November 2018 breakfast
An excellent breakfast and news on the proposed new Stowmarket tech hub
Sadly, the month’s guest speaker, Cassandra Fisher from West Suffolk College, had to cancel at the last minute due to her sick child – looks like the winter ‘bugs’ are back!
Speaking of children, Danny Cuff – or ‘uncle Danny’ – shared a letter from a little boy in Africa, whose education is sponsored by Gipping Press. The latest letter to his ‘uncle’ was full of pictures and included his wish for a bicycle.
After the presentations from the attendees about their businesses and the usual lively discussions around the tables our chairman, Allan Scott, stepped into the breach to give us an update on progress with establishing a tech hub on the proposed Gateway 14 site next to the A14.
A much-needed, multi-purpose facility
It has been four years since this idea was first proposed and the consultancy, Nautilus, has now completed its feasibility study.
It established that the majority of businesses in the area, more than 90%, are micro-businesses and SMEs. They also reported that there was a slight mismatch between employment opportunities, largely manufacturing, and the skills of respondents, who were predominantly in IT.
The ideal for the facility would be a building of about 30,000 sq ft, which would be three storeys high with a central atrium. It would have facilities for coffee all day and for food, possibly both supplied from vending machines.
Small meeting spaces are envisaged for the first floor as well as hot desking facilities and high-speed internet access. To one side of the atrium would be office spaces for rent to provide core income and, in order to be as flexible as possible, there is an idea of having suspended walls to enable room sizes to be altered.
There would be parking for 100 cars and the consultants have said that the optimum location would be at the entrance to the new Gateway 14. It would be visible from the A14 and at least one local major company has indicated interest.
The facility has been supported by all the local educational institutions and has been welcomed as doing something to both help qualified residents to be able to work closer to home and to prevent growing local businesses from relocating because of a shortage of suitable working spaces.
It was important, Allan said, to stimulate a groundswell of local support for the proposal and he encouraged everyone to talk about it to their contacts.
MSBE2 – Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Bookings are filling up very quickly for the second Mid Suffolk Business Exhibition at The Mix and you can find out more here www.msbe.biz
Tell us what you want
Allan is happy to receive any suggestions for what members want to see the Chamber doing in the future. Please send your ideas (and your want lists) to [email protected].
Dates for your diary:
| December Coffee and Christmas Bazaar | December Christmas lunch |
| Needham Market Community Centre | Shepherd and Dog, Onehouse |
| Time for a little gift shopping for those last minute stocking fillers! | Don’t forget to bring your contributions to the Stowmarket Food Bank appeal! |
| Friday, December 7 | Friday, December 16 |
| 10.00am | Starting at 12noon |
For more information contact Keely Taylor
phone: 01449 770965
e-mail: [email protected]
Anyone who has a story to publicise should contact marketing officer Alison Withers:
