2026 Sponsors

Headline Sponsor and Suffolk Business of the Year

Ensors is an award-winning accountancy firm with over 130 years in practice, serving clients in and around East Anglia. Now backed by the scale and resources of Azets, a UK Top 10 accountancy firm, Ensors clients and staff members benefit from expertise on a global scale and technological advancements.

Sponsoring Employer of the Year

Ashtons Legal is an established UK law firm recognised for its strong corporate and commercial capability and its commitment to delivering practical, businessfocused legal advice. They work closely with ownermanaged businesses, corporates, entrepreneurs and professional advisers, providing strategic legal support that helps organisations grow, protect value and manage risk. 

Their business services cover a broad spectrum of needs, including corporate transactions, commercial contracts, employment law, regulatory and compliance advice, dispute resolution, franchising, intellectual property, GDPR and data protection.  

They take time to understand each client’s commercial objectives, enabling them to deliver clear, tailored solutions aligned with their longterm goals. Whether supporting daytoday operational matters or advising on complex, highvalue transactions, their teams act as trusted legal partners who prioritise clarity, confidence and commercial outcomes. 

With offices in Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich, Norwich and Leeds, Ashtons Legal combines strong regional presence with national reach, supporting businesses across the UK and internationally. Their collaborative approach ensures clients benefit from integrated expertise across multiple disciplines whenever their matters require a coordinated response. 

Alongside their Business Client Services, they provide a full range of legal support for individuals, including property, family law, wills and probate, tax and trusts, and personal injury.  

This breadth of expertise enables them to support business owners both professionally and personally, providing continuity and trusted advice at every stage of their journey. 

Sponsoring Businessperson of the Year

The Churchmanor Estates Company plc has for over 40 years been one of the foremost commercial property developers in the East of England renowned for adopting a collaborative approach to the process of property development. Through Joint Ventures with landowners Churchmanor have helped to unlock the development potential of their landholdings and for individual local and national business Churchmanor has developed new premises for relocation or expansion, for example the new Birketts HQ in Ipswich.  

Churchmanor believe in creating brilliant spaces for work and for life and have developed over 3 million square feet of commercial accommodation which has included research and development parks, business parks, offices, retail and leisure and major town center regeneration.

Sponsoring Customer Excellence Award

Greater Anglia is proud to be sponsoring this year’s Suffolk Business Awards. 

They are passionate about delivering excellent customer service and ensuring that the railways play their full part in helping our region to be both economically prosperous and a wonderful place to live.  

They are therefore committed to consistently raising customer service standards. 

They have a fleet of brand-new trains, operating on all their services, which have positively transformed the travelling environment, providing more comfortable journeys, increasing seating capacity and delivering excellent punctuality and reliability on a consistent basis, as part of a £1.4 billion investment programme. 

Every single carriage has been replaced in the largest ever investment in trains in East Anglia.  They are air conditioned, with plug and USB points, free wifi and improved accessibility.  They are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. 

They are also helping Greater Anglia deliver a very punctual and reliable service, with some of the highest annual performance levels ever seen across their  network – as well as  consistently being the best performing train operator in the UK.  

With their customer feedback initiative “We’re All Ears”, they’re gaining even more regular insights into their customers priorities, helping them make further improvements and encourage even more customers to take the train, as they continue to support the sustainable economic development of the region, in line with decarbonisation targets. So excellent customer service really is at the heart of their plans to keep on delivering a high-quality, convenient and passenger-focused train service for the region.  

Sponsoring Large Business of the Year

Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, is proud to be a local, independent, UK Top 50 accountancy firm serving Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk.  

Their core values are rooted in delivering outstanding client service, supporting their people, and making a positive impact in their community. 

Their dedicated teams combine expertise with a personal touch to provide a one-to-one service business' can trust. They can help with everything from getting your business started, growing your business and reaching your personal financial goals, to supporting you with succession planning and your personal affairs. They're here to guide you every step of the way. 

Larking Gowen are equally passionate about their people, investing in their wellbeing, training and career development, and making Larking Gowen a supportive and inspiring place to work. 

Whatever your financial needs, Larking Gowen are dedicated to securing your future and helping you achieve your goals. 

Sponsoring the Positive Impact in the Community Award

Norse Group is an East Anglian success story. Wholly owned by Norfolk County Council, the company provides a wide range of services to the public and private sectors, including property consultancy, highways, FM, transport, housing repairs and environmental services. Norse operates across the UK, bringing jobs and financial benefits to the East of England. With a turnover of almost £400 million, the group employs over 9,000 people. 

