Businesses are set to get in on the act today as residents across the county celebrate the first-ever Suffolk Day.

Ipswich Building Society will be staging a 100 mile charity bike ride across all of its Suffolk branches as staff members Ellie Camp, Nigel Nicholls and Ashley Burton get into gear to raise funds for 100 nursing hours at St Elizabeth Hospice.

The trio is scheduled to be in Aldeburgh for the summer solstice sunrise, before visiting St Elizabeth Hospice for breakfast and finishing in Haverhill.

The business will also welcome members and local residents to celebrate the special day at a number of events across its branches.

Its Sailmakers branch in Ipswich town centre will be showcasing the society’s history, and the Halesworth branch will be hosting a visit by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, which will be revealing the county’s rich and varied environment. The Saxmundham branch is accepting donations to support the Alzheimer’s Society while hosting an afternoon tea with Suffolk Rusk.

Chief executive Richard Norrington said: “We’re delighted to take part in the first-ever Suffolk Day, where we’ll come together with our local community in celebration of our great county. Giving something back is a priority for us at Ipswich Building Society.”

Business support organisation MENTA has teamed up with Nat West bank to deliver 50 lunches to various small businesses including a factory, a workshop and an office in recognition of the contribution they make to the county.

MENTA’s Nick Pandolfi said: “It will be great to say ‘thank you’ and celebrate businesses – both long established and more recently founded and find out from the staff and the owners why it’s so great, working and living in Suffolk.

“Small businesses strive to ensure their customers are happy, producing high quality goods and professional services which we in Suffolk can be proud of.”

The official launch of the Suffolk Skills Show 2017, hosted by sponsors BT at Adastral Park, is set to take place at a breakfast event, and the University of Suffolk, in collaboration with TechEast, will be hosting a Digital Tech Skills Plan for East Anglia, which takes place at Ipswich Waterfront Innovation Centre from 10.30am.