Business

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Gym near Ipswich town centre set to close

13:37 Oliver Sullivan

The Better Gym is Russell Road is to close due to operational losses Picture: DAVID VINCENT

A gym near Ipswich town centre is set to close, with bosses citing "operating losses" as the reason.

Brewery and pubs giant champions minorities in major inclusion drive

12:22 Sarah Chambers

Village Greene members outside a Greene King pub Picture: CATERS PHOTOGRAPHY

Bury St Edmunds-based Greene King is leading efforts to stamp out bigotry at work by taking a leading role in promoting diversity in its ranks.

East Anglia braces for Brexit: New report predicts economic woe

06:00 Sarah Chambers

Pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi has already exported part of the business from its Haverhill site, pictured, to EU countries to insulate it from Brexit Picture: RICHARD GROVES

Plummeting GDP, labour shortages, a spike in costs ... The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership's new Brexit report makes worrying reading for businesses in the East. Sarah Chambers reports.

Suspected rogue roofers stopped from working on elderly man's home

Yesterday, 12:54 Tom Potter

Suffolk Trading Standards officers attended the address near Felixstowe Picture: SUFFOLK TRADING STANDARDS

An investigation is underway following reports of alleged rogue traders conducting work on the roof of an elderly Suffolk resident's property.

Ofcom drops probe into BT after allegations it 'overcharged' businesses

Yesterday, 17:59 Sophie Barnett

BT Openreach is installing some of the UK's fastest fibre broadband in Saxmundham, Suffolk. Picture: BT OPENREACH

Watchdog Ofcom has dropped its probe into whether BT had breached rules meant to protect small firms from large costs, after it reimbursed all affected companies.

County celebrates bumper rise in start-ups in 2019 - despite 'turbulent' year

Yesterday, 07:00 Sarah Chambers

Vegan cafe owner Allison Knight, one of hundreds of people to set up in business in 2019 in Suffolk Picture: ALLISON KNIGHT

Suffolk has enjoyed a record year for company start-ups as more entrepreneurs decide to throw their hat in the ring, new figures suggest.

Union brands shock airport expansion decision 'flawed' and 'short-sighted'

Mon, 16:50 Sarah Chambers

Passengers at the terminal concourse at Stansted Airport Picture: LUCY MARTIN

Union chiefs have slammed a shock decision to block plans to expand Stansted airport as "short-sighted" and damaging to jobs.

All 466 empty Ipswich businesses on one map

Mon, 16:30 Jake Foxford

Whittard's in Ipswich's Tavern Street has filled its window with a closing down sign Picture: JUDY RIMMER

Ipswich currently has more than 400 empty businesses - see them all on one map.

Is there a future for key Bosch factory site and its workers after 135 staff laid off?

Mon, 08:26 Sarah Chambers

Bosch Lawn & Garden factory in Stowmarket when it was still operational Picture: PHIL MORLEY

The final clear-out of a key manufacturing site in Suffolk is on track to be completed by mid-2020 after a multinational company decided to relocate to eastern Europe, with the loss of 135 staff.

Which Suffolk market towns and villages are in line for ultrafast broadband?

Mon, 01:08 Sarah Chambers

An Openreach engineer at work installing ultrafast broadband cabling Picture: OPENREACH

A total of 22 market towns and villages in the East of England - including three on the Suffolk/Norfolk border - are set to get ultrafast broadband as part of a national plan to get it to 'harder-to-reach' areas.

Cider business must grow 'in way that adds value to brand and to Suffolk'

Sunday, January 26, 2020 Sarah Chambers

Aspall factory near Debenham Picture: RACHEL EDGE

When American drinks giant Molson Coors bought an historic Suffolk cider business which had been in the same family for eight generations, its first move was to assure residents that it was staying put.

Tesco recalls baby food amid jar tampering concerns

Saturday, January 25, 2020 Tom Potter

The Food Standards Agency said Tesco and Cow & Gate were recalling the items as a precaution Picture: ARCHANT

Supermarket giant Tesco is recalling 15 varieties of baby food following concerns that some jars have been tampered with.

Giant Creme Egg tins - are you egg-cited or shell-shocked?

Saturday, January 25, 2020 Judy Rimmer

Tins of creme eggs and mini eggs at the Cadbury outlet at Braintree village Picture: NATALIE SADLER

New giant tins of Creme Eggs and Mini Eggs look set to be the big Easter craze this year - but some customers have slammed them for including too much packaging.

Business viewpoints

Kim Kardashian West's son Saint seen wearing shirt by Suffolk designer

Friday, January 24, 2020 Jake Foxford

Gemma Treby, her children Theo and Casper and their friend Fleur, showing off their own colour-in clothing Picture: SELFIE CLOTHING

Kim Kardashian West has shared a picture on Instagram with her son Saint dressed in a shirt from an independent Newmarket designer.

