The East Anglian Daily Times today launched a new listing of the most influential people involved in shaping and driving Suffolk’s economy.

The second edition of the Suffolk 100 publication was launched at a breakfast event hosted by Suffolk Chamber of Commerce at Wherstead Park, near Ipswich, at which EADT editor Terry Hunt was a guest speaker alongside Suffolk County Council chief executive Deborah Cadman.

Mr Hunt said: “The Suffolk 100 celebrates all of the people who have the biggest influence on our economy here in Suffolk.”

The years since the first edition of the publicaton in 2010 had been challenging for the economy in general and for local businesses, he said, but there was growing evidence that many local businesses were now seeing “a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel”.

Among the encouraging signs was the record total of more than 300 entries received for this year’s EADT Business Awards, more than double the level of recent years.

“We have some absolutely outstanding winners and we look forward to celebrating them at our awards dinner on July 4,” he added.

Deborah Cadman highlighted the priorities set out in the council’s new Suffolk Growth Strategy, including skills, inward investment, infrastructure and growth locations.

Membership of the Suffolk 100 covers a broad cross-section of the county’s economy, including big-hitters from the private, public and charitable sectors.

The 52-page publication, sponsored by Suffolk Chamber, Baker Tilly and the East of England Co-op and containing profiles of all those who have made the 2013 listing, will appear in the EADT next Tuesday.