A CAMPAIGN to put Suffolk firmly on the business map by showcasing some of the county’s many success stories is to be officially launched tomorrow.

Suffolk Business Month is a county council-led initiative backed by business organisations representing firms of all types and sizes and involves a host of events between now and the end of September.

It begins tomorrow with an event, already fully booked, at University Campus Suffolk in Ipswich where Andy Wood, chairman of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, will be discussing the LEP’s achievements so far and its future plans.

Also on the agenda will be the Raising the Bar campaign to lift educational attainment and aspirations in the county.

The initiative has been praised by West Suffolk MP Matthew Hancock, who was promoted to the role of Minister for Business and Education, in last week’s Cabinet reshuffle.

“Suffolk Business Month is a great initiative, designed to promote the best that the county has to offer,” he said.

“Suffolk has a tremendously diverse range of businesses which trade locally, nationally and internationally, and I hope that many of them will take advantage of the opportunities offered by Business Month.”

Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for economic development, said: “We do great things here and it is time for us to raise our profile and showcase the county as the place to invest, expand businesses and live.

“There are so many opportunities for businesses to thrive in Suffolk. We have some outstanding examples of international business success based here in this marvellous county.”

Among the local businesses being showcased as part of Suffolk Business Month are Adnams, Aspall, Greene King, Muntons, Orbis Energy, the Port of Felixstowe and Willis.

Partners backing the county council in the initiative include district and borough councils around the county plus organisations including Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, the East of England Energy Group, the Suffolk Heritage Coast Market Towns Initiative and business advice organisations NWES and Menta.

Other key events during the month include the Ipswich Star Beacon Ipswich Conference at the Corn Exchange, Ipswich, on September 14, a Suffolk Chamber networking lunch at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on September 24, the East Anglia Small Business Trade Fair at Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa on September 25, the Visit East Anglia tourism conference, at DanceEast, Ipswich, on September 27 and the Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival on September 29 and 30.

Full details of all the events and how to book, together with profiles of the showcase companies, can be found at www.suffolk.gov.uk/business/suffolk-business-month/.