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Unemployment continues to rise across the region

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:57 +0000

UNEMPLOYMENT has increased across the region – however, most areas remain well below the national average.

St Edmundsbury, Forest Heath, Breckland and Mid Suffolk districts all saw a rise in overall unemployment but remained below the national average of four per cent and the average for the east of England, which is currently 3.2 per cent.

Youth unemployment remained high across the region with Breckland Council reporting that the number of 18-24 year-olds claiming out-of-work benefits was above the national average for the second consecutive month – 8.2 per cent of 18-24 year-olds in the area are currently claiming, above the national average of 8.1 per cent, youth unemployment in the area has been on the rise since February 2010.

St Edmunsbury, Forest Heath and Mid Suffolk districts continued to be below both the national average and the average for the east, currently seven per cent.

St Edmundsbury Bwas the only district to see a decrease in the number of 18-24 year-olds claiming out-of-work benefits from the previous month.

New agreement aims to build up profitable links with China

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:38 +0000

INCREASED trade and business links with China may hold the key to a prosperous economic future for the east.

Suffolk County Council has signed an agreement with Norfolk and Essex county councils aimed at promoting links between industry, businesses and universities in the region and other high-growth economies, particularly China.

The two-year project will focus upon the region’s strengths in the energy sector, aiming to attract investment that will create growth and jobs for the three counties.

Cllr Judy Terry, Suffolk County Council portfolio holder for the greenest county, economy and skills said: “This is an excellent step forward for all three counties.

“China’s rapidly expanding economy offers many new business opportunities for Suffolk companies looking to tap into international markets.

“We recognise that China has become the engine of economic growth in the global community and feel very strongly that sought-after Suffolk products such as clean energy, our creative industries and food and drink, have strong international appeal.”

Representatives from the three counties will travel to China in March 2012 to visit industry associations, research institutions and universities in the Jiangsu province.

During the visit, representatives will visit Wuxi, one of China’s leading centres for renewable energies, which is home to several important wind energy manufacturers.

They will also promote the region at China International Import Expo, in Kunshan, which will be the first national expo aimed at promoting the import of foreign goods.

Cllr Anne Stewart, Norfolk County Council’s cabinet member for economic development, said: “It is clear that the opportunities to attract inward investment from China are growing and the huge population represents a massive market for our own goods and services.

“Opportunities for joint ventures and partnerships in China are also growing with some Norfolk companies already having successful trading arrangements, so joint working with our neighbouring counties is a good place to start.”

Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex county councils will develop joint projects to help businesses increase their exports to China, as well as working with universities and vocational colleges to form profitable links with counterparts.

The three councils will also promote the education of the region’s school children in Chinese culture and language as well as pursuing schemes to attract more Chinese tourists to the area.

Sharon gets task of boosting town

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:00:13 +0000

STOWMARKET Town Centre Partnership has named Sharon Brown as its new town centre manager.

Mrs Brown has previously served as director of the partnership, which was formed in 2011 to promote Stowmarket by creating a prosperous and attractive town centre.

She said: “Stowmarket is a great place to live, work and shop. Our challenge is to encourage more people to visit and see what the town has to offer.

“This will help businesses grow, providing increased investment and opportunities for employment and making the town somewhere to be proud of.”

The aims of Stowmarket Town Centre Partnership include encouraging residents to shop locally as well as promoting trade and development in the town and increasing its potential as a popular tourist destination.

Peter Down, chairman of the partnership said: “We will measure our success by an increase in people visiting and returning to the town centre. The partnership has made a good start in the Christmas lights festivities.

“Planning is at an advanced stage for a summer carnival to tie in with the Queens’ Diamond Jubilee in June and a number of other initiatives that have been under consideration for some time can now be progressed following the appointment of a new town manager.”

Mrs Brown, who has lived in Stowmarket for more than 25 years, has extensive management experience and currently owns and runs Wardrobe men and women’s clothing shops in Stowmarket and Woodbridge.

She said: “Stowmarket boasts a range of facilities such as the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts as well as the cinema, museum, leisure centre, and a wide variety of great shops, the most important thing is to encourage local people as well as those from outside the town to come and use the facilities the it has to offer.”