide support across Suffolk in a huge variety of ways, from youth work and activities, to presence in schools through one-to-ones and counselling.
2006
Diversity & inclusion
2006
First Chamber President of colour
Lina Hogg , Managing Director of Chamber member Picasso HR, assumed the role of President of the Suffolk Chamber – marking a historic moment as the Chamber’s first president of colour.
2007
2007
Chamber Patron, University of Suffolk, founded
University Campus Suffolk was created from a collaboration between the Chamber member University of Essex and the Chamber member University of East Anglia, to bring a higher education campus to Suffolk.
Diversity & inclusion
2007
HighTide theatre company founded.
HighTide is a theatre company set up to support new writers.
Founded in Aldeburgh and now based at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich, the organisation is writer-centred, and celebrates the joy and power of new plays. HighTide tours productions across the East of England, and beyond. It runs programmes for writers, schools and communities, and is committed to ensuring people from all backgrounds can participate in the joy and power of theatre.
Among its trustees is the award-winning Black playwright, Juliet Gilkes Romero, who grew up in Trimley.
2010
Diversity & inclusion
2010
Suffolk Business Women (SBW) became part of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
With initial support from Suffolk County Council and previous Chamber President Lina Hogg, the already well-established “SBW” became an integral part of the Suffolk Chamber, dedicated to empowering and championing the impactful contributions of women in business and beyond.
SBW continues to support business women in our county and has been key to a number of our policy and lobbying campaigns, including improvements to flexible working options, supporting workplace menopause policies, and the creation of Suffolk Chamber’s gender equality pledge.
Diversity & inclusion
2010
Anglo Chinese Cultural Exchange founded
Founded by Lydia Tse MBE in 2010, the Anglo Chinese Cultural Exchange aims to connect local communities with the Chinese culture that is represented in Suffolk.
The charity offers services including wellbeing activities, supplementary school, cultural workshops and Mandarin Chinese lessons.
Lydia also supports international trade delegations with translation services between China and Suffolk, Essex and London.
2010
Sizewell C: A Future Milestone for Sustainable Suffolk
Chamber Patron Sizewell C promises sustainable nuclear energy, bolstering the UK’s power supply while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
Since 2010, the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has spearheaded the local Sizewell C supply chain, ensuring that local and regional businesses are at the forefront of business opportunities provided by this monumental project. Together, we’re shaping a prosperous future for Suffolk.
2010
“Our Bury St Edmunds” BID created
A Business Improvement District (BID) enables local businesses within a defined geographic area to contribute a percentage of their rateable value to an independent, non-profit organisation. This organisation then spends the money on behalf of the businesses to provide additional benefits beyond those mandated by statutory authorities, improving the trading environment for its members.
In 2023, the UK has over 300 BIDs, with five located in Suffolk: Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Lowestoft, Newmarket, and Felixstowe.
The Bury St Edmunds BID was established on April 1st, 2010, and has successfully renewed for its third five-year term starting April 1st, 2020.
2012
2012
Suffolk Libraries takes over library service
Headquartered in Ipswich, Suffolk Libraries is a charity which has run local libraries around the county since August 2012.
They nurture children’s literacy, support vulnerable people and promote wellbeing including innovating menopause support services.
Menopause & Me is delivered by the Libraries in partnership with Suffolk Mind and funded by the Department for Health & Social Care. The project includes support groups, classes and online resources, and 50 local businesses have already signed the menopause pledge.
2013
2013
Lowestoft Vision Business Improvement District launched
Lowestoft Vision, the Business Improvement District for Lowestoft’s town centre managed by Suffolk Chamber, was established to help improve the trading environment, attract more visitors and businesses, and create a vibrant and sustainable town centre.
2013
The Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce formed.
With integral support from the Suffolk Chamber, the taskforce formed to campaign for rail improvements across East Anglia
2013
No Toll Tax Campaign
The Suffolk Chamber led a hugely successful campaign against the proposed ‘toll tax’ on the A14, crucial for the Suffolk economy and trade with east coast ports.
The toll scheme aimed to fund road improvements but would burden both commercial and general users. Following the Suffolk Chamber’s relentless campaign, the government opted for conventional funding and the toll tax was dropped.
In 2014, the British Chambers of Commerce honoured the Suffolk Chamber with the ‘Most Effective Campaigning’ award for its efforts.
2014
Diversity & inclusion
2014
Sarah Howard MBE serves as Suffolk Chamber President
Director of Chamber member, Sarand Business Software in Haverhill, was elected as Suffolk Chamber’s President from 2014 to 2017.
