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Tackling Domestic Abuse: The National Emergency

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Over the past few years, domestic abuse has been an
increasingly trending topic but, despite this, knowledge around the many forms
it can take and the impacts it has remain patchy.

It’s an issue that affects millions of people across the
country every year and is estimated to be experienced by 1 in 3 women and 1 in
5 men in their lifetime.

Many campaigners have described it as a “national
emergency”, not only reflecting the vast number of people affected but also
recognising the wider impact it has.

Domestic abuse does not only impact those experiencing it,
but it also has a massive effect on our society, our key services, and the
economy.

Figures released alongside the Domestic Abuse Act (2021)
estimated that domestic abuse costs society £66bn every year, with a staggering
£14bn coming from lost output – the costs to businesses and organisations
through staff absence, lack of productivity, or recruitment.

People experiencing domestic abuse are also likely to be
disciplined or even lose their jobs as a result of higher levels of absence
from work, poor time keeping or reduced productivity.

Knowing how to respond to domestic abuse is a challenge for
many businesses, particularly when it can be hard to spot the signs someone is
experiencing it and many are unsure how to provide effective support to those
affected.

There will also be many that do not have policies or
procedures around domestic abuse, making it difficult to know how to respond
effectively and consistently.

Whilst many employers will have clear guidance around
issues such as mental health, the picture around domestic abuse is unclear and
could be costing businesses.

At Leeway, we believe that by undergoing domestic abuse
awareness training we can support businesses to reduce the costs of domestic
abuse to their organisations, whilst also supporting them to fulfil their duty
of care towards employees.

Our training has supported a variety of organisations,
ranging from the health sector and local authorities to financial institutions
and local businesses – something that we are incredibly proud of. 

We believe that tackling domestic abuse is everyone’s
business and that we all have a role to play to support those experiencing it.

Leeway’s Training

The training provided by Leeway aims to equip businesses
and organisations with the knowledge and ability to spot the signs of domestic
abuse, whilst also being able to signpost employees or clients to access
support. 

Our Domestic Abuse Awareness sessions break down the
different forms of domestic abuse, how to spot the signs – providing real life examples
of what this might look like – and how to approach conversations around
domestic abuse and signpost someone to support.

We also provide bespoke training sessions tailored to meet
the needs of businesses and organisations, specifically covering the issues
that are most relevant to their area of business. 

Leeway can also provide support for businesses and
organisations that are looking to draft or their policies and procedures
around domestic abuse.

Not only will this support businesses and organisations to
meet their duty of care to their employees, but we also believe that this can
save them money too.

To enquire about our training services and how Leeway can
support your business, please email training@leewaynwa.org.uk. More
information can also be found on the Leeway website – www.leewaysupport.org/training. 

Speed Networking – Business & Students in Norwich

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January 22nd, 9am – 1pm, Kings Centre, Norwich

Join over 500 Norwich students as they take part in a Norwich Work Skills Event to develop the skills they need for the workplace while learning how to make a good professional impression. Students will practice networking skills, shaking hands and learn how to articulate their strengths throughout the day. This event will prepare students to find their own work experience placements and feel confident about engaging with local businesses.

We are looking for volunteers to take part in a large speed networking session with students to provide advice, share their experiences and give some helpful pointers. If you’d like to be involved send us an email – hello@norfolkchamber.co.uk

Skills gap in rural areas in the UK

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Skills gap in rural areas in the UK

While skills gap is a big issue in many parts of the country, we rarely think of the whereabouts of these skills gap. Rural areas, for example, are one of the most impacted by skills gap and retention challenges.

There are many reasons for these issues including poor internet signals and rare to non-existent public transportation. All these commodities that big cities and wealthy areas have implemented already. So how can rural areas become more competitive for the workforce and retain their staff for longer? Are there any benefits that the rural population can benefit from?

In this article, we address the main issues about skills gap in the rural areas while listing the main benefits of investing for the future workforce.

 

Why are rural areas reporting skills gap?

