MEMBERS of a new online business community for Suffolk met yesterday to celebrate its official launch.

The Suffolk Business Hub replaces the FTB Business Club, set up two years ago by The Technology Centre in Framlingham, but is still led by the same team as the centre, in conjunction with a growing steering group from the private and public sectors.

Membership is free and open to all businesses with an interest in the area, with participants set to benefit from greater online interactivity and communications with other members.

Yesterday’s launch event was sponsored by HSBC, Ensors and The Technology Centre in partnership with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, and featured Terry Hunt, editor of the East Anglian Daily Times, as guest speaker.

Jenny Stockman from The Technology Centre said: “We have a thriving business community here. The hub is a collaborative project led by people in business and developed in line with feedback from businesses on what they needed. It will make it much easier for them to find and interact with each other directly.”

Mr Hunt said: “I have always believed that business is at the very heart of every sustainable, thriving community, so when I hear about initiatives such as the Suffolk Business Hub, my attention is immediately drawn.

“The team behind the hub seem to have an insatiable hunger for knowledge that will improve business prospects for the area.”

The launch of the hub has also been welcomed by Andy Wood, chief executive of Adnams and chairman of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership for Suffolk and Norfolk.

“In essence, the Suffolk Business Hub should provide a fully integrated business community where it’s not just about a website, events, or networking, but more about the ongoing interaction that builds knowledge, mutual support and sustainable results,” he said.

The hub has been supported by a grant from Suffolk Coastal’s Economic Development Support Fund which was invested in an online hub portal, which can be found at www.suffolkbusinesshub.co.uk .