Sarah has gone on to become both the first female and the first Suffolk representative to chair the British Chamber of Commerce, as well as having a number of other prestigious local and national boards, and governance roles.
2014
New Anglia Growth Hub established
Funded through New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and delivered by the Suffolk Chamber, the partnership is established to provide support and grants to businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Diversity & inclusion
2014
Fleximize founded
Launched in 2014, Chamber member Fleximize set out to empower small businesses, helping them to unleash the potential of their ideas with the knowledge, tools, and financial flexibility they need to thrive.
An integral part of Fleximize is their inclusive company culture, made up of a powerfully diverse team including colleagues of multiple ethnicities and cultures, and currently majority female staff.
2015
Diversity & inclusion
2015
Ipswich Community Media launched
Ipswich Community Media (ICM) was launched in 2015 by a group of people with a shared vision to serve the local community through music, media, the creative arts, and language learning. It became a registered charity in 2019.
ICM’s focus is rooted in a deep belief in fairness and social justice, to work with those at the very margins of society to make Ipswich a better place for all.
Diversity & inclusion
2015
Future Female Society founded
Chamber member, Future Female Society, aims to close the gap in inequality for women and girls in Suffolk.
Their aim is to help raise self-esteem and confidence levels, broaden personal and career aspirations and help women and girls in the community reach their full potential.
The organisation supports and cultivates creative women to become the best they can be, and help each other to influence social change through classes, workshops and school visits.
2016
2016
TechEast, delivered by Suffolk Chamber, is launched to accelerate the digital tech economy in East Anglia.
2017
2017
The British Chambers of Commerce launches ‘No More Not-Spots’ campaign
The Suffolk Chamber supported the campaign, which aimed to reduce not-spots for mobile signal across the country, emphasising the importance for businesses and residents in Suffolk.
Diversity & inclusion
2017
Lilian’s Kitchen founded
Born and raised in Singapore, Lilia began her culinary journey assisting her parents on their food stall. Her passion for food led her to become a chef, working in prestigious hotels, including Raffles Singapore, and teaching.
Lilian later moved to Bury St Edmunds, and juggled teaching with motherhood and entrepreneurship. She founded Lilian’s Kitchen in 2017, offering bespoke cakes, private chef services and cooking lessons.
Lilian launched her own cookery school in 2021, whilst developing recipes for health food companies and consultancy for a sushi manufacturer.
Unsurprisingly, Lilian is a multi-award-winner and has written for local press titles. In February 2024, she published her cookbook, marking another milestone in her culinary career.
2017
SPILL festival moves to Suffolk
SPILL is an arts organisation and registered charity based in Ipswich, a town in the East of England. They create events for the people of Ipswich, East Anglia, and further afield, and work with artists to develop their practice.
Every two years, they stage the world-renowned SPILL Festival bringing internationally significant and ground-breaking artists’ work to Ipswich and the UK.
SPILL also runs year-round events and activities in the SPILL Think Tank venue, next door to Ipswich Museum, feeding their festival programme and developing new audiences.
2018
2018
Humber Doucy Brewing Co. founded
Co-founded in 2018 by father and son, Alan and John Ridealgh, they spent a year converting an old garage in Bacton into a smart brewery, commencing regular brewing in July 2019.
2019
2019
The Suffolk Chamber appoints two Brexit advisers
With funding from the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders group, the Suffolk Chamber appointed two Brexit Business advisers to assist companies in Suffolk with the UK’s exit from the European Union.
Shipping corporation and Chamber patron, Cory Bros recall –
“The Suffolk Chamber of Commerce played a crucial role throughout Brexit for us…the Chamber became a trusted ‘go-to’ for reliable information. We were able to have one-on-ones and group conference calls where they were able to translate and interpret complex regulations which steered us and other Chamber members on what to expect .”
2019
Improving Workplace Health team formed
Partnering with Suffolk County Public Health & Communities, the Suffolk Chamber has worked to improve workplace wellbeing, bringing resources and knowledge to businesses to support people at work.
View our workplace health resources2019
First Light CIC launched
First Light Festival Community Interest Company (CIC) is a not-for-profit organisation, based in Lowestoft, that aims to shine a spotlight on the region, and the wealth of talent and creativity that exists in Suffolk.
Each year, the First Light Festival is hosted in Lowestoft – a community gathering that warmly welcomes those from down the road and across the world to celebrate a unique place at a very special time: the first sunrise of midsummer in the UK’s most easterly town.
