Freeport East targets £500m with new 'investment concierge' service

Why it matters: Based around the Ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich, Freeport East says the free service is designed to help international and UK businesses establish and grow in Suffolk and the surrounding region, bringing jobs and investment to the local economy.

The details: The service was announced on Tuesday, 12 May, at the annual Sustainability Investment Forum in London, run by the Greencrowd Impact Fund, emerging markets specialist DMA Invest and King Stage Business School.

Freeport East says it provides end-to-end support for companies entering or expanding in the UK, including:

• Location sourcing
• Freeport tax reliefs
• Investment opportunities
• Company registration
• Banking, planning and regulatory guidance
• University and skills connections
• Supply chain and network development

Freeport East is a not-for-profit public-private partnership backed by the UK Government and does not charge fees for its support. The service is particularly aimed at international investors new to the UK, but also supports UK businesses looking to grow in the region.

By the numbers: Freeport East says it has supported the delivery of £250 million of investment on Freeport sites and a further £200 million on other sites across the East of England, a combined total of £450 million.

What they're saying: Steve Beel, CEO at Freeport East, said: "We've already helped to bring £450m of new private sector investment into the East of England, and along the way we've built up real knowledge of what makes businesses thrive here and the support they need.

"The Investment Concierge Service is how we put our networks, our relationships, our experience as well as our financial support to work to help more international and UK businesses grow their footprint in the region. We want to attract another £500m to the region, and with it, good jobs and sustainable growth."

For context: Freeport East says the service has already delivered results for several international companies.

Ukrspecsystems, a Ukrainian drone manufacturer, worked with Freeport East to identify a location for a £200 million investment in the East of England, and within 12 months had established a new facility in Suffolk alongside a dedicated testing site.

Assan Panel, part of one of Turkey's leading industrial groups, was supported to identify a location for a £45 million manufacturing investment and secure investment incentives.

Australian hydrogen storage innovator Rux Energy was supported to set up its first overseas subsidiary in Harwich, while Cambridge-based data and analytics company Entopy has been supported since 2024 to secure funding and build commercial partnerships.

Assan Panel Managing Director Ihsan Tolga Akar said: "Freeport East is the perfect place for us to expand our market into the UK. With the new manufacturing hub, I am confident that Assan Panel will create local job opportunities and accelerate skills and innovation development in the green manufacturing industry in the East of England and beyond."

The bigger picture: Freeport East is one of twelve Freeports across the UK and forms part of the UK Government's Industrial Strategy Zones programme. The Freeport East area covers approximately 45 kilometres across parts of Suffolk and Essex, extending from the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich in the east, from Woodbridge in the north through Ipswich to Stowmarket and Sudbury in the west, and to Colchester, Jaywick and Clacton in the south.

The organisation says the region offers opportunities across clean energy, digital technologies, defence, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics.

The bottom line: Freeport East says it is aiming to attract a further £500 million of private sector investment to the East of England through its new free Investment Concierge Service, building on the £450 million it says it has already helped secure across the region.

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