According to the UK Parliament, rural areas find it hard to retain skills because of poor infrastructure, less attracting job offers and poor provision of essential services for keeping young people to live and work in rural areas.

Some of major limitations rural areas face are:

  • Limited range of job opportunities.
  • Poor connectivity & high-speed internet, limiting digital skills availability.
  • Transport and accessibility issues.
  • Relative importance of self-employment and small businesses.
  • Seasonalised / casualised labour markets meaning there is little incentive for investment in training.
  • Importance of informal networks in accessing employment.
  • Relatively low wage levels.

These facts alone are the main motivators for young & skilled individuals to move to bigger towns or cities where funding and investments are greater.

 

What are the reasons skilled individuals move to cities?

According to the Digital Education Resource Archive (DERA), much of rural employment is also concentrated in small firms which further limits opportunities for young people to upgrade their skills and take up training (line 76).

Ambitious skilled individuals will look to grow their careers within companies that offer trainings or position growth internally. Most rural areas are too limited with resources or accessibility, making it hard for them to grow their workforce and, therefore, their company.

The lack of training or upskilling in these rural companies also become a cause for skilled individual to move to cities. For the young people who look for apprenticeship or internal training find more opportunities and space within busier & wealthier areas.

 

Why do some rural areas do better than others?

According to webinar presenter Anupriya Misra, rural areas which have a wealthy local population or have products with strong global demand are likely to be high performing.

Some rural areas have better ground available for big companies needing surface to build their resources/warehouses (e.g. Amazon Central). This positive outcome help create local jobs and retain local skills. In that principle, some rural areas will do better than others in which can offer such flexibilities to global companies.

Living in Norfolk/Suffolk? Read what we are saying in LSIP Roadshow.

 

Benefits of improving skills gaps in rural areas

If the budget would allow it, investing in rural areas could prove beneficial for:

  • High-speed internet connectivity for digital skills:
    With high-speed internet, employers would be able to attract digital skills. But this availability would also improve lifestyle to homes & families on a daily basis.
  • Offering local training & apprenticeship:
    With improved public transportation, young individuals will be able to access companies’ locations and improve their skills for the benefit of the company. But improved transportation would also help the population in being more mobile within the rural areas.
  • More funding to help businesses expand in rural areas:
    With more funding available for rural businesses creates more openings for skilled individuals to fill. And with increasing job availability, the greater the retention of skilled workers.

 

In a nutshell

Living in rural areas can have several benefits and positive impact on a lifestyle. But when it comes to work and retaining young adults in the workplace, it may be a different challenge.

The main challenges rural areas face to retain skilled workforce are poor internet connectivity, lack of public transportation, low number of openings and lack of training available for upskilling existing employees.

Some of these pain points may be answered by levelling the company’s offerings (salary, training, etc) or by getting more help from the government and education. Some rural areas are struggling financially and cannot afford to upgrade their areas for better connectivity or more transportation.

The young workforce is more and more moving to big cities where investments are promising employee growth and where skills are in demand. But there are great benefits in investing in rural areas such as retaining the young workforce and upgrading the local economy.

 

LSIP | Act now. Future-proof your workforce Complete our online free survey to make your voice heard. At Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, we have a team of experts that can help you figure out your business’ roadblocks.

Find the Employer Survey here: https://form.jotform.com/223474490001043

What lies ahead – challenges for UK trade in 2023

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The challenges facing UK exporters in 2023 are significant and it will take a concerted effort by our global network, working alongside the UK Government, to positively shift the dial.

In 2022, exports increased by 6.7%, once the effect of inflation was removed, but this is still less than the value of goods and services the UK sold overseas in 2018.

There were also warning signs in the data for the last quarter of 2022, with UK exports falling by 2.9% as economic headwinds continued to blow.

For 2022, as a whole, the total annual trade balance in goods and services, excluding precious metals, widened by £85.3 billion to a deficit of £108 billion, when compared with 2021.

