Happy New Year and a big welcome to our new specialist Diversity and Inclusion associates, Kate and James.
They will both be partnering businesses in their Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging agendas.
Want to hear more? Give us a call on 01603 904 011 or have a read of our case studies: www.ignitepeoplesolutions.co.uk/
Want to get seen at the top of Google, fast?
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As a Department of International Trade, East of England Export Champion based in King’s Lynn, Captain Fawcett is honoured to feature in the portfolio of British businesses being showcased by the Trade Secretary, The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP in the current negotiations to establish an important free trade agreement with India. ‘As a company that with the assistance of both the DIT & UKIBC is registering a number of our simply ‘First Class Gentlemen’s Grooming Requisites’ with a view to importing into the world’s fastest-growing market. We welcome this hugely exciting initiative.
The East of England is an export powerhouse, sending nearly £30bn of goods abroad in 2019 – £449m of which went to India. An FTA with India could provide easier access for exporters such as King’s Lynn-based gentleman’s grooming specialists Captain Fawcett, stimulating businesses across the region and boosting its economy by up to £224m in the long run.
An FTA which reduces India’s huge import taxes of up to 60% on dairy products and more than double that on other UK goods would be great news for firms like Volac, based in Cambridge, who produce dairy nutrition products, or the region’s specialist industrial equipment makers, who already export over £34m-worth of goods a year to India.
The East of England is a hi-tech centre of excellence, from Cambridgeshire’s world-renowned life sciences experts to innovative scientific equipment producers in Suffolk. Companies like medical device firm CMR Surgical would benefit from an FTA which allows greater co-operation with Indian researchers as both countries strive to build back better from coronavirus.
The East’s services sector already has a global reach, exporting £179m-worth to India in 2019. Opening access to India’s expanding market offers huge opportunities for law firms in Peterborough, accountants in Southend-on-Sea, or transport, storage, and logistics experts in Bedfordshire.
Professionally qualified migrant?
Need help to navigate the UK job market?
We are here to help you … https://globallyonward.org/job-seekers
The Third River Crossing scheme involves the construction, operation and maintenance of a new bridge over the River Yare in Great Yarmouth. The crossing links the A47 at Harfrey’s Roundabout with south Denes Road.
In Spring 2019 Norfolk County Council intends to make an application to Secretary of State for a Developer Consent Order for the Third Crossing.
They are proposing a double leaf bascule bridge (a type of lifting bridge – similar in operation to the existing Haven Bridge.) Although the height and horizontal alignment of the bridge deck is already fixed, they would like to retain some flexibility regarding the range of structure design and opening mechanisms being considered.
Before making this application Norfolk County Council would like your views on the scheme that they propose to submit. Subject to gaining development consent, construction is due to start in late 2020 and the aim is to have the bridge finished and operational by early 2023.
If you would like more information, a series of consultation events are also being held.
The consultation is open until Friday 05 October 2018.
Commenting on the labour market figures for July 2018, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Robust jobs growth, together with another drop-in unemployment, is further evidence of the continued strength of the UK labour market.
“The second successive slowdown in regular pay growth is disappointing. This means that earnings growth in real terms remains in positive territory by just a small margin and so is unlikely to provide much of a boost to consumer spending power. UK wage growth continues to be undermined by poor productivity and the marked impact of underemployment. The failure to tackle the escalating burden of upfront business costs is also weighing on the extent to which pay is able to rise.
“The increase in the number of job vacancies to a new record high is further evidence of chronic skills shortages, a key business concern. Firms continue to report that they are facing an uphill struggle to find staff with the right skills, which is stifling business activity and productivity.
“While we expect that interest rates will rise sooner rather than later, with earnings growth underwhelming there remains sufficient scope for the MPC to keep a rates hike on hold for longer, particularly given the current economic and political uncertainty. Instead, more must be done to support firms looking to recruit and upskill their workforce, including reforming the Apprenticeship Levy to ensure its fit for purpose, easing upfront business costs and delivering a future migration system that helps, rather than hinders UK productivity and growth.”
