Jobs in Ipswich | Pictures of Ipswich

Ipswich is the administrative centre for Suffolk and hailed as one of the fastest growing local economies in the UK. Yet despite having a population of almost 130,000 which is forecast to grown by a further 15 per cent over the next 15 years, Ipswich is still only categorised as a town, not a city.

Ipswich has undergone an extensive programme of redevelopment over the last few years that has kick-started the economy and seen a number of industries within the service sector flourish and stimulate the growth of newer ones, such as high-tech, administration and financial services.

Then and now
The county capital of Suffolk and among the oldest towns in England, Ipswich took shape in Anglo-Saxon times as the main centre between York and London for North Sea trade to Scandinavia and the Rhine. And by the early 1600s Ipswich was a prosperous trading port and the main point of exodus for those looking to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the newly discovered North America.

However, Ipswich’s significance as a trading port soon declined in the face of overseas competition and from the rapid growth of a number of other ports in England, notably Bristol and Liverpool. And much of what can be seen in Ipswich today is the result of a revival of economic fortunes during the Victorian era.

That said, Ipswich continues to be a hub for transport and distribution. Indeed, the transport and logistics sector is actually the second biggest employment sector for Ipswich with almost 1 in 4 of the workforce playing their trade in such fields as distribution, haulage, freight and public transport.

Today, Ipswich is once again the target of rapid expansion. Its current population of 128,000 is set to grow to over 150,000 by 2023 with the creation of some 30,000 extra jobs; thereby making Ipswich fastest growing regional centre in the East of England. So what sectors will be set to benefit from this?

The East Anglian economy as a whole is growing at well above the national average and has continued to do so since 2003. And as the regional centre for Suffolk one of the major employment generators for the local economy is that of public services. Indeed, the areas of public administration, health and education are the city’s biggest employers with the latter being the most prominent.

In 2007 the University Campus Suffolk was established as an amalgamation between the Universities of East Anglia and Essex as well as a number of regional colleges in the Suffolk area in a move that is hoped will create the first fully recognised university in Suffolk. And when taking into consideration the number of people employed in primary, secondary and further education, the education sector employs over 6,800 people in Ipswich with Suffolk County Education and Suffolk College employing 5,700 and 1,000 people respectively.

Although the borough of Ipswich has a population of around 128,000, there are over 310,000 people living within 10 miles of the town who all fall under the remit of Ipswich Borough Council. Indeed, as the regional administrative centre, the Council is one of the most significant employers in the area responsible for over 1,700 jobs. Whereas Ipswich Hospitals NHS Trust employs around 3,500 in the health sector.

Collectively, the public sector – administration, education and health – are responsible for 32 per cent of all jobs in the area.

One of the strongest sectors that are represented in the area is finance. With a stable economic base and a thriving business community, the finance sectors influence on the local economy has steadily increased with a number of leading organisation running significant operations from Ipswich, including AXA Insurance – with over 1,200 employees and Willis Insurance, one of the UK’s leading providers, employing 1,250. Overall, the finance sector provides employment for 21 per cent of the workforce in Ipswich.

But the hi-tech sector in Ipswich has accelerated apace, propelled by the proximity of one of Europe's fastest growing technology parks, Adastral Park. Branded ‘IP-City’ and home to over 250 hi-tech companies, the high-tech sector has quickly established itself as one of the leading drivers behind the region’s strong economic growth with the likes of BT being based here. Employing over 3,500 people, BT is also the biggest employer in the private sector.

Key business districts
The jewel in Ipswich’s crown is Adastral Park. The park has the greatest R&D spend in the UK and is home to over 4,000 ICT companies. The site was once named BT Research Laboratories or BT Labs and the name change to Adastral Park reflects an expansion in the organisations and activities co-located with BT Labs at the campus. There is also one of BT's five satellite earth stations - chosen for the visibility of satellites on the eastern horizon.

Ipswich Port was bought wholly and it became a subsidiary of the Associated British Ports (ABP) in March 1997. The port is currently undergoing a renaissance following a period of modernisation, expansion and part re-location following privatisation. The port has undergone an investment worth £15m since 2005.

The Whitehouse Industrial Estate forms the main industrial and commercial centre to the west of Ipswich. Occupiers on the estate include Fred Olsen Travel, Edmondson, Cox of Ipswich, SEH Windows & Doors, P&O Ferrymasters, UK Poultry, Suffolk County Council, CBA Law and Lindacre. Adjacent to the to the estate is Anglia Retail Park with occupiers including Asda, B&Q, McDonalds, Mamas & Papas, Comet, Pizza Hut, KFC and Carphone Warehouse.

Elsewhere, Regatta Quay at the waterfront is in the redevelopment stage and promises to offer converted original buildings and stunning new build using a variety of complementary materials focusing around an historic Victorian wet dock, the Waterfront is in the midst of a dramatic transformation.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Ipswich.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Ipswich below.

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Ipswich or find out more information on the local area.