The latest BCC data for Q4 of 2022 also paints a stark picture:

  • Most Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) exporters reported no improvement to exports, with 27% reporting decreased export sales in the quarter and 47% reporting no change.
  • Only 26% of SME exporters saw increased export sales.
  • The picture for future orders was even weaker with 28% reporting a decrease against 24% an increase.

With the World Trade Organisation forecasting global trade growth of just 1% in 2023, down from 3% in 2022, then it would appear there is little to cheer.

While China’s reopening should ease production supply chains in the long-term, its suddenness could also add to the volatility, and it may create additional supply chain turbulence – if the Covid pandemic continues to impact its economic output.

But there are some signs of better times ahead. The International Monetary Fund in its World Economic Outlook update in January indicated that global demand may pick up again – particularly in the second half of 2023. GDP growth in China is forecast to be 5.2% in 2023, and 6.1% in India (picking up to 6.8% in 2024).

If consumer spending does pick up in China, and beyond, then there could be the potential for higher export sales carrying on into 2024. Top UK goods exports to China include vehicles, machinery, electrical equipment and pharmaceuticals.

Other export markets which UK firms should be keeping an eye on are the EU, US, Switzerland, Canada, Norway, South Korea and Japan.

But the outlook remains uncertain, and the UK Government must fight the corner of small and medium sized export firms.

Issues on customs processes and checks arising from the Northern Ireland Protocol require speedy, stable, and certain resolution, as it still looms over the UK’s relationship with both the EU and the US.

Outside of the EU, the US is our biggest trading partner, and the one that BCC members tell us they are most interested in. Yet progress on free trade talks is stalled, meaning that other, innovative ways to improve trade relations will be needed.

And as the Good Friday Agreement silver anniversary looms, the UK has a golden opportunity to transform our trading relationship with our two biggest export markets in one fell swoop.

Resolve the outstanding protocol issues and it should have benefits for UK businesses exporting in both east and west directions, as well as for Northern Ireland.

This could also help pave the way to dealing with a further challenge that has reared its head on US trade relations.

Recently it has taken a more ‘America First’ stance in certain sectors. The Inflation Reduction Act is a new system of tax credits for buying domestic or North American produced goods or components within supply chains.

The EU has spoken out and is engaged in continuing dialogue with the US on protecting its market access and retaining competitiveness. It has also raised the prospect of its own new Net Zero Industry Act which would look to create ‘conducive conditions’ for sectors crucial to Net Zero.

Measures proposed by the European Commission in recent weeks are being considered by member state governments and trade policy is being discussed in March’s meeting of Heads of Government in the European Council.

While the eventual outcomes of this transatlantic policy dialogue remain to be seen the UK Government must ensure that UK businesses are not left out in the cold and our own trade interests are represented in future decisions on supply chain tax credits, subsidies, and investment opportunities.

We must also do all we can to prevent an overly protectionist mindset taking hold in our major trading partner economies. The commitments made in our trade agreements on level playing fields and open, transparent subsidy systems and controls need to be implemented in their spirit as well as in their words.

The UK, EU and US have common interests around climate change and the green transition. More must be done in 2023 to ensure the rules, facilitating trade in renewables and green goods and services, work to meet the demand of both US and EU consumers and UK exporters.

Action is also needed to digitalise trade this year bilaterally, and through action at the World Trade and World Customs Organisations.

The UK Government must also finally grasp the nettle and look at changes to the Trade and Co-operation Agreement with the EU, to make our exports more competitive, and with lower compliance costs and red tape burdens.

There are straightforward changes that can be made to the Brexit trade deal – in areas such as checks on food exports and VAT requirements that could make a real difference.

Financing for export opportunities needs to be looked at afresh. The time, planning and resource a business must invest in making an effective entry into a new overseas market is a barrier for many smaller firms.

The UK Government should look at how it can be made easier for firms to access effective end-to-end finance to invest in scaling-up their export activity. A key focus must be supporting the expanding world of innovative new green products and services as a major route to growth.

The Chamber network and our wider global affiliates have a huge amount of experience in international commerce, and we can act as a trade accelerator for the Government if it wants to maximise new overseas opportunities for UK business.

