Freeport East ‘focused on growth’ after unlocking nearly £0.5m in investment
It's one of 12 new Freeports across the UK which got the government green light on January 10, 2023. Freeport East takes in the Ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, business park Stowmarket Gateway 14 and yet-to-be-developed Maritime Anzani Avenue Site - a five-acre site at Felixstowe docks. SIGN UP HERE FOR YOUR DAILY BUSINESS BULLETIN[1]
Freeport East chief executive Steve Beel said 2025 was about "turning prospects into delivery on the ground". More: Ipswich Town sponsor launches GBP2m scheme to keep talented graduates in hometowns[2] "We've focused on unlocking infrastructure and grid capacity, supporting international investors, and ensuring long-term growth benefits communities and businesses across the region," he said.
"The ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich continue to act as a key attraction for many advanced manufacturers, traders and clean energy companies looking to grow in the UK." The body says it made "strong progress" last year in supporting economic growth across East Anglia and is focused on "continued investment and innovation" into 2026. Clean energy will be key to Freeport East's long-term growth ambitions, it says.
More: Tennis coach launches tennis ball and net system to help players perfect game[3] 
"The growing depth of digital technology and defence capabilities in the region together with alignment with our world-class universities presents a range of high value opportunities we look forward to pursuing into 2026," said Mr Beel. His organisation says among its achievements in 2025 was advancing GBP250m worth of private sector investment and job opportunities across its development sites and enabling more than GBP200m of international inward investment into the wider East of England. More: Mother who set up in business celebrates clutch of accolades[4]
It has invested nearly GBP20m in skills, innovation and business growth programmes and "strengthened industry collaborations across maritime, clean energy, digital and logistics sectors to drive innovation". It has also set out plans to deliver up to 500MW of new electricity grid capacity. Among last year's highlights were supporting Ukrainian drone manufacturer Ukrspecsystems to establish a new facility at Mildenhall and Elmsett to strengthen the region's position as a centre for defence and advanced digital technology.
In May, Turkish sustainable construction materials company Assan Panel broke ground on its GBP45m UK manufacturing facility at Gateway 14 and in July roof manufacturer Bauder launched its new distribution centre at the site. Stowmarket Innovation Gateway - a 35,000sq ft Skills and Innovation Centre costing GBP18m - is due to open in mid-2026. Across Freeport East sites, more than 21 hectares of employment and innovation space are now operational or in development, supporting nearly 2,000 direct jobs.
Freeport East also launched its new Head Office and Innovation Hub in Harwich last year.
To date, 15 businesses across clean energy, infrastructure, agriculture and MedTech have been supported through Freeport East innovation and business funding programmes with nearly GBP500,000 in grant funding awarded.
References
- ^ SIGN UP HERE FOR YOUR DAILY BUSINESS BULLETIN (www.eadt.co.uk)
- ^ Ipswich Town sponsor launches GBP2m scheme to keep talented graduates in hometowns (www.eadt.co.uk)
- ^ Tennis coach launches tennis ball and net system to help players perfect game (www.eadt.co.uk)
- ^ Mother who set up in business celebrates clutch of accolades (www.eadt.co.uk)