Meet your Committee Members
Ever since I came to my first Stowmarket Chamber meeting in 2017, it was obvious to me that this was an approachable, supportive group that wanted local independent businesses to thrive. I don’t know what you think of when you think of a ‘chamber of commerce’? Maybe because of the word ‘chamber’ it brings up an illusion of formality and a room full of suited people. This could not be further from the truth of what Stowmarket Chamber stands for. Quite simply we are a community of local businesses that want to enable you and your business to GROW and PROSPER.
It is now my privilege to be the Chairperson of the Stowmarket Chamber and work with a committee that is filled with generosity to give their time, support and advice to local businesses. Being on the committee is an honour as our role is to serve you and your business. Do take a look at the profiles below of the members. You will notice that we represent a range of businesses and that we are just normal people, just like you.
Each member has a particular responsibility that fuels our aims of:
- Champion Stowmarket & district businesses to the media, Suffolk Chamber, councils & one another
- Connect Stowmarket & district businesses
- Convey best businesses practice, support and development.
So, if you have an area you want to talk to us about, do feel free to contact the relevant member of the committee or contact the secretary and she will connect you to the right person.
Colin Tapscott
Chairperson
Peter Down
Honorary President
Peter Down JP, FBCS was elected Chairman of Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce in 2008 and made Honorary President in 2016 in recognition of the contribution he has made to the development of the Chamber.
Peter moved to Needham Market in 2006 from the North West of England on retirement from a long career in the Information Technology industry. He was a Certified Lead Auditor in Software Quality and Information Systems Security and has written textbooks on these subjects. Work has taken him to Europe (frequently), the Gulf and South East Asia, where he led a government project of technical assistance. His early career in the Royal Navy included active service in that region.
Alan Ridealgh
Treasurer
Alan is co-founder, along with son John, of Humber Doucy Brewing Company Ltd, based in Bacton near Stowmarket, coupled with Finbows Tap in Finbows Yard, a mile north along the road. Humber Doucy Brewing was set up in 2018 and started brewing in 2019.
Before that, Alan worked for 40 years for Muntons plc, a manufacturer of malt for the brewing and distilling industry and world leader in extracts and powders to the global food industry. During Alan’s time as MD of Muntons plc, new operations were set up in Thailand and Singapore, plus Seattle and Chicago in the USA and turnover increased from £50M to over £100M with around 275 staff, supplying over 80 countries and were for a while the largest exporter through Felixstowe!
Alan is a director of a Norfolk-based grain trading company and of a sustainability business, also in Norfolk. Additionally, he is Chair of the Business Board at the Food Museum in Stowmarket and, more recently, a director of a start-up gin producer called The Spirit of Suffolk.
Alan received an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Suffolk in 2016 for Manufacturing and Sustainability and is still keen on natural history and environmental issues.
Anji Smith
Membership Co-ordinator
With more than 10 years of experience in recruitment and talent partnerships, I’ve worked with businesses across a wide range of industries, helping them attract, hire, and retain great people.
I founded Belmont Talent Partners to bring a more collaborative and strategic approach to recruitment—one built on trust, transparency, and long-term relationships rather than transactional hiring.
After relocating to Suffolk in 2023 (following strong encouragement from my two Border Collies), I’ve become actively involved in the local business community and am proud to serve as a committee member for Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce.
I’m passionate about helping businesses grow through great people and building meaningful connections that create long-term success.
Olivia Higson
Committee Member
Olivia ‘Lilly’ made the move into financial services from the property sector and took up the great opportunity of studying with the St. James’s Place Academy. Olivia is a friendly, approachable, plain talking Financial Advisor with Brightside Wealth Management – a Senior Partner Practice of St James’s Place. Passionate about making a difference by helping her clients build and preserve their capital, manage their cash, make the right investment choices and realise their financial goals.
Throughout life’s key milestones and events, there will be times when financial advice comes to the fore. These may not be the most obvious times either, but you work hard for your money – we believe it’s our job to make it work hard for you. With Lilly and the Brightside team alongside, clients are better-informed to make smarter money decisions, as their plans and priorities change over time.
Lilly now has the privilege of advising clients on a broad range of financial solutions from Retirement & Pension Planning, Investment Planning, Protection, Estate & Inheritance planning.
Colin Tapscott
Chair
Training & Development Co-ordinator
Colin Tapscott is the director of Everyday Leader which runs coaching, training and development reviews and provides free resources such as podcasts and blogs all with the purpose to inspire, equip and empower leaders. Colin works with education, business and third sector organisations to help them develop leadership capacity and integrity. He previously was a headteacher for 17 years and also runs a children’s charity with his wife Lisa and a team of volunteers.
Colin’s core values are authenticity and integrity, which equip him well as he serves as Chairperson of the Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce. Colin has a heart for empowering local businesses and for the Stowmarket Chamber to be at the heart of a community of independent businesses.
Keely Taylor
Secretary
After 20 years as a PA and Office Manager for various companies in Suffolk and London, Keely was made redundant one too many times and set up her own business in 2005, KTSS, offering administration services to small companies and entrepreneurs.
More recently she has turned her hobby of genealogy into a business, and now focuses on building family trees for her clients: www.taylormadetrees.co.uk.
Keely has been Secretary to the Chamber since 2006. Her quirky, humorous email invitations are a regular source of amusement to those on the mailing list – why not sign up today?
Sarah Manning
Events Co-ordinator
Sarah has spent most of her working life dealing with big metal boxes, doing her damnedest to make sure her clients get the best possible service. She likes to make sure they’re in perfect condition for their new owners – whatever they want to use it for.
She started at the bottom of this industry in 2007, as a sales rep and working her way up to take an ownership share in a local container business.
Why did she go out on her own? Easy. She’s always believed good business means putting the client first. Doing what needs to be done – quickly. She launched her own business, Secure Stores Nationwide, to do business her way.
So whether you want a container for storage, for working in, or for something so mind-blowing she hasn’t thought of it yet – give her a call. New, used or rented, they’ll aim to have it with you within 3-5 days.
Annya Stoddart
Marketing Co-ordinator
For the past 18 years, I’ve proudly run my own business, building it on the belief that people feel their best when they’ve been heard, supported and understood. As owner of The Pain Relief Clinic, I’ve helped hundreds of people through acupuncture, in many cases developing lasting patient relationships founded on trust, compassion and personalised care.
My experience as a business owner has given me a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges local businesses face. I know that behind every business is a person balancing a responsibility to their family while working to create something sustainable and enjoyable.
As Marketing Lead for Stowmarket Chamber of Commerce, I’m passionate about helping businesses connect, collaborate and grow. By encouraging conversations, sharing ideas and providing support we can build a resilient, successful and thriving local business community.
For information on other events in Suffolk
Click here to visit the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Events page
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