The year ahead is likely to be one of the most difficult for trade in recent memory even as supply chain disruption unwinds, and Chinese production and trade routes slowly reopen.

But the right action now could put the UK in the exactly the right place to take advantage of the new market in greener products and services that are set to be major growth areas for UK trade for years to come.

The Government’s economic fight back has begun

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We knew it was coming as soon as the Prime Minister popped up in the Mail on Sunday, promising that this autumn the cabinet would ‘cut through the dither’ and deliver bold policy reforms to support growth.  Since then, we’ve had a raft of announcements, a far-reaching ministerial re-shuffle, and fairly frenetic telephone calls from Number 10 and departments to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) meant to show us that Whitehall means business.

Perhaps the most important event of the week, apart from the promotion of some our Norfolk MPs, was the Chancellor’s off-hand comment on the BBC1 Andrew Marr Show last Sunday, where he let slip that the Treasury was actively considering the creation of a small business bank. An important shift, as it echoes the call that John Longworth Director General at the BCC and his BCC team have been making for many months now. The BCC’s own paper on the case for a British Business Bank is now being discussed at the highest levels of government, and we will work hard over the coming weeks to ensure that any proposal that emerges actually serves new and growing companies in the real economy – rather than just the government’s PR interests.

The most disappointing event this week, on the other hand, was the government’s decision to wallop the key issue of aviation capacity into the long grass. By convening yet another review and pushing decisions into the next Parliament, ministers are shying away from one of business’s top priorities.

So the talk of ‘cutting through the dither’ may yet be just that – talk. Or it could signal a substantive change in government policy that really helps business deliver a new model economy. We’ll be pushing for the latter in the weeks to come.

Ensure you are part of the debate by attending our Economic Breakfast with John Longworth Director General BCC and Chole Smith MP on 5 October at Dunston Hall and attend our business conference Unlocking Success on the 23 November at OPEN Norwich. 

Love it or hate it social media is here to stay

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Just over a year ago Paul Hill the then business editor of the EDP challenged me to get involved in social media.  I even wrote an article in the EDP about how I needed to get up to speed on how to use social media effectively, but that I was doing so with some reluctance.

My first step was to organise a business event last September, it considered all aspects of social media from a novice point of view which meant that I too could learn what was what. I did learn a great deal and facebook, linkedin, twitter and google+ were put into context.  However, I soon found that knowing what each of them did, didn’t really help me to understand how best to use them within my business.

It was time to call in the experts.  I asked lots of questions both from suppliers and other users to see who was engaged in using social media, to ascertain what was right for the Chamber.  What became very clear was that social media is a very new form of communication and there are very few clear cut right and wrong answers but I learnt a number of key lessons.

The first lesson was that instead of replacing the need for an efficient up-to-date website, the opposite was the case.  Social media channels drive traffic to your website so if it is not up to the job you have a major issue. This is why we invested in a brand new website which provides a proper platform for our social media communications.

The second lesson was that social media does not replace any other marketing which you may already be doing but is in addition to the marketing  mix of emails, website, magazine, literature and newsletters as well as face to face networking. All businesses, but in particular smaller businesses have limited resources, which have to stretch even further to accommodate this new communication method.

However, the most important lesson of all is that content is key and without strong relevant content – don’t bother!  As I start to get up to speed and even have my own twitter account as well as the Chamber having one, I am appalled by how many businesses, who should know better, are using social media without taking the time and effort to really think about what they send and to whom. The right online communication sent to a targeted audience is ‘information’ and can produce business. Poor untargeted content is clearly seen as ‘spam’ and likely to damage your credibility.

Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay and it is important for all businesses to take the time and effort to understand what it means to their own businesses. So needing to understand content management relating to social media better I am organising another September event to hear from the experts. I wonder what next year’s event will be about!

To access details of our Engaging Customers event on 14 September please go here.

Rhi – Renewable Heat Incentive

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The Government opened non-domestic applications for the RHI scheme in November 2011 and look set follow-up with domestic applications later this year, coinciding with the launch of the Green Deal.

