Responding to the announcement of changes to several key Net Zero policies, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:
“If we are to meet the challenge of making the UK Net Zero by 2050 then we must have pragmatic goals, that business can be confident they will be supported to reach.
“Companies want to address climate change but cannot plan for future investment if the sands keep shifting.
“This means political consensus about the goals, combined with pragmatism on the solutions. Constant tinkering with Net Zero policies will only have further negative impacts on business confidence and investment plans.
“Other countries and trading blocs are pouring billions into low-carbon technology,and we are getting left behind.
“But if we get this right, and play to our country’s strengths then there is huge opportunity for UK Plc. It is vital we have a long-term Net Zero strategy which Governmentmustdemonstrate it can stick to.”
Norfolk & Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) has been approved by the Secretary of State for Education. The LSIP highlights the fundamental skills needs required in the key sectors of our region and provides a roadmap for us to help address the shortages we have been facing.
As the Employer Representative Body (ERB) for Norfolk and Suffolk, Norfolk Chambers, in collaboration with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce will continue to work with businesses, educators and trainers and many other stakeholders in our region to deliver critical actions that will ensure business remains at the heart of the skills agenda.
Commenting on the success of a fully approved Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP, Nova Fairbank, CEO of Norfolk Chambers said:
“Our LSIP shows the ability of the Chamber network to bring together a wide range of partners and stakeholders to collaborate effectively and deliver what Norfolk and Suffolk need to upskill our workforce and support the growth of jobs and the regional economy. We will continue to build upon the existing collaborations, strengthening them to help drive forward our Roadmap for Change.”
John Dugmore, CEO of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, when asked about what happens next, said:
“A vast amount of work has already been carried out in a short space of time by our project team to deliver employer surveys and consultation events. The Chambers are at the heart of our local economies, and we have engaged with hundreds of businesses within and beyond our networks to reach every sector and every size of businesses for a truly representative assessment of the challenges businesses face in the current economic climate.
“Our journey to improve the skills of local people and increase the productivity of our local economies has successfully begun, and we are excited to move into the next phase where we will develop actions to deliver meaningful change, for greatest impact and value for money.”
For further information and to view the approved Norfolk and Suffolk LSIP, click here: Link to Publish PDF of LSIP [currently being moved to front page]
Yesterday our very own superhero Katie Norwood, hosted our brand new North Norfolk Co.nnect Networking Event at Kelling Heath Holiday Park.
This is the first North Norfolk networking group where we had 22 businesses join us. Katie Norwood shared “It was such a lovely morning with a huge passion to get businesses in Norfolk North connecting and working together“.
We will be holding this group every third Wednesday of the month and our next one will be on the 20th March keep an eye out for more details. Thank you to Emma Raines, Louise Tipper and Sarah Knights for supporting us with getting this event off the ground and a big thank you to Kelling Health Holiday Park for providing us with a venue for future meet-ups.
Event Agenda
• Arrival & Networking
• Opening Welcome from Norfolk Chambers
• Small group networking and topics discussed as a group
• Networking
Who is it for?
Anyone is welcome at this event, and it is open to both members and non-members. The first event was free, and then following this a small fee per event will be charged to cover food and beverage.
We invite you to join this fascinating webinar which will bring together industry figures, government representatives and BCC partners exploring the key opportunities, common issues and best advice for UK food and drink exporters to the USA.
Did you know that last year, $64 billion worth of goods and services were exported into the USA, and $1 trillion were invested by the USA into the UK? Given the vast array of opportunities, it’s no surprise that the USA stands out as one of the UK’s most robust trading allies. This is especially evident in the realm of food and beverage exports to the US.
This webinar will give your business an insight into why this market can be so lucrative and what your business can be doing to begin trading or expand your activity in the USA.
We are proud to deliver this event alongside British American Business, who are the leading transatlantic trade group. The BCC is also delighted to welcome our corporate partner WTA Group, trusted logistics experts, who are well versed at helping businesses trade between the UK and USA.
Responding to news of the ratification of the Windsor Framework, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“The joint EU and UK decision to give formal effect to the Windsor Agreement is another important step in improving trading conditions between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“For the BCC, the priority is now making sure the new customs and paperwork arrangements, plus the trusted trader schemes, work smoothly for businesses either side of the Irish Sea.
“We look forward to close engagement with HMRC over the coming months to make sure the on-the-ground reality of this deal produces tangible benefits for firms.”
Norfolk Chamber members Chantry Place have been working towards improving the sustainability of the centre. Although built with it in mind, they have been working hard to have sustainability at the heart of their operational practices, culture and values. Their goals include:
Actively monitoring and reducing waste
Considering sustainability in everything we do
Engaging our 1,244 employees with our values
Supporting local businesses, charities and our local community
Being inclusive
Supporting our team with mental and physical wellbeing
Always reviewing, learning and understanding how we can do better
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) are taking expressions of interest from companies who want to be considered to join our UK trade mission and take advantage of the opportunities offered across the Middle East, Gulf States and beyond.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is pleased to announce that we will be taking a delegation of Sustainable Infrastructure companies from the English Regions on a trade mission to the UAE.
