Business leaders from across the county met for a novel “Business on a Bike” networking event staged by Ipswich digital agency Crafted.

The event saw representatives from around 30 businesses meet for a 12-mile ride through the countryside around Alton Water and the River Orwell before stopping for a networking meal at pub.

It was the first in a series of summer events being staged as a spin-off from Crafted’s regular Digital Bites networking sessions.

Crafted is home to a number of bike enthusiasts, with many of its team participating in the Government’s Cycle to Work scheme as well as the Suffolk Cycle Challenge. The fast-growing agency loans bicycles to employees at a significant discount, providing the necessary equipment to encourage its staff to swap their cars for bikes on their daily commute to its offices in Fore Street.

Brad Warwick, commercial director and co-founder of Crafted, said: “I think it is important to make time to meet with likeminded people outside of the office; it is a chance to get to know each other away from more typical business environments, such as meeting rooms or networking breakfasts.

“Business on Bike provided a fresh way for Suffolk to engage, taking individuals away from their desks for a light-hearted activity in which they naturally conversed and supported each other. It was also a great chance to enjoy our county’s beautiful countryside and have fun on a summer’s afternoon.”

It is hoped that Business on a Bike will become an annual event, with the Digital Bites networking series formally returning in October. The breakfast sessions see networkers enjoy artisan canapés and bite-sized seminars on the latest trends in digital marketing and the online world.