So what is the Renewable Heat Incentive?

To meet EU targets for Carbon reductions the government introduced the National Renewable Energy Plan, aimed at meeting a 15% renewable energy target for all energy supply by 2020, this includes electricity, heating and transport needs.

Around 80% of domestic energy use can be attributed to water and space heating, this equate to 44% of the total UK energy demand across all sectors.

The RHI has been introduced to encourage the use of renewable technologies for the production of water and space heating, enabling users to benefit from tariff payments to help reduce paybacks, which previously had been considered a major obstacle in utilising such technologies due to high capital investment.

The scheme effectively pays for heat generated via renewable sources, and one of the major hurdles to overcome in the setting up RHI’s was to eliminate the misuse of the scheme; for example: running the heating constantly and opening windows to then burn more fuel and thus receive more payment!

To overcome such anomalies a system should meet all the requirements set out by the scheme and be eligible for inclusion; applications will be assessed and administered by Ofgem, more information can be found at their website: ofgem E-Serve website

What comprises an eligible system?

Eligible loads

  • Must be a building, defined as enclosed and long lasting, includes glass houses
  • Applies to water and space heating
  • Includes process heating, i.e. heat generated for a production purposes
  • Systems first commissioned on or after 15th July 2009

Non eligible loads:

  • External distribution losses, i.e. piped supply between external plant and supplied building
  • Heat used for generating electricity
  • Underground heating of external surfaces, i.e. heated football pitches
  • Temporary structures, such as polytunnels

An eligible load must also be measurable with the aid of approved and compliant meters to Class 2 accuracy.

Equipment and plant of 45kW or less must be MCS (Micro Generation Scheme) certified and installed by MCS approved installers to qualify for RHI’s, larger plant will be assessed by Ofgem for eligibility.

Which technologies are currently supported by the RHI?

Biomass boilers

“Biomass boilers generate heat through burning organic matter, primarily wood. The heat is usually used to produce hot water or steam, the latter being more suitable for industrial applications. The wood, derived directly from forestry or as a forestry by-product is commonly supplied in the form of wood chips, logs or pellets.”

Energy from waste combustion (the biomass proportion of municipal waste)

“More than half of the rubbish households throw away is organic, renewable matter, such as food or paper products. Although it is usually better from an environmental perspective to reuse, recycle or produce biogas from these materials, this is not always possible and combustion can offer a better option than disposal to landfill, which generates harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Due to its renewable biomass proportion, currently around half the heat produced by burning municipal waste is renewable heat.”

Heat pumps (ground, water source)

“Heat pumps are electrically (or occasionally gas) driven heat exchangers that extract renewable solar heat from the air, ground or water. The heat pump extracts low level heat from outside and upgrades the temperature so that it is warm enough to heat space and water inside the building.”

Deep geothermal

“Geothermal systems use energy stored in the form of heat deep underground. Normally this heat has to be extracted from several hundred metres below the surface. Hot water or steam is produced by extracting the underground heat using pipes carrying water. Geothermal systems are large scale and can have a variety of heat uses, including district heating.”

Solar thermal

“Solar thermal technologies collect heat from the sun onto a collector which transfers the heat energy to a working liquid. This liquid can then be used directly to provide hot water within a building, or an exchanger can transfer the heat from the working liquid to the water.”

Biogas Combustion

Biogas is gas produced from renewable materials such as food waste, commercial waste, farm waste or sewage, most commonly through the anaerobic digestion of those materials. For the purpose of heat generation, biogas can be burned and used to create heat directly or to boil water and produce steam.

To date there is no facility to include Air Source heat pumps; however that is not to say this form of technology will not be included in the future as further research is ongoing to determine methods of metering and data collection.

What are the tariffs and how are they claimed?

The tariffs are set dependant on the heat output and technology used and an eligible system will provide a return, indexed link to RPI, for 20 years. Typically one can expect a capital expenditure paypack on most systems within 8-10 years, which means up to 10 years of income stream to follow, which would typically cover fuel costs.

