Suffolk First: How Axter puts local people, businesses and communities first

From our suppliers and employees to our community partnerships, Axter's Suffolk First policy puts our roots in Ipswich at the heart of how we do business.

Since establishing our roots in Ipswich in 1979, Axter has grown into a business with a national presence and an international reach. But while our ambitions have expanded, our connection to Suffolk has never changed.

That's why we've introduced our Suffolk First policy: a company-wide commitment to prioritising local businesses, people and organisations wherever possible. If we can't find what we need in Suffolk, we look to the wider East Anglia region next.

This is a strict business process that runs through every department, influencing decisions around procurement, recruitment, partnerships and community investment. It's also an important part of our vision for the Kingdom of East Anglia, helping to build a stronger, more prosperous and sustainable region for the people and businesses that call it home.

Putting Suffolk businesses first

Our supply chain is one of the most direct ways we can make a positive contribution to the local economy.

Across all departments, we prioritise Suffolk-based suppliers and service providers when sourcing products, expertise and support. Where a suitable option isn't available, we extend our search across East Anglia before looking further afield. This approach helps direct more of our spending towards independent businesses and organisations in our region, while building valuable long-term relationships with local suppliers.

It's a practical way of making our purchasing decisions count beyond the immediate needs of our business.

Investing in local people

A successful business needs great people, and we're proud to be part of a region with such a strong pool of talent.

Our approach to recruitment puts Suffolk and East Anglia candidates first wherever possible, helping us create opportunities for people to build their careers close to home.

We're equally committed to creating a workplace where our existing people can develop and thrive. This was recognised when Axter achieved Best Employers Eastern Region Gold accreditation in 2023 & 2025, reflecting our commitment to employee engagement, wellbeing, development and creating a positive working environment.

As a Certified B Corporation, we also recognise that our responsibility to our people goes beyond the workplace. B Corp provides a framework for considering the impact of our decisions on employees and the wider communities in which we operate.

Supporting the organisations making a difference

Our commitment to Suffolk extends into the organisations, charities and initiatives working to improve life across the region.

We currently support eight charity partners, with a focus on causes that align with our social and environmental priorities. From mental health and community wellbeing to nature conservation and tackling disadvantage, these partnerships give us an opportunity to support work that has a meaningful local impact.

Our relationships include Suffolk Mind, Emmaus Suffolk and Suffolk Community Foundation, alongside organisations working to protect and improve our natural environment.

We've also recently strengthened our connection with the town through our partnership with the Ipswich Town Foundation. As a Friend of the Foundation, we're supporting its work to create opportunities and improve lives through education, inclusion, health and wellbeing programmes across Suffolk.

Alongside this, our partnership with Ipswich.co.uk, an independent local news publisher, reflects our commitment to supporting the organisations that help keep our communities connected, informed and thriving.

We believe local organisations play an important role in shaping the future of Suffolk, and we're proud to contribute to their work.

A partnership with our home town

Football has a unique ability to bring communities together, and few organisations represent Ipswich quite like Ipswich Town Football Club.

In 2026, Axter became a Regional Partner of the club for the remainder of the 2025/26 season and the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons. We saw this opportunity as achance to celebrate our shared connection to Ipswich, raise our profile across Suffolk and support the work taking place in our local community.

Through our relationship with the club and its Foundation, we're investing in an organisation that has a remarkable influence on the lives of people across the region.

Our roots are in Suffolk. Our vision is for East Anglia.

Since 1979, Ipswich has been home to Axter. It's where our story began, and where we continue to build our future.

Our vision for the Kingdom of East Anglia reflects our belief in the potential of this region and the importance of businesses playing an active role in its success.

Through Suffolk First, we're putting that belief into practice. By supporting local suppliers, investing in regional talent and building partnerships with organisations that make a difference, we want to help create an East Anglia that is stronger, more connected and more sustainable.

We're proud of where we come from, and we're committed to playing our part in what comes next.