Firms in the region keen for staff to spend more time in the office
Most businesses in the East of England believe hybrid working has boosted productivity and wellbeing but many are keen for their people to spend more time in the office. A business outlook tracker survey of mid-sized companies across the region from Grant Thornton UK found that 90 per cent of firms had adopted hybrid working but most (74 per cent) wanted to see their staff in the office more. Most firms recognised that in-person interactions can help with specific activities that hybrid working was impacting their ability to provide enough support for younger employees and trainees. Charlotte Anderson, practice lead for Grant Thornton UK in Cambridge, Milton Keynes, and Chelmsford, said: “Across the East of England, we’re seeing businesses embrace hybrid working while still valuing crucial in-person connections. This flexible approach boosts wellbeing and productivity, yet many organisations recognise that activities like mentoring younger talent thrive with face-to-face interaction. Finding the right balance is essential for businesses.”
Cocktail producer raises a glass to £1.4 million investment
Edmunds Cocktails, a premium bottled drinks producer founded by two brothers in Bury St Edmunds in 2019, has secured a £1.4 million investment after delivering strong growth. A pitch to investors in early 2024 led to an investment as part of a £1.4m round and the business has since secured co-funding through the New Anglia Capital Fund. Co-founder Tom Mayes said: “We’re thrilled to announce we’ve been able to secure over £1.4m in investment with the help of Anglia Capital Group. Paul and I started Edmunds in my kitchen back in 2019, so it feels surreal that we’re now employing 14 people, including my dad, and making over 20,000 cocktails a week. We’ve got ambitious plans for growth, and with the backing from our investors we want to show more people that you can now get genuine bar quality cocktails from a bottle.”
The business was initially self-funded and grew to over £1.2m in annual revenue by early 2023. It sold over 750,000 cocktails in 2024 and has moved into a new 8k sq ft warehouse and production facility in Norwich. Today the business can produce over 12k cocktails a day and is launching in Pizza Express, De Vere Hotels, Adnams and elsewhere. Photo: Paul and Tom Mayes.
Cambridge laboratories acquisition set to open up ‘significant new market opportunities’
Cambridge Clinical Laboratories has been acquired by Source Bioscience UK, which has a base at Vision Park, south of the city. CCL provides personalised healthcare diagnostic services and validation studies for clinical research, to both the NHS and private customers worldwide. The acquisition will complement Source BioScience’s capabilities in genomics and multiomics and expand its existing clinical offering. All staff and assets from CCL will be transferred to new clinical facilities at the existing Source Genomics site at Vision Park (photo). Jay LeCoque, chairman and CEO of Source BioScience, said: “CCL has a longstanding reputation for its expertise in personalised clinical diagnostic services, and as such, represented the ideal opportunity to complete our service offerings. By investing in a new clinical lab facility and bringing in the talented team at CCL, we will open up significant new market opportunities in clinical diagnostics and be able to support our customers through all stages of their programs.”
Business activity shrinks as firms scale back on staffing
Business activity in the East of England shrunk slightly in March according to the NatWest Growth Tracker although expectations for growth in the region over the year ahead were the strongest for five months. The survey of purchasing managers – taken before 27th March prior to the US tariff announcements – showed that the East recorded an unchanged business activity index of 48.8, below the no-change level of 50. Employment and work backlog levels also fell in the region during the month and the East saw the fastest fall in staffing levels of any region in the country. But expectations for future growth in the East stood at 69.2, the highest of any UK region. Cost inflation eased for the first time in four months. Natwest chief economist Sebastian Burnside said: “Market conditions remain challenging and recent tariff announcements suggest we could see continued challenges in the coming months. Firms up and down the country are looking to control costs, which is feeding through to staffing decisions.”
Separately, there were 8,218 businesses set up in East Anglia in March, a 17 per cent rise on the previous month and the highest since last April, according to figures from R3. But there was a 24 per cent monthly rise in insolvency-related activity in the region and the number of firms with late payments on their books rose. R3 Eastern chair Hayley Watson said: “It’s encouraging to see some green shoots of recovery starting to emerge, particularly as we are currently facing so much economic uncertainty.”
Farmland buyers turn more cautious but prices hold
Farmland buyers are turning more cautious although prices in the first quarter were ‘broadly in line’ with late 2024, according to property agency Strutt & Parker. Sam Holt, head of estates & farm agency at the firm, said: “There has been a slight shift in the market, with sentiment inevitably being influenced by factors such as the inheritance tax changes, pause in the sustainable farming incentive and pressure on farming incomes. However, while this is having some influence on supply and demand, the impact is not dramatic and prices have been holding firm.” He said buyers remain active, but are becoming more selective. Location remains key, with demand also stronger for commercial farms with high quality soils. The market is slower in more remote areas with few diversification opportunities and for farms with a large residential element.
Ipswich business festival generates ‘outstanding response’
Ipswich’s first business festival attracted almost 1,800 people who visited more than 40 events across the town recently. The Ipswich Business: Thrive Week, from March 10-18 organised by Ipswich Borough Council, saw activities ranging from business workshops to networking meet-ups. Cllr. Neil MacDonald, council leader and portfolio holder for economic development, said: “The sheer diversity of industries involved, and the incredible level of engagement have truly showcased Ipswich as a thriving hub for business and innovation. Ipswich’s first business festival has been a huge success, with an outstanding response from the town’s business community.” Highlights included a DWP Jobs Fair, visited by more than 700 people, a well-attended Tech East event showcasing Ipswich’s thriving tech community and a leisure, tourism and hospitality event at St Stephen’s Church hosted by Larking Gowen.
Tim Robinson, COO of Tech East, said: “Tech East was so proud to be part of Thrive Week which brought together Ipswich’s vibrant business community to learn, and make valuable new connections through networking. We loved running our Tech Mixer and were so pleased at the turnout and feedback – we’ll definitely be back next year.” Photo: Unlock Suffolk on March 13th.
New university building in Peterborough wins national award for local impact
ARU Peterborough’s new £32 million building, The Lab, has won a national award in the Best Building category at the Pineapples Awards 2025, which recognise buildings that have a positive effect on places and people. Commenting on The Lab, the judges said: “This building should be highlighted for the palpable impact that a facility can have in Peterborough. …It is a real beacon for its placemaking and wider social impact. What really lifted it above the other projects was this impact which highlights the civic role that a university can have.” The Lab is home to the Living Lab, designed to host exhibitions, talks, and public engagement events. It also has teaching spaces, tissue culture and microbiology labs, and engineering workshops. Professor Ross Renton, principal of ARU Peterborough, said: “As the university continues to grow, this building will be at its heart, and we encourage everyone to come and explore ARU Peterborough’s open campus for themselves.” Completed last summer and officially opened in the autumn, The Lab was built by Morgan Sindall Construction and designed by Cambridge-based MCW architects.
Separately, property agency Eddisons has seen sales & lettings agreed at its Peterborough office up ten per cent in the first quarter compared to the period last year. Agency deals in the city so far this year have included, the freehold owner occupier acquisition of Saxon House, a 30,000 sq ft office building on Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate and the sale of an 180,000 sq ft warehouse freehold on Southgate Way for a global investment fund client.
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