As a method of dissuading fraudulent misuse, biomass boilers are split into two tiers of tariff, the first tier providing a higher tariff for the first 1314 peak load hours, a lower tariff being set for the remainder.

The owner of the plant is the recipient of the RHI scheme and will be required to make quarterly meter readings to Ofgem who will then administer the whole process. Ofgem retain the right to carry out inspections of plant.

The following link below will display current tariff information:

Table of tariffs

A typical case study for a non-domestic installation:

  • A 38kW biomass boiler, delivering 95,103kW/h
  • Consuming 23 tonnes of pellet fuel, at £170 per tonne, equating to £3910 per year
  • Comparison cost of oil would be 7,800 litres at £0.64 per litre, equating to £4,992 per year
  • Installation cost: £60,000
  • Tier 1 return:

o Installed capacity x 1314 peak load hours

o 38 x 1314 = 49,932kW/h

o Rate x 49,932

o 0.079 x 49,932 = £3,944.63

  • Tier 2 return:

o Rate x Remaining kW/h

o 0.002 x 45,171 = £903.42

  • Total tariff returns: £4,848.05
  • Annual fuel saving: £1,082
  • Total annual return: £5,930.05
  • Capital investment payback: ~ 10 years

Refer to the links below for the Government DECC website and additional information:

DECC Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Renewable Heat Incentive Policy Document

DECC Press release: 10/03/2011

RenEnergy

Content is king!

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Love it or hate it social media is here to stay. Just over a year ago Paul Hill the then business editor of the EDP challenged me to get involved in social media.  I even wrote an article in the EDP about how I needed to get up to speed on how to use social media effectively, but that I was doing so with some reluctance.

My first step was to organise a business event last September, it considered all aspects of social media from a novice point of view which meant that I too could learn what was what. I did learn a great deal and facebook, linkedin, twitter and google+ were put into context.  However, I soon found that knowing what each of them did, didn’t really help me to understand how best to use them within my business.

It was time to call in the experts.  I asked lots of questions both from suppliers and other users to see who was engaged in using social media, to ascertain what was right for the Chamber.  What became very clear was that social media is a very new form of communication and there are very few clear cut right and wrong answers but I learnt a number of key lessons.

The first lesson was that instead of replacing the need for an efficient up-to-date website, the opposite was the case.  Social media channels drive traffic to your website so if it is not up to the job you have a major issue. This is why we invested in a brand new website which provides a proper platform for our social media communications.

The second lesson was that social media does not replace any other marketing which you may already be doing but is in addition to the marketing  mix of emails, website, magazine, literature and newsletters as well as face to face networking. All businesses, but in particular smaller businesses have limited resources, which have to stretch even further to accommodate this new communication method.

However, the most important lesson of all is that content is key and without strong relevant content – don’t bother!  As I start to get up to speed and even have my own twitter account as well as the Chamber having one, I am appalled by how many businesses, who should know better, are using social media without taking the time and effort to really think about what they send and to whom. The right online communication sent to a targeted audience is ‘information’ and can produce business. Poor untargeted content is clearly seen as ‘spam’ and likely to damage your credibility.

Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay and it is important for all businesses to take the time and effort to understand what it means to their own businesses. So needing to understand content management relating to social media better I am organising another September event, details below,  to hear from the experts- I wonder what next year’s event will be about!

14 September 2012 – ‘Engaging Customers –  using social media and technology’ 8am  – 2pm EPIC Studios, Norwich

Unlocking housing market will boost UK growth – but also requires a cultural shift

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The recently released Montague report on housing thankfully opens up discussion of some of the issues of housing in the UK and may help us start to address issues such as, supply and demand, quality of housing, meeting sustainability through economy of scale, creating flexible living arrangements to suit contemporary lifestyles, whilst providing longer term tenancies and security for those that require it. Essentially it requires responding more closely to the needs of users.

This comes at an appropriate time, when the planning system is recognising the importance of community, with a move towards a bottom up approach in the planning system, an active encouragement of community involvement and favourability towards development – where it is sustainable.