Video Young family starts new adventure as they take over Kesgrave cafe

Sunday, January 19, 2020 Oliver Sullivan

Chris and Emma Sciortino have taken over Kesgrave Kitchen to transform it into a community hub Picture: CHARLOTTE BOND

A young family say they are raring to go after taking over the popular Kesgrave Kitchen.

You're hired! Candidate wins £5k to start own business in Apprentice-style contest

Thursday, January 16, 2020 Adam Howlett

Tom James, second from right, receives his prize from Peter Basford, left, and local prize fund donors Picture: TOM JAMES

It might not quite be a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar - but this entrepreneur is very happy indeed after winning £5,000 to set up his own business in an Apprentice-style competition.

Is this school right to extend day by an hour for 'compulsory revision'?

Friday, November 29, 2019 Andrew Papworth

A study skills session at Copleston High School. Picture: COPLESTON HIGH SCHOOL

Telling young people they have to spend an extra hour at school might not sound popular - but this school in Ipswich is confident, in the long-term, their pupils will thank them.

'My generation will need to work out hugely challenging problems'

Saturday, November 16, 2019 Sarah Chambers

Laura Buckingham, arable inputs manager at Fram Farmers Picture: JULIAN COOKSLEY

Laura Buckingham believes her generation has entered the farming industry at a critical juncture.

Edme boss sees scope to work closely with supply chain - and customers

Wednesday, November 6, 2019 Sarah Chambers

Mark Hodson, managing director, Edme Picture: LAURA WATSON/RED FLAME COMMS

A food ingredients firm in north Essex has taken on an industry heavyweight as its new managing director.

Suffolk entrepreneur and brave war veteran Harry Erben dies at 98

Sunday, October 13, 2019 Steve Russell

Sasha Erben and his father. Harry founded H. Erben in 1951. A family friend says Harry Erben was a man of style and generosity; a superb entrepreneur and businessman widely read and entertaining Picture: H. Erben Limited

Harry was shot down while fighting the Nazis over Europe. Later, the businessman brought a huge number of jobs to Hadleigh

Argos to relocate Ipswich store

Thursday, October 10, 2019 James Carr

Argos, in Carr Street, Ipswich, is relocating. photo: Archant.

Argos has announced the relocation of one of its Ipswich branches, four months after revealing the store would be shut down.

'If you feel passionately enough about something, then go for it...' Business advice from Jo Salter at Where Does It Come From?

Wednesday, September 18, 2019 Ross Bentley

Jo Salter, founder of Where Does It Come From? Picture: Gerard Hughes

Jo Salter is the founder of Where Does It Come From? - an ethical fashion brand based in Ipswich where each garment has a code on the label, so customers know its origins.

Pioneering ideas emerge from innovation summit

Tuesday, September 17, 2019 Ross Bentley

Scenes from the Innovate East event at Trinity Park in Ipswich Pictures: Steve Adams

The three-day brainstorming event Innovate East produces a host of potential business and environmental solutions.

Breaking down taboos about employing a person with a disability

Monday, September 16, 2019 Ross Bentley

Management team at Realise Futures (left to right) Jane Sutton, Jenny Brick, Sally Butcher Picture: Ross Bentley

Organisations in Suffolk and Norfolk are working to help people with physical and learning disabilities into work.

The Ipswich recycling firm with an eye on the future

Thursday, September 12, 2019 James Carr

Sackers Recycling held a two week work experience for young adults through Inspire Step Up. Photo: Tom Elsom.

An Ipswich recycling firm is investing in the future of the industry and giving the next generation a helping hand.

High street shop closures reach record high as Ipswich loses another store

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 James Carr

Ipswich high street has been hit by a string of closures this year. Photo: Archant

Following the announcement yet another Ipswich shop will be shutting down, new figures reveal high street store closures have reached a record high.

£100K fund made available to grow big ideas generated by innovation conference

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Ross Bentley

Kate Housley of @One Alliance does some colouring in the Wellbeing Zone at the Innovate East conference event by Anglian Water and Essex & Suffolk Water. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY

A radical three-day environmental event kicked off at Trinity Park in Ipswich yesterday with the aim of finding solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing society and the business world.

Walking festival provides £200K boost to Suffolk's tourism businesses

Monday, September 2, 2019 Ross Bentley

Scenes from the Challenge Walk, part of the Suffolk Walking Festival 2019

Organisers say "overnighters" make a holiday around the event, staying in hotels and self-catering cottages, and eating in the county's pubs, restaurants and cafes.

'This is a call to action' - Consultation begins for Easton and Otley College merger with Suffolk New College

Friday, August 30, 2019 James Carr

Easton and Otley College's Otley campus, which is set to be split from Easton Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

A public consultation is under way for the proposed merger between Easton and Otley College with City College Norwich and Suffolk New College.

How can businesses make best use of the data they are collecting?

Thursday, August 29, 2019 Ross Bentley

Water companies and other large organisations are collecting growing amounts of data Picture: Getty Images

Essex & Suffolk Water's research and development manager Chris Jones discusses the role of the digital twin approach ahead of the Innovate East event at Trinity Park in Ispwich next month