This mission is planned for the 3rd – 8th December 2023 and is a great opportunity to learn about the developments and opportunities in the wider construction sector in the UAE and across the Middle East region.
Both the BIG 5 exhibition and COP28 will be taking place in Dubai during the mission dates. If your business is in the infrastructure sector and you are looking to grow internationally, it’s an opportunity not to be missed.
Join our Trade Mission:
We are taking expressions of interest from companies who want to be considered to join our UK trade mission and take advantage of the opportunities offered across the Middle East, Gulf States and beyond.
Places on this mission are limited, so please use the link below to view further information and to register your interest in joining.
Yesterday saw our series of Focus Engagement Groups arrive in Dereham, we met at The George Hotel in Dereham town centre for another opportunity to hear what we can be doing to better support and give voice to every business in Norfolk.
Our thanks go to our event sponsors, Upp, for their help and insight into the day’s discussions, as well as to the George Hotel for hosting us. Thanks also to Kelly Cartwright from Core Recruiter Ltd and Katie Norwood, Account Manager.
To start the discussion, the question of how ageing broadband infrastructure can impact business was raised by our sponsors, Upp. The consensus was that while technology can allow greater connectivity, more rural locations such as market towns and smaller villages can suffer from lack of availability,
The point was raised how broadband speed and mobile phone signal plays a huge part not only for business leaders on deciding where to base their business but also homeowners, it was felt that it now is one of the first things people ask when buying a house.
The other topic of discussion was on the lack of basic skills that is presenting in new employees, Soft skills are a major gap, from the very basics such as CV writing and understanding of Tax and national insurance through to more complicated issues like interpersonal skills.
It is felt that Dereham is growing with new businesses opening in Rusher Green and new housing but the worry is can the infrastructure cope, Dereham is often gridlock.
We were also told about the Konect Bus app which many of us were not aware of which not only is helpful for people to see when busses are coming but also helps parents give teenagers more freedom as they can see where the bus is just by looking at the app giving parents more peace of mind.
Have your voice heard at your local Focus Group – see our upcoming groups here.
Trade sanctions seek to deny Russia access to the goods, technologies and revenue necessary to pursue its illegal war. The aim of this notice is to prevent the undermining of trade sanctions, export controls, and other restrictive measures designed and implemented in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Awareness of the risk and obligations in relation to sanctioned goods is an important first step for trade.
Reacting to the news that the trade deals with Australia and New Zealand will come into force on May 31, Julie Austin, International Trade Quality Manager at Norfolk Chambers said:
“It is good news to hear that the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand will finally come into force at the end of the month.
“These deals will lower tariffs, simplify customs procedures, allow for greater freedom of movement for labour and provide stronger market access for the UK’s world-leading services sector.
“But the success of any free trade agreement comes down to whether businesses use it, so it’s vital the Government shouts from the rooftops about these new opportunities.
“A recent BCC survey also found almost a quarter of firms (23%) said finding a business partner or distributor overseas would encourage them to either start exporting or export more.
“We have strong Chambers in both Australia and New Zealand and will be working with them to get the most out of these trade deals for all our economies.”
Further details on the trade agreements can be found here, for Australia, and here, for New Zealand.
Find out how the Norfolk Chambers could support your business with International Trade here.
Responding to the latest inflation figures from the ONS, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“Today’s easing of the CPI rate to 3.4% will give businesses and consumers some sense of relief. At 4.5%, core inflation has also slowed, and the producer price index for input costs remains negative at –2.7%.
“These positive trends were to be expected as many of the key drivers have begun to fall away.
“However, we are now two years into this inflation shock and prices have simply stabilised at a much higher level. Uncertainty for businesses remains high. Further rises in the minimum wage are likely to impact pay differentials, and the ongoing crisis in Gaza, alongside shipping disruption in the Red Sea, is a source of great instability.
“It is also a concern that the owner occupiers’ housing (OOH) component of CPIH has risen by 6.0%, indicating the adverse impact of higher interest rates. This measure is likely to be exacerbated by further council tax rises.
“The fundamental issues for SMEs still remain – skills shortages, a lack of infrastructure investment, and trade barriers, particularly with the EU, which all feed into GDP growth expectations of less than 1% for the coming years.”
More information on the ONS data can be found here.
As we look ahead to 2024 and new opportunities for our members, we are seriously considering the economic viability of a business hub. It would have a mix of hot-desking space and longer-term desk rentals in the city centre – would you use it?
A well-curated space with a level of quality you would expect from a Chamber of Commerce. Everything you’d need to work effectively and productively, with the bonus of having our team on hand to support you.