The suggestion that the government should assist in releasing public land and encourage local planning authorities to recognise the role of private renting is a welcome one. Furthermore, the call for local planning authorities to distinguish between the demand for rented accommodation and home ownership in the planning system is of key importance. This is due to the implications on land value calculation created by the current presumption that land for homes would be owner-occupied if not specifically earmarked for affordable housing, which of course in turn impacts the cost of development.

If to be successful, an investment in private rental development requires not only confidence from investors, private developers and local authority support, but a cultural shift in our attitudes towards how we live. Perhaps it is a particularly attractive idea to young professionals and families with contemporary ideals of living in high density urban environments, allowing the integration of life and work more closely and reducing the need to travel. The report recognises the importance of establishing street level activity quickly in new developments and the significance of community, including some of civic facilities required to build a community. But we must pay close attention to the dynamics of communities and their requirements; we must recognise the role of high quality public realm and shared space in addition to the quality of living accommodation itself to making these potential developments successful in their long-term use.

Considering that rental communities may only be successful if there is some level of permanency there is need for some mixed use within these potential developments and diversity of properties and tenure. In addition, from an urbanism point of view, we must embrace the idea of place making, the importance of shared space, green infrastructure and the need for a community to contribute to and occupy their surroundings – in order to foster a shared responsibility for them.

Deregulation: One step forward, one step back

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Monday saw the implementation of the second Common Commencement Date for new regulations affecting businesses for 2012. Changes that came into force will likely receive a lukewarm reception from business. By far the most notable change coming in will be pensions auto-enrolment, with a £2.8bn cost to business. However, this threatens to overshadow the recent progress made by the government in alleviating the burden of red tape.

Last week saw the implementation of the second Common Commencement Date for new regulations affecting businesses for 2012.  Changes that came into force will likely receive a lukewarm reception from business, with companies seeing some welcome changes – changes to CRB checks and audit requirements – and some less than popular measures – such as cost recovery by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). By far the most notable change will be pensions auto-enrolment, with a £2.8bn cost to business. The changes to pensions are part of a broader discussion around the challenges of a changing demographic in the UK, as opposed to forming part of the analysis into the government’s deregulation policies.

The government recognises the burden that unnecessary, or badly designed, red tape places on companies and the effect that this can have on growth, innovation and job creation. The government has made some tangible progress in this agenda in recent months, with some welcome reductions to the bureaucracy faced by firms. Notably, the recent announcements on changes to the health and safety regime for companies – particularly the changes surrounding ‘strict liability’ and the reductions in inspections – announced last month were welcomed by businesses.

However, this relief was short lived. New health and safety regulations came into force on 1 October placing a duty on the HSE to recover its costs for carrying out its regulatory functions from those found to be in material breach of health and safety legislation. At present, the cost for this is £124 an hour. The Chamber accepts that a cost recovery principle will provide a deterrent to those who otherwise fail to meet their obligations, and provide a level playing field for those who do. However, it is as if the government is taking one step forward and immediately taking one step back. This change risks damaging relationships between good, law-abiding companies and the HSE.

We are concerned that the new regime could effectively incentivise health and safety inspectors to find businesses in material breach of regulations. Under this new regulation, the focus of health and safety inspectors could shift from helping honest companies, to making money for the HSE – especially given the apparent 35% overall spending cut which the HSE needs to make. Given the current economic climate, even hypothetical excess costs are enough to give real cause for concern in the business community. This ultimately filters through to business confidence, which is already fragile enough.

For businesses on the ground, this change will likely feel like a step backwards in Whitehall’s attempts to reduce the burden of red tape. Given the government’s recent progress, and the new Business Minister’s attitude towards red tape, this will only fuel businesses frustration with the government. The government must continue in its efforts to lessen unnecessary regulations affecting companies, particularly those without a dedicated HR or legal department to deal with red tape. Moreover, we must also ensure that future legislation that affects companies is proportionate and does not distract companies from growing and creating jobs.   

