Fred. Olsen Business Travel has held the first in a series of quarterly forums for senior managers, designed to boost collaboration and growth.

Steve Williams, managing director of the Ipswich-based travel firm, which is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, hosted an “MDs’ Dinner” at Le Talbooth, Dedham, involving an evening of fine dining, topical discussion and networking.

Guest speaker was Steve Flory, managing director of Hudson Signs, also based in Ipswich, who spoke about the recent “Undy 500 Arctic Challenge” in which he and a team of other local businessmen and friends travelled more than 2,500 miles from Ipswich to Helsinki to raise money for charity.

Fred. Olsen Business Travel was selected as consultant for the team’s challenge which involved travel via Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Lulea and, to date, has raised more than £11,000 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and the St Elizabeth’s Hospice.

Also among those attending were Peter Funnell, president of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Terry Baxter of Inspire Suffolk (formerly the ITFC Charitable Trust), David Dodds of Sackers and EADT editor Terry Hunt.