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Barclays is relocating its Ipswich hq from Princes Street and moving its retail and corporate banking services to the ground and first floors of 29-31 Westgate Street – the former Tessuti luxury store – in the town’s prime retail pitch. Penn Commercial negotiated a ten year lease on the Grade II-listed building (photo) which extends to over 14,000 sq ft and which will see an extensive fit-out.

Nearly two thirds (62 per cent) of East of England businesses which are already using artificial intelligence (AI) say it has created new jobs at their firm, while half of all firms in the region plan to increase investment in AI to boost skills in the coming year. Research from Lloyds also says that of those increasing investment, almost half expect to spend between £25 -100,000 and 40pc expect to spend between £100 -250,000.

The Royal Navy set out its vision for a ‘hybrid navy’ at an event to showcase the future of regional resilience and security in Harwich last week. Resilience in Harwich with the Royal Navy, saw a presentation on how a ‘hybrid navy’, would blend crewed platforms, autonomous systems and data and digital tech to deliver operational effect around the UK coastline.

More than half of firms in the region are planning to increase recruitment after an upturn in demand helped lift business confidence in the East of England. It rose by 30 points during July to 53pc, according to a business barometer from Lloyds. Firms were more optimistic on both their own trading outlook and the economy as demand strengthened and hopes rose for new customers and contracts.

Farrans, a Belfast-based contractor with wide experience on airport projects, has been appointed as the main ‘delivery partner’ for London Stansted Airport’s new skylink walkways. The company, part of Sisk Group, was the main contractor on the recent £100 million phase 1 extension Leeds Bradford Airport’s terminal and is currently working on a refurbishment at the site. It has also worked at Bristol and Luton airports and on facilities for Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge.

A South Norfolk-based engineering company is expanding after seeing strong demand from home and overseas for its fire extinguishers. Britannia Fire recently hosted Ben Goldsborough MP for South Norfolk to its hq in Ashwellthorpe to mark the opening of a new administration centre and unveil a new fire safety initiative for local businesses.

More farmland has been publicly listed for sale in the East of England in the first half than in any other UK region although prices remain relatively stable despite a tougher market. Research from Savills shows that 13,974 acres of farmland were publicly listed for sale in the East, a 13 per cent rise on the first six months of 2025. Farmers looking for economies of scale to expand existing operations have been among the most active buyers.

The region’s mergers & acquisitions sector is seeing a ‘gradual recovery’ with improving confidence amongst buyers and sellers and the prospect of a more active deal market in the year ahead, according to advisers BDO. Roger Buckley, partner, deal advisory – M&A- said: “The last six months have marked a period of transition for the M&A market. After a phase of uncertainty, we are now experiencing a gradual recovery.

The government-based British Business Bank has invested £25m in Cambridge-based Alchemab in what is its largest direct investment in a life sciences company. Founded in 2019, Alchemab is a clinical-stage biotech company that discovers and develops novel antibody therapeutics by identifying naturally occurring protective antibodies in individuals who show resilience to disease. The company’s first asset, licensed to Eli Lilly, progressed from initial discovery to clinical entry within three years.

More farms were put up for sale on the open market in England in the first half of this year than at any time in the period in almost 20 years, according to Strutt & Parker’s farmland database. The East of England has been among the regions which has seen more farms put up for sale. In total, 177 farms were publicly launched in the country in the first half, up from 167 in the period last year – which is 16 per cent above the five-year average.