Business leaders urge incoming Prime Minister to Back Norfolk and Suffolk to drive UK growth

Norfolk and Suffolk can make an even greater contribution to delivering the Government's priorities for growth, investment and national resilience if the region receives the support its UK-leading sectors need to maximise their potential.

That is the resounding message sent from the Norfolk and Suffolk Business Boards to incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham as he prepares to take office and usher in a new era at Westminster.

In a joint letter, the Norfolk and Suffolk Business Boards urge the Prime Minister to:

• Invest in nationally significant infrastructure including Bacton Energy Hub, the Port of Felixstowe and Ely Area Capacity Enhancement scheme
• Strengthen access to business finance
• Establish Norfolk and Suffolk as a national demonstrator region for innovation and technology

Together, these three commitments would enable Norfolk and Suffolk to make an even greater contribution to the UK's economic growth, productivity, resilience and long-term competitiveness.

Nick Steven-Jones, Chair of the Norfolk Business Board, said: "The Prime Minister has spoken about trusting places to shape their own future. Norfolk and Suffolk are ready for that challenge. We're not asking Government to start from scratch, we're asking it to back strengths that already exist. With the right partnership, our region can make an even greater contribution to the UK's energy security, food resilience, innovation and long-term growth."

"What makes our region distinctive is the convergence of these strengths. Few places combine nationally significant energy infrastructure, world-leading research, advanced digital capability, globally connected logistics and diverse rural and coastal environments within a single geography," says the letter.

"This presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate how innovation, investment and partnership can deliver national priorities."

The boards believe Norfolk and Suffolk can become the UK's national demonstrator region for innovation, bringing together Government, business and academia to develop, test and scale new technologies before they are deployed nationally.

Building on assets such as Adastral Park, Norwich Research Park and the Connected Innovation network, it can accelerate the commercialisation and adoption of new technologies across energy, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, defence, digital technologies and space.

The business boards have also underlined the importance of helping business invest, commercialise research, build the workforces they need for the future, and support for thriving town centres.

Lisa Perkins, Chair of the Suffolk Business Board, said: "Government should invest where Britain already has a competitive advantage. Norfolk and Suffolk are home to world-class strengths in energy, food, digital technologies and global trade. With targeted Government backing, our region can become a national demonstrator for innovation while helping to deliver the Government's ambitions for growth while creating high-value jobs and attracting investment."

Norfolk and Suffolk's Joint Growth Proposition makes the case for the region punching above its weight across sectors that are critical for driving national growth. Through this message to the Prime Minister, they are offering to be a partner in delivering the Government's growth agenda.

Letter to the Prime Minister

Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP
Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA
20 July 2026

Dear Prime Minister,

Congratulations on your appointment as Prime Minister.

On behalf of the Norfolk and Suffolk Business Boards, we look forward to working with you and your government to deliver the UK's ambitions for economic growth, productivity and investment. Your recent speech set out a vision for place-based growth, stronger local leadership and recognising the contribution of rural and coastal economies. Norfolk and Suffolk are well placed to help deliver that ambition.

Our enclosed Joint Growth Proposition sets out how Norfolk and Suffolk can help deliver the Government's priorities for growth, investment and national resilience. The UK needs places that can strengthen energy security, food resilience, trade and innovation. Norfolk and Suffolk are already delivering in each of these areas and can do even more with the right partnership.

Norfolk and Suffolk are of national strategic importance. Together, we power 66% of England's homes with secure energy, handle 44% of the UK's container trade through the Port of Felixstowe and produce more than 11% of the UK's food. We are home to internationally significant innovation assets including the Norwich Research Park, Europe's largest food and biotechnology innovation campus, and Adastral Park, BT's global research and development headquarters - which is ranked number one in the UK for filing AI patents.

Despite these strengths, our region remains underinvested relative to its potential. Productivity remains below the national average, rural and coastal communities continue to experience significant deprivation, and we have yet to secure the levels of public and private investment needed to fully realise our contribution to the UK economy.

With a £47.6 billion economy and strengths in energy, agri-food, advanced manufacturing, defence, digital technology, logistics, space and world-class research, Norfolk and Suffolk are helping to power, feed, connect and innovate the UK's future.

Powering the UK - From over 50 years of energy expertise in the Southern North Sea and nuclear generation at Sizewell to the Bacton Energy Hub, Lowestoft PowerPark and emerging hydrogen and carbon capture opportunities, Norfolk and Suffolk sit at the heart of the UK's future energy system.

Feeding the UK - Our productive agri-food sector, combined with globally recognised research capability at Norwich Research Park, provides a unique platform to improve food security, commercialise innovation and increase productivity across the food system.

Connecting the UK - Home to the Port of Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port, our region is critical to national and international trade. Investment in strategic infrastructure, including the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement scheme, will strengthen supply chains and unlock further growth.

Innovating the UK's Future - Assets such as Adastral Park, Norwich Research Park and the Connected Innovation network position Norfolk and Suffolk to lead in advanced connectivity, digital technologies, space, defence and next-generation manufacturing.

What makes our region distinctive is the convergence of these strengths. Few places combine nationally significant energy infrastructure, world-leading research, advanced digital capability, globally connected logistics and diverse rural and coastal environments within a single geography. This presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate how innovation, investment and partnership can deliver national priorities.

We invite your government to work with us in three ways:

Invest with us - Back nationally significant infrastructure projects that unlock growth, including energy, water, transport and digital connectivity. Continued support for strategic assets such as the Bacton Energy Hub, the Port of Felixstowe and the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement scheme, alongside access to finance through initiatives such as the British Business Bank's East of England Investment Fund, will accelerate growth and private sector investment.

Innovate with us - Establish Norfolk and Suffolk as the UK's national demonstrator region for innovation and technology convergence. Building on assets such as Adastral Park, Norwich Research Park and our Connected Innovation network, we can develop, test and scale solutions that address national challenges and create new economic opportunities.

Grow with us - Align industrial, innovation and skills policy to help businesses invest, commercialise research and build the workforce needed for the future. This includes support for technical education, apprenticeships and employment pathways, whilst continuing to strengthen town centres and local business ecosystems.

Together, these commitments would enable Norfolk and Suffolk to make an even greater contribution to the UK's economic growth, productivity, resilience and long-term competitiveness.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Business Boards bring together business leaders committed to creating jobs, attracting investment and driving productivity. We would welcome the opportunity to host you in Norfolk and Suffolk to showcase our key economic assets, discuss our ambitions and demonstrate how our region can help deliver the Government's growth agenda.

Yours Faithfully,

Lisa Perkins
Suffolk Business Board Chair

Nick Steven-Jones
Norfolk Business Board Chair

Appendix 1: Norfolk and Suffolk Joint Growth Proposition

Download a copy of the Norfolk & Suffolk Joint Growth Proposition (PDF, 697 KB)

Download a copy of the letter to the Prime Minister (PDF, 735 KB)

Published: 21 July 2026