BUSINESS leaders and opinion formers from around the county met with directors and staff from the Choose Suffolk development agency for the launch of a landmark awareness campaign to encourage further economic growth.

BUSINESS leaders and opinion formers from around the county met with directors and staff from the Choose Suffolk development agency for the launch of a landmark awareness campaign to encourage further economic growth.

The “Why Choose Suffolk” initiative aims to position the county as a prime location for both business and tourism.

The idea behind the campaign is to use local members of the business community as advocates, to share their real life experiences of Suffolk as a place to do business and help to attract new investors to the county.

It involves a print, web and exhibition-based marketing campaign exploring the theme of why existing organisations are pleased to be in Suffolk and based around a series of “talking head” interviews featuring business leaders and personalities from around the county.

Among those featured in the campaign are Andy Wood, managing director of Adnams, David Williams, managing director for claims at Axa, Alastair MacFarlane of port manager for Associated British Ports in East Anglia, Farrah Stevens, PR and communications manager at the Animal Health Trust, Graham Reid, director of Innovation Martlesham, Michaela Furney, director of Jimmy's Farm, and Ian Garstang, owner of Debug Design.

Also involved are Assis Carreiro, artistic director and chief executive of DanceEast, Michael Dalton, managing director of Percy Dalton's Famous Peanut Co Ltd, Fiona Siddall, farm manager/director at Easton Farm Park, Oliver Paul, director of Suffolk Food Hall, Mark Murphy, presenter at BBC Radio Suffolk, Chris Shutt, testing facility engineer at Psytechnics, and Garth Wray, general manager at Milsoms Kesgrave Hall, which hosted the launch event.

Key reasons cited for locating in Suffolk included the availability of a highly skilled labour force, cost effective land and property prices, communication links and proximity to London, all alongside a high quality of life for employees.

Celia Hodson, chief executive of Choose Suffolk, said: “ 'Why Choose Suffolk' is a major new awareness campaign for the county demonstrating real opinions from real people on the many advantages of locating their business here.

“Suffolk is a really special place to live and work, where businesses are very quickly integrated into the heart of their communities. I'm delighted so many business leaders have agreed to become our 'talking head' advocates, giving us this great opportunity to all shout together about just how great Suffolk is.”

The 'talking head' interviews have been used to compile a brochure for use by the Choose Suffolk inward investment team and will feature on the Choose Suffolk website - www.choosesuffolk.com/whychoosesuffolk .

The dedicated Why Choose Suffolk multi-media exhibition unit will also tour key locations around the county to encourage people all over Suffolk to take up the advocacy role. There is also an opportunity for organisations not already featured in the campaign to come on board by contacting the Choose Suffolk team.