A First Week to Remember

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Last Monday started off just like any other normal back-to-Parliament week for a backbencher. Then the phone rang. Even with reshuffle chatter bubbling away in the background, any MP might hope, but certainly not expect it to be the Prime Minister. With that I was a Local Government Minister at the Department for Communities. Surprised, yes. A privilege, certainly. A new challenge, definitely. But I am ready and eager to roll my sleeves up and get on with the job of governing.  So instead of deciding which debates to attend and thinking about select committee work I was off to join Eric Pickles at our Victoria HQ. So far, so good.

I have always been an avid Olympics and Paralympics fan and I am keen to see the sporting spirit that swept the nation this summer continue. So I was thrilled that one my first duties as a new minister was to attend the Olympic cabinet committee, chaired by the Prime Minister (I seem to be seeing a lot of him lately!). We discussed the huge contribution made by team GB, not just the athletes, but  also the organisers and games makers that made sure 2012 went off without a hitch. We talked about the plans for the closing ceremony and parade which, I think we can all agree was truly great way to cap off a stellar sporting summer.  Not to mention Andy Murray’s first grand slam victory.

Day two meant the Government’s big announcement to boost the economy, deliver 70,000 new homes and create 140,000 jobs through billions in debt guarantees, new housing investment and more planning deregulation. The plans were announced by Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, but Eric and our team of ministers all took to the front benches to set out the steps to Parliament that build on the housing, local government finance and planning reforms already in play. Getting growth going is a top priority for the Coalition and this package is something the chamber will no doubt welcome as a key contribution to that.  

With any new job the first week is often about learning the ropes. So I’ve been settling into my new offices, learning my way around the building, meeting with my new ministerial colleagues to discuss our priorities and responsibilities. I also have a new private office team and daily tasks like correspondence, responding to parliamentary questions, reading my briefing notes or meetings with the civil servants to get up to speed on various aspects of my portfolio, which covers local government, the Fire Service, the Thames Gateway and community pubs.

Talk about hitting the ground running, which is ironic given that my new role has given me less time to train up for the triathlon I’m competing in. The weekend will hopefully mean I can catch my breath, get in some training and spend time with the family. Although I’ll have my ministerial box to get through and my first ever departmental questions on Monday to prepare for, so fingers crossed.

Chambers East call for regional rail investment

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Four of the East’s leading business organisations have come together to push for more spending on the region’s rail network.

Essex, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce have provided evidence about how the lack of investment in the region’s railways is holding back business growth in the region.

The Chambers are partners of the region’s sub-national transport bodies and worked with Transport East to prepare its recently published ‘State of Rail Report’.

The report sets out the current picture for rail across the East, identifying areas of weakness and where future improvements could be focused. The report was launched at the House of Commons in the presence of the rail minister, Huw Merriman MP.

Vic Annells, chief executive of Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce said: “Chambers East are pleased that the State of Rail Report highlights the need for improvements at Ely and Haughley. Improvements will remove bottlenecks and provide better passenger services to the North and South as well as to the East and West.”

John Dugmore, chief executive of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce added: “Improvements at Ely and Haughley will mean that more freight from Felixstowe can go by rail rather than road. A reduction in HGV traffic on the A14 and A12 will help us achieve net zero goals.”

Nova Fairbank, chief executive of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce spoke at the event and said: “The rail network in the East plays an important part in driving the regional economy – connecting the region’s fastest growing centres with each other. For those of us who live and work in the East, we know how special our region is, however for anyone in business, it is not without its challenges. The East is home to Britain’s largest and busiest container port at Felixstowe – yet the rail links to enable easy access for freight are hugely constrained. With the right investment, the region could see 170,000 new jobs in the next 20 years.”

Denise Rossiter, chief executive of Essex Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the State of Rail report: “We are very pleased that Transport East has worked with us on this report. Chambers of commerce have many thousands of members across East Anglia and we are the voice of business in the region.” Chambers East is an arrangement allowing the component chambers of commerce to more effectively deliver campaigns and lobbying at a regional level, in addition to within their county areas. The British Chambers of Commerce is their national organisation.