More than 60 delegates took the chance to help shape Suffolk’s response to the Goverment’s proposed industrial stategy at a workshop event held at Wherstead Park, near Ipswich.

The event, organised by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and Suffolk County Council, also included talks by Shan Lloyd, Norfolk and Suffolk area lead within the Cities and Local Growth Unit at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and Doug Field, a member of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership board and joint chief executive of the East of England Co-op, based at Wherstead Park.

Following the presentations, break-out groups were formed to discuss whether the key elements set out in the strategy reflect the priorities for Suffolk, what the county can offer in terms of innovative practices and what Suffolk needs from government to make a sustained contribution to delivering the strategy.

Sarah Howard, president of Suffolk Chamber, said: “This was a very constructive way to reflect on Suffolk’s current contributions to the national economy, our strengths and areas of challenge – not least improving our skills base to seize the opportunities to take advantage of the ‘place’ element in the Industrial Strategy.

“The fact that experts from different sectors have been willing and able to co-ordinate our response to the Government reflects one of our great strengths as a place – the culture of long-term partnership working to deliver positive outcomes for all.”

The deadline for the consultation on the Industrial Strategy Green Paper closes on April 17, with individual businesses and trade bodies also being encouraged to contribute their observations and ideas, For details, visit: https://beisgovuk.citizenspace.com/strategy/industrial-strategy/consultation/intro/