Why it matters: The 8-day event brought together nearly 1,800 visitors across more than 40 events, showcasing Ipswich as what council leaders call a "thriving hub for business and innovation."
What they're saying: Councillor Neil MacDonald, Ipswich Borough Council's Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, called the festival "a huge success" with an "outstanding response" from the business community.
"The overwhelming support and enthusiasm make it clear – this is just the beginning of something great for Ipswich's business landscape," MacDonald said.
Peter Basford, from the Business Growth Coaches Network added: "It has been great seeing the Ipswich business community come together and show what can be done to promote the many positive things that are going on in the county town of Suffolk."
The details: The festival, organised by Ipswich Borough Council, ran from 10 to 18 March and featured workshops, networking meet-ups and showcases spanning almost all industry sectors.
Dozens of businesses from Ipswich and surrounding areas participated, sharing ideas and forming new partnerships.
Key highlights included:
A DWP Jobs Fair that attracted more than 700 people
A Tech East event showcasing Ipswich's technology community
A leisure, tourism and hospitality event at St Stephen's Church hosted by Larking Gowen
15 skills workshops hosted by Business Growth Coaches Network
The bigger picture: The festival demonstrated the diversity of Ipswich's business landscape, covering sectors including professional services, technology, retail, hospitality, private equity, creative industries, culture, arts and education.
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," Robinson added.
The bottom line: Kate Baines, Director of Virtual Prestige and Project Manager for Thrive Week, summarised the sentiment: "I was blown away by the engagement of local businesses wanting to take part, the uptake to be part of the week was beyond anyone's expectations and truly outstanding."
