All Suffolk MPs join forces at Suffolk Convention

Over 100 senior delegates from all the key parts of the Suffolk system came together last Friday (18 October) to meet at BT’s iconic Martlesham research centre, Adastral Park, to discuss how they could work together to secure Government funding for key projects in Suffolk. 

The aim was also to better focus, coordinate and articulate what the county has to offer the UK while working to the new Labour Government’s growth and net zero agendas.

The five panellists kick-started the conversations (Image: Suffolk Chamber)Called by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, the summit brought together all eight Suffolk MPs, senior businesspeople, the leaders and senior managers of the main councils, plus representatives from the health, VCSE and media sectors to work on achieving the best outcomes for Suffolk.

Facilitated by Dr Adam Marshall CBE, a leading business expert and a previous director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, the delegates listened to short summaries from five panellists as to how Suffolk is really viewed by both Westminster and Whitehall and how that perception is contributing to the county not receiving the investment it needs.

The panellists were: Kevin Fenning, director of Evidence First, Andrew Sinclair, the BBC Look East’s political editor, Peter Aldous, the MP for Waveney from 2010-2024, Simon Darby, head of public affairs at lobbyist PLMR and Julia Pyke, joint managing director of SZC.

Spurred on by the home truths and challenges from these panellists, The Suffolk Convention broke up into eight discussion groups, each chaired by one of the MPs to address three key questions:

·         Given the Government’s priorities, what’s Suffolk offer?

·         What are our asks of Government?

·         How do we coordinate this offer and our asks?

The Suffolk Convention was very well attended (Image: Suffolk Chamber)John Dugmore, Suffolk Chamber’s chief executive said: “The Suffolk Convention brought together some of the most influential people in the county into one room.

“The delegates took advantage of this opportunity to explore whether and how we wanted to more effectively than ever before influence Government and especially one still very much at the start of its term. The answer was unequivocally positive and I believe Suffolk will be better placed, more focussed and able to persuade Government to help us make our fullest contribution to national prosperity.”

Paul Simon, head of public affairs at Suffolk Chamber added: “What was so impressive about The Suffolk Convention was the desire among delegates to speak with one Suffolk voice and to coordinate this more joined-up approach as soon as possible.

“By acting quickly and coherently at the start of a new Government’s term in office, The Suffolk Convention will be a major boost in getting us to the front of the Government funding queue.”

A broad consensus emerged during The Suffolk Convention that the county’s unique offer to the Government and its mission-led approach had to be focussed on its growing strengths in clean energy.

The imperative for the Government in delivering three of these missions – kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a green energy superpower and breaking down barriers to opportunity – must be to accelerate the development of Suffolk’s clean energy assets and the rail, road, connectivity, skills and environmental infrastructure to support them as a national priority.

Without this the UK will be unable to achieve its net zero ambitions and will not be able to satisfy the increasing demands for energy security.

Suffolk Chamber is now looking to speedily develop a plan for the One Suffolk Voice campaign with the organisations represented at The Suffolk Convention - and others - to coordinate and sharpen a consistent lobbying message during all meetings with all ministers and civil servants, regardless of their particular portfolios.