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South Suffolk Taskforce

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James Cartlidge MP

The South Suffolk Taskforce (SSTF) was established in July 2017 following the news that the Delphi Technologies factory, situated off Newton Road in Sudbury, would be closed. As one of the biggest employers in the area, and as a stalwart of the economic environment in the constituency’s largest town, the closure of this plant represented a significant challenge.

Initially focussed on the Delphi closure, the group provided an otherwise unavailable forum through which to engage with the outgoing business, Government departments, local and national stakeholders, prospective buyers, the local media, and the workforce on site. By combining and coordinating the work of the individual organisations, SSTF was able to focus on the difficult matters at hand whilst speaking with one voice. The group invited organisations to appear in front of the panel for evidence sessions, and provided clarity in the local community through periodic updates and coordinated media activity.

Once SSTF was operational, it was agreed that it should widen its scope to explore how different industries were functioning, including the industrial, retail and tourism sectors. As a result, SSTF undertook a site visit to consider the future of the Brantham industrial site and held evidence sessions on skills in Hadleigh and tourism in Shotley. 

Furthermore, SSTF’s collaborative working has demonstrably led to successful outcomes for the local economy that may not otherwise have occurred. One such example is the sale of the Philips Avent factory in Glemsford to the Malaysian company, GCB Cocoa. Stakeholders on SSTF were instrumental in ensuring that potential inward investment was translated into the purchase of the site by a business committed to significant new job creation.

The South Suffolk Taskforce (SSTF) comprises a group of representatives from the main political and economic stakeholders operating in the constituency of South Suffolk, located in the East of England. The Taskforce is chaired by the local Member of Parliament, James Cartlidge MP, and includes representatives from Babergh District Council (BDC), the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (NALEP), Suffolk County Council (SCC), and Sudbury Town Council (STC).

Membership of SSTF has varied since its creation in 2017, but the current standing members include: James Cartlidge MP, Cllr John Ward (Leader, BDC), Arthur Charvonia (Chief Executive, BDC), Cllr Michael Holt (Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, BDC), Fiona Duhamel (Assistant Director Economic Development and Regeneration, BDC), Cllr Adrian Osborne (Sudbury Town Council & BDC), Chris Starkie (Chief Executive, NALEP), Chris Dashper (Head of Programmes, NALEP), and Harriet Granstrom-Steer (Senior Researcher to James Cartlidge MP).

Since its inception, SSTF has worked with many government departments and local bodies, including the Department for International Trade, the Department for Work & Pensions (specifically, the local Job Centre team), the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, the Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, Gainsborough’s House, the National Trust, and numerous other organisations and businesses, depending on the matter at hand. The Chair would like to thank all those who have sat as a Member of SSTF, provided information during evidence sessions, or attended business forums, for their time and dedication to the success of South Suffolk’s economy and workforce.

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Resilient Recovery Report - South Suffolk Taskforce 1.54 MB

News

James Cartlidge MP

Construction firm wins golden ticket to build Suffolk chocolate factory

Thursday, 10 February, 2022

Work has begun to transform a former baby bottle production plant in a Suffolk village into a chocolate and cocoa factory.  

James Cartlidge MP

Plans for £90million chocolate factory in Glemsford green-lit with 370 jobs set to be created

Friday, 24 December, 2021

GCB Cocoa in Glemsford. Pictured from left: Chris Starkie, of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership; South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge; Khai Vualnam, of GCB Cocoa; and Cllr Michael Holt, of Babergh District Council. Contributed picture

James Cartlidge MP

SSTF launches Resilient Recovery Report

Wednesday, 20 October, 2021

The South Suffolk Taskforce (SSTF) has published its Resilient Recovery report, outlining how the local economy can make the most of its assets to recover from the pandemic whilst strengthening business and employment opportunities.

Key recommendations in the report:

James Cartlidge MP

Chocolate company takes over Suffolk factory creating up to 220 jobs

Wednesday, 4 November, 2020

GCB Cocoa have officially taken over the former Philips Avent factory in Glemsford. The Malaysian company has pledged to invest £62.2m and create 220 jobs Picture: OFFICE OF JAMES CARTLIDGE MP

Philips Avent

Bid to tap into ‘highly skilled’ local workforce as factory takes shape

Thursday, 1 October, 2020

It looks as though the future of the Glemsford baby bottling plant is now secure Picture: TUDOR MORGAN-OWEN

A total of £25m is set to be poured into creating a new cocoa factory near Sudbury, which is expected to create around 50 to 100 jobs, it has been revealed.

James Cartlidge MP

Philips Avent site sold to GCB of Malaysia

Tuesday, 29 September, 2020

James Cartlidge MP at the new GCB Cocoa factory in Glemsford. 

Philips Avent factory looks set for new future as cocoa plant

A former baby bottling plant in Suffolk looks set to become a cocoa production plant.

Delphi

Delphi Diesel Systems completes sale of Sudbury factory site to Future Properties Industrial

Thursday, 2 July, 2020

Delphi Diesel Systems Ltd, Newton Road, Sudbury Picture Mark Westley. (37563874)

The sale of one of Sudbury’s largest industrial site has at last been completed, renewing cautious optimism that it could be retained as employment land in the future.

James Cartlidge MP

Opponents unite against plans to build homes on Delphi factory site in Sudbury

Monday, 16 September, 2019

Plans to turn a factory into residential homes has united opponents, who are determined to see the Sudbury site retained for industrial use.

Delphi Diesel Systems

'Big blow' for Sudbury as Delphi reveals plan to sell site to housing company

Friday, 26 July, 2019

The Delphi Industries site in Sudbury is to be sold for housing, dashing hopes it could be saved for industrial use and preserve up to 500 jobs.

Delphi Diesel Systems

Commercial scheme more viable than residential for future of Delphi Diesel Systems site in Sudbury, new report concludes

Thursday, 25 July, 2019

A commercial-led development, potentially comprising multiple units to house several small businesses, would be the best use of a soon-to-close major industrial site in Sudbury, a report has concluded.

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The Resilient Recovery Report 

On 20th October 2021, SSTF published their Resilient Recovery Report.

The report outlines SSTF findings about how the local economy can make the most of its assets to recover from the pandemic whilst strengthening business and employment opportunities in the area.

You can read the report here: https://www.jamescartlidge.com/news/sstf-launches-resilient-recovery-re…

James Cartlidge MP for South Suffolk

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