Ipswich Central hosts Thrive Business Festival conference

Ipswich Thrive Business Festival returns bigger and better this year, with Ipswich Central hosting the opening conference at Ipswich Town Football Club on Monday 9 March. 

Delivered in collaboration with Ipswich Borough Council, host Lee Walker, CEO of Ipswich Central with Liam Worrall of the ITFC Business Network will welcome a panel of place experts to consider the importance of history and heritage, sports culture, community safety, live music and the arts to discuss with around a hundred delegates the question – What Makes a Thriving Town Centre?

Lee Walker, CEO of Ipswich Central, says: “With a fantastic football team, Digital Ipswich community project and ambitions to be the City of Culture 2029, Ipswich is a place that is starting to show signs of thriving. 

Footfall in 2025 was up compared to 2024 figures and it feels that the county town of Suffolk has turned a corner as new businesses open, investment is being noticed and improvements to public spaces are taking place.” 

• Director of the Thomas Wolsey 550 project Kath Cockshaw will lead discussions around history and heritage 
• Simon Bristow developed Added Time Club for football fan culture in Nottingham and the Added Time campaign in Ipswich for the 2024/25 Premier League season
• Live music enthusiast Joe Bailey is best known for bringing Brighten the Corners Music Festival to Ipswich town centre
• Andy Martin of Suffolk Constabulary completes the panel line-up with a focus on Safety, Security and engagement in the town centre.

As Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, says: “This opening event of the Ipswich Thrive Business Festival is an excellent opportunity to showcase the ambition, creativity and drive of our local business community.” 
 
“Building on the success of, and positive feedback about, last year’s inaugural Ipswich Thrive: Business Week, the Conference sets the tone for an exciting fortnight of ideas, collaboration and practical support. Its theme of ‘What makes a thriving town centre?’ goes right to the heart of one of our core strategic priorities and shared ambition to create a vibrant, welcoming, and successful town centre that works for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.” 

He adds: “By bringing together business owners, experts, partner organisations and community leaders, the Conference will explore and give insight into how we can strengthen the town centre economy, support innovation, and steer Ipswich towards a stronger, more connected and more prosperous future.” 

Book your FREE place to attend the all-day (9.30am to 4pm) conference on Eventbrite here (RSVP deadline 4pm on Friday 6 March): http://www.eventbrite.com/e/ipswich-thrive-business-festival-conference-2026-tickets

For details of all Ipswich Thrive Business Festival events (9 to 20 March 2026) visit: www.ipswich.gov.uk/ipswich-thrive-business-festival