Suffolk New College has renewed its Patronage with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, marking a decade of collaboration between two organisations committed to strengthening Suffolk’s skills landscape and supporting the county’s future workforce.
As one of Suffolk Chamber’s founding Patrons, Suffolk New College has played a central role in bringing together education and business, helping ensure that local employers can shape training, influence curriculum needs and connect directly with the next generation of talent. The renewed Patronage reflects the ongoing value of a partnership that has proven vital to addressing skills challenges, raising aspirations, and supporting sustainable economic growth across the region.
Over the past ten years, Suffolk New College and the Chamber have worked side by side on initiatives that connect industry with education, including supporting employer engagement, expanding work‑based opportunities and helping students gain real-world experience, and more recently as part of the Local Skills Improvement Plan for Norfolk and Suffolk which Suffolk Chamber delivers in partnership with Norfolk Chamber. This long-term partnership has created a strong platform for meaningful collaboration between businesses and educators, building confidence among employers and helping to shape the county’s future talent pipeline.
Alan Pease, Principal and CEO of Suffolk New College said:
“I am delighted to be able to renew our patronage of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and celebrate 10 years of working together. As founding Patrons, we have a fantastic reciprocal relationship, with the chamber also being an Industry Partner of Suffolk New College. Indeed, the chamber have played an integral role in supporting the college to 187 formal partners, which it currently boasts. I am looking forward to the next ten years working closely together to bring education and employers closer together to drive the skills agenda forward in Suffolk.
John Dugmore, Chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Suffolk New College has been an outstanding Patron throughout the last decade. Their commitment to developing the county’s skills pipeline and ensuring young people have strong, meaningful opportunities is invaluable to our business community. This Patronage represents more than a formal partnership; it is a shared mission to connect employers with the workforce of the future, to encourage innovation and to support the long-term prosperity of Suffolk. We are proud of what we have achieved together so far, and we look forward to building on this success in the years ahead.”
The renewal of the Patronage reaffirms a shared dedication to addressing skills needs, supporting local employers and creating opportunities that benefit learners, businesses, and the wider community. As Suffolk continues to face rapid economic and technological change, the relationship between the Chamber and Suffolk New College remains a key driver in helping the county stay competitive, connected, and future ready.