2020
2020
COVID-19 Pandemic
As the pandemic upended normality, the Chamber remained a steadfast support for the business community, delivering vital updates, translating government information, and providing free and informative business webinars just weeks after the first national lockdown began.
Designed in partnership with the University of Suffolk, the infographic above showcases the Chamber’s vital policy wins during such challenging times.
2020
Kickstart scheme launched nationally
With huge support from the Suffolk Chamber, the Kickstart scheme is launched in Suffolk to combat youth unemployment during the pandemic.
Suffolk Chamber’s own ‘Kickstarter’ remains within our team to this day.
2021
2021
Suffolk Chamber’s “Ten Steps to Net Zero” campaign launched
2021
Diversity X founded
Founded in 2021, Chamber member Diversity X is a community and angel syndicate supporting underestimated founders® who have the potential to make a significant impact in their respective industries.
The company focuses on entrepreneurs, who are female, people of colour, neuro-diverse, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled, or who are older.
Due to the team’s wealth of experience with start-ups, they understand the unique challenges, so they provide financial support, mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to help companies succeed.
2021
West Suffolk College integrates Black history all year
West Suffolk College became the first further education college in the UK to teach Black history all year round, thanks to the work of Ellisha Soanes.
She won the President’s Award for this achievement in 2021. This breakthrough work has had a positive impact on the FE sector and beyond.
2021
Felixstowe BID established
Felixstowe BID, a not-for-profit organisation with the aim of enhancing trade and footfall in Felixstowe, was set up in April 2021 after a majority of local business owners voted in favour of the initiative.
Kate Cain, Felixstowe BID manager, launched the successful Love Felixstowe Festival in 2023 to encourage footfall to the town’s main shopping street and seafront.
Coinciding with the Tour of Britain cycle race, Love Felixstowe attracted families from around the county and beyond between the 2nd and 7th September.
2022
2022
Suffolk’s International Trade Group relaunched to support local business and trade
Find out more about SITG here2022
Suffolk Chamber met with Governor of the Bank of England
2022
Suffolk Chamber launches a new Net Zero Group
The group is dedicated to discussing business environmental issues and the climate crisis.
Click here to visit our Net Zero hub2022
Best Health at Work Initiative launched to provide further research and information around employee wellbeing
2022
Suffolk and Norfolk Chambers of Commerce awarded government funding to work with employers and training providers to prepare a Local Skills Improvement Plan
2022
Alkemy Distillery founded
Chamber member Alkemy Distillery is a one-of-a-kind distillery in the UK, producing the first UK-grown rum made from sugar beet, rather than sugar cane.
Diversity & inclusion
2022
La Vida opened on Felixstowe Seafront
La Vida is Suffolk’s only drag show bar owned by Leon Richer and run with his partner, Dan Wardle.
La Vida is an inclusive space, and welcomes anyone who wants a fun night out. From drag bingo to celebrity performances, La Vida has partnerships with other hospitality companies in Felixstowe.
Leon’s alter ego is Lucious Leona, who performs there frequently.
2023
2023
The campaign for 5G infrastructure development in the region launched with an inaugural summit at the Suffolk Chamber.
Diversity & inclusion
2023
Helen Pluck became the first female chief executive of Ipswich Borough Council
She has worked in public service since she was sixteen and has been part of Ipswich Borough Council since 2012.
Helen is committed to supporting new opportunities for Ipswich, and celebrating its diverse communities and rich heritage.
2023
The Suffolk Chamber launched a Water Resources campaign.
The first summit was hosted in June 2023, to address water concerns for local businesses.
Diversity & inclusion
2023
Artisan Savant set up
The independent floristry was set up in central Ipswich by couple Sandra and Jones Oviawe in 2023, offering high quality floristry and interior staging services.
Diversity & inclusion
2023
Blanche Park founded
Ran by Jones Oviawe, Blanche Park Consultancy supports businesses and entrepreneurs with fundraising, venture scouting, business intermediation and business development.
Diversity & inclusion
2023
UNISON launches Anti-Racism Charter
UNISON Eastern launched the trade unsion’s first ever Anti-Racism Charter which has alrteady been signed by all local authories across Suffolk. Developed by staff based in Suffolk, the Charter is a commitment for organisations in the public sector to take racism seriously. By signing, they pledge to address the racial disparities in recruitment, promotions, training opportunities, disciplinary procedures and pay.
The Charter is expected to be rolled out by UNISON nationally so other partners and employers can sign up.
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