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Freeport East invests nearly £1m to boost local businesses and skills

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Freeport East is injecting almost £1 million into East of England businesses and education organisations through two new funds to support small businesses and strengthen opportunities in high-growth sectors like clean energy.

The big picture: A total of more than £980,000 investment will be split between two funds:

The Freeport East Clean Growth Fund

Supports local businesses in clean energy and other target sectors. Recipients include companies working on railway engineering, vertical farming, green hydrogen storage, and AI for engine decarbonisation:

  • MKC Rail in Clacton: Railway engineering efficiency

  • Acer Resources in Colchester: Vertical farming

  • Rux Energy in Harwich: Green hydrogen storage

  • Automotion in Felixstowe: AI for diesel engine decarbonisation

  • Versatile RobotX in Colchester: Fruit-picking robots

  • Insight Energy Renewables  near Ipswich: EV charging infrastructure

  • Revolve Labs in Stowmarket: VR healthcare training

  • University of Suffolk: Support programme for local innovators

The Freeport East Innovation and Skills Fund

Focuses on building access to innovation and skills opportunities. It supports education providers, logistics training, business support, and student mentoring programs.

This includes a consortium of further education providers led by Suffolk New College  that will provide a range of specialist skills support across the Freeport East area. The support is designed to help learners of all ages pursue future opportunities in growth sectors.

Freeport East Clean Growth Fund
The Freeport East Clean Growth Fund will help learners of all ages pursue future opportunities in growth sectors in the regionFreeport East

Why it matters: This significant funding boost could create new jobs and drive innovation in key industries across the region, including Ipswich and surrounding areas.

What they're saying: Steve Beel, Chief Executive of Freeport East : "Investing in local businesses and growing our workforce is investing in the future of the East of England."

Ivan Henderson, Deputy Leader of Tendring District Council and Freeport East Board member: "This initiative will not only stimulate economic development but also create new opportunities for innovation and skills enhancement across the region."

The bottom line: This investment aims to position the East of England, including Ipswich, at the forefront of high-value sectors like clean energy, trade, agritech, and digital technologies.

Ed Sheeran surprised more than 200 Ipswich students with an impromptu performance at The Baths

Browse upcoming gigs

Check out upcoming BTC events across their three brilliant venues

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Suffolk to roll out 6,000 EV chargepoints from Summer 2025

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Suffolk County Council has partnered with operator Believ to deliver around 6,000 new public electric vehicle chargepoints across the county, starting next summer.

Why it matters: 25% of Suffolk households don't have a driveway and park on their street, creating a significant barrier for residents considering electric vehicle ownership.

The big picture: The rollout aims to provide residents without driveways access to a public chargepoint within a 5-10 minute walk.

Matthew Ling and Amy Rushton of Suffolk County Council, Charlie Allen and Steve Beer of Believ
Matthew Ling and Amy Rushton of Suffolk County Council, Charlie Allen and Steve Beer of BelievBeliev

By the numbers:

  • £5.3 million secured from the government's Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund

  • An additional £16 million provided by operator Believ

  • Nearly 140,000 tons of emissions forecast to be removed by late 2026

The details: The majority of new units will be bollard-style chargers at the kerbside, suitable for long-stay or overnight charging. Drivers will benefit from an overnight off-peak tariff and a dedicated resident's tariff with discounted charging at all times.

Public car parks will also see rapid and ultra-rapid chargepoint installations for quicker charging options.

What they're saying: "We are providing a solution by installing chargepoints on their street, or very nearby. Our ambition is to provide them with a public chargepoint within a 5-10 minute walk or wheel," said Councillor Philip Fairclough-Mutton, Suffolk County Council's Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality.

Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO, said: "We're delighted to have been awarded the opportunity to rollout such a significant number of chargepoints across Suffolk. It will make a real difference to local EV drivers and give others the confidence to go electric, helping to support our mission to deliver cleaner air for all."

What's next: In advance of all on-street chargepoint installations, local residents will receive letters with details of the work due to take place, including information on timescales.

The bottom line: Suffolk County Council is the first local authority in England to both award their LEVI main funding tender and subsequently sign a contract with an operator, allowing installations to begin at pace to help meet the county's target of 5,400 public chargepoints by 2030.

Ed Sheeran surprised more than 200 Ipswich students with an impromptu performance at The Baths

Browse upcoming gigs

Check out upcoming BTC events across their three brilliant venues

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