News
Traders plan more themed markets after festive success
Independent traders in The Walk and Buttermarket are planning more themed street markets next year after a festive vintage event drew significant footfall to the town centre.
Matt Stott
Matt reports on the driving forces behind our local economy, uncovering the barriers to growth and championing local businesses and entrepreneurs.
News
'Lost for words': Snap Fitness donates 200 toys to hospital
A Martlesham gym manager who spent years in Ipswich Hospital's paediatric ward as a child has delivered over 200 toys, ensuring every young patient receives their own gift on Christmas Day.
News
Combat2Coffee founder competes for £1m on ITV with Ant & Dec
Nigel Seaman, founder of Ipswich-based veteran mental health organisation Combat2Coffee, says he was "stitched up" by a friend who secretly nominated him to appear on ITV's Limitless Win Christmas Special airing this week.
News
Five months of Sproughton Road delays for Eastern Gateway
Drivers face five months of disruption on Sproughton Road from January 2026 as work begins on a new roundabout for the Eastern Gateway business park, Ipswich Borough Council has announced.
News
Riverhills 'Christmas Sparty' supports RSPCA and Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy
Over 150 people attended Riverhills Health Club & Day Spa's annual Christmas event, raising £837 through a charity raffle for the RSPCA and Thomas Wolsey Ormiston Academy.
News
RSPCA Martlesham goes solar in over £7,500-a-year energy shift
The RSPCA Suffolk Central branch in Martlesham will redirect over £7,500 a year from its energy bills to animal welfare after installing almost 80 solar panels across its rooftops.
News
Cyber security programme approves first local projects
A new cyber security programme has received more than 150 expressions of interest from local businesses – almost three times its target – as it approves its first eight projects.
News
Free solar panels and heat pumps available for Suffolk homes
Low-income Suffolk residents living in poorly insulated homes could be eligible for free solar panels, heat pumps and insulation worth thousands of pounds – but must apply within the next three months.
Feature
'Everyone told me I was mad': A year in Ipswich retail
Mark Hubert leans against a wardrobe in his immaculately kept shop with the kind of honesty that only appears after a year of doing something much harder than you expected. "If I base my business on footfall," he says, "I would have closed six months ago."
News
Construction begins on new Co-op store in Kesgrave
Work has begun to build a new East of England Co-op Food store in Kesgrave, set to open in late 2026.
News
University students' Amazon primate work shortlisted for award
A conservation project in the Peruvian Amazon run in partnership with the University of Suffolk has been shortlisted for a prestigious global ecotourism award.
Feature
How a £5,000 grant keeps Ipswich's oldest shop pedalling
Perched on a stool, Steve Grimwood is engaged in lively conversation with a regular when I step into Ipswich's oldest retail business. I'm instructed to "take good care" of him before the customer disappears through the revamped rear entrance that has recently benefitted from a £10,000 upgrade.