Norse Group’s growth has been fuelled by its development of a groundbreaking partnership model, establishing joint ventures with over twenty local authorities in England and Wales.   

Most companies turning over hundreds of millions of pounds exist to provide a return to their shareholders; profit is all, and the share price paramount. Norse group returns all of its profits to the public purse. In recent years social value, now included in the catch-all term ESG, has risen in importance. It is seen as a way to increase returns, as well as giving back to society, especially when selling to the public sector. 

From its inception Norse Group has been founded on public service values, and as the company’s commercial skills have developed, its ethos remains undiluted. The term “ethical commercialism”, coined by Jonathan Werran of the think tank Localis, encapsulates Norse’s approach, and is proving increasingly attractive to a market which favours social value. 

A unique combination of responsiveness, commercial knowhow and public service values has propelled Norse to market leadership, and firmly places the company among the best of the best. 

Sponsoring Medium Business of the Year

Pound Gates, are more than just insurance brokers; they are dedicated partners in your business's growth. Since 1988, they've taken a hands-on, relationship-first approach, underpinned by their core values and commitment to excellence. Their mission is to combine their expertise with your ambitions to elevate your business. 

They excel in forming partnerships with clients who share their values and commitment to collaboration, fostering long-lasting relationships that deliver tangible benefits. 

As a truly independent broker, they tailor their approach to your specific needs, enabling quick decisions and flexible products. Their Chartered status reflects their dedication to professional excellence, ensuring you receive current and professional support from experts who understand the best products and services for your business. 

They are proud holders of the Investors in People accreditation, the UK's leading standard for people management, demonstrating their commitment to excellent client service delivered by professional, qualified staff. Their ISO 9001:2015 certification further validates their high standards in practice. In 2024, they were named Best Workplace in Insurance at the National Insurance Awards. 

Every client benefits from dedicated contacts who take the time to understand your business, allowing them to provide specific advice and help move your business forward. Beyond insurance, they offer insights into operational aspects that could impact your policy's effectiveness, ensuring you receive strategic support tailored to your needs. 

They believe in the power of connections and are committed to fostering relationships that enable businesses to thrive. Through their extensive network, they facilitate growth, collaboration and innovation. 

Sponsoring Growth Business of the Year

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce is the largest and most established business membership organisation in the county, representing businesses of all sizes, sectors and stages of growth. Their purpose is to ensure Suffolk remains a place where businesses can operate confidently, access opportunities and contribute to a thriving local economy. 

They offer a broad range of services designed to support the needs of the business community. These include high‑quality networking events, training programmes, briefings and initiatives that bring organisations together to share insight, develop skills and build valuable commercial relationships. Their international trade services also help businesses access global markets and navigate export requirements with confidence. 

A core part of their work is strong policy and advocacy on behalf of the business community. They engage directly with local authorities, regional bodies and national government to influence decisions on transport, planning, digital connectivity, skills and investment. By presenting clear evidence and representing the views of their members, they help ensure Suffolk’s priorities are recognised and acted upon. 

Suffolk Chamber also provides practical guidance and access to information that supports business growth, from regulatory updates to best‑practice resources and sector‑specific insight. Their role is to remove barriers, encourage collaboration and strengthen the foundations that enable long‑term economic success. 

With a legacy spanning more than 140 years, Suffolk Chamber continues to be a trusted, independent organisation dedicated to supporting the county’s businesses and helping shape a stronger, more resilient economy for the future. 

Venue Partner 

Set in beautiful countryside, Milsoms Kesgrave Hall is a boutique hotel, luxury spa andrestaurant just outside Ipswich. This charming four-star Suffolk hotel has 27 en-suite bedrooms with plenty of wow factor – some even have bathtubs in the rooms and fabulous  walk-in showers. The majority of the rooms are in the main house but if you’re looking for a  private escape with self-catering, do ask about the new Gatehouse. 

The brasserie restaurant and terrace provide a relaxed setting for drinks or dining and is open all day. Whether you’re after lunch, afternoon tea, dinner or a drink with friends – the bar brasserie will have just what you want – and there’s no need to book! There’s even a covered outdoor terrace looking out across the sweeping lawns so you can enjoy outdoor dining at any time of day. 

The Spa at Kesgrave Hall is popular with hotel and local guests alike. Drawing from the natural beauty of its woodland surroundings, The Spa blends seamlessly into the Suffolkcountryside. It is a haven of relaxation and rejuvenation - with five double treatment rooms, huge hot tub, covered terrace and log burning fire.