Great news, the new edition of Norfolk Voice is out! This edition May/June focuses on GDPR. In our main feature, you will find an eight-page GDPR pull out with all you need to know, to get really for the 25 May 2018. Read about Dr Adam Marshall in our big interview, who is driving forward the British Chamber of Commerce, he gives us an insight into his vision, and challenges ahead for businesses.
Don’t miss out on how you can apply for the BCC Awards, and Norfolk Business Awards. We want to celebrate your great work in this region, so get that application filled in! In addition, we talk to Michael Baldwin from Bank House about his role as General Manager and President of the West Norfolk Chamber Council.
You can access the Norfolk Voice in several forms, digitally and of course print. For the digital version click on the link below. https://issuu.com/distinctivepublishing/docs/nv46
Don’t forget we love to hear from you and your businesses, your successes, your awards and creative journeys. You can get directly with Dominique on the email below.
If you would like to receive a hardcopy of the Norfolk Voice magazine please do let me know. dominique@norfolkchamber.co.uk
Join the Exporting is GREAT Campaign.
The Department for International Trade is looking for companies to join Exporting is GREAT, its export-focused campaign, aimed at helping to drive substantial growth of the UK economy. The goal is to create a culture of exporting in the UK, generated by a community of businesses who share their exporting experiences to encourage and help each other. These businesses will inspire more and more companies to start their own export journey, making selling overseas an integral part of their business growth strategy. At the heart of the campaign are its ‘Export Champions’; everyday businesses of all shapes and sizes from around the UK that are proudly selling overseas. By becoming an Export Champion, you will join a nationwide network of UK companies that are ambassadors for exporting; sharing success stories, offering practical advice and leading by example. You will also have access to a suite of customisable digital Exporting is GREAT assets to show your support for the campaign. DIT would like any exporting business – whatever their product or service, wherever they’re based, to join the campaign – and become an Export Champion. You can sign up here.
British beef producers will soon be able to export their produce to China after a 20-year long ban has been lifted.
Describing China’s decision to stop its restrictions as a landmark move, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) predicted that the export opportunities could see British producers generate £250 million over the first five years of a new market access agreement.
The prohibition on imports of British beef was introduced in the aftermath of the BSE outbreak.
The decision to lift the ban was taken, Defra explains, after several years of site inspections and negotiations between British and Chinese officials.
Acknowledging the painstaking and collaborative work by representatives of both Defra and the agri-food industry, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said that the move is fantastic news for the UK’s food and farming industry.
Speaking for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Dr Phil Hadley also noted the efforts that had gone into securing agreement with the Chinese Government.
“We now look forward to seeing UK beef exported to [China] for the first time in over 20 years,” he said, adding that the Board will begin the work on the export protocols and approvals that will allow commercial shipments to begin.
With the ban lifted, market access negotiations are expected to take about three years.
China is currently the UK’s eighth largest export market for agri-food products. Figures show that Chinese consumers bought over £560 million worth of British food and drink in 2017.
On Thursday 6th September our CEO Chris Sarigisson and Andy Pitt MD from Service Service, set off for Kent in a bright orange 1968 Ford Mustang known as ‘The Tangerine Dream’ to complete a gruelling 2000 miles in only four days, and without a car radio too! The route has taken them across eight countries, and on some of the most challenging roads to drive on, such as the Furka Pass in Switzerland. The Mustang loves flat and open roads, so would not be the first car you would choose for mountain passes, but this race is all about following in James Bond’s footsteps, so it’s never going to be too safe! This road trip was all part of the ‘Challenge James Bond Fireball Rally.’
Both Andy and Chris as part of this challenge, have been raising money for a charity close to their hearts, Alzheimer’s Society. To read more and give to a great cause, click on the link. https://lnkd.in/d3qZqU5
Good luck with the rest of your trip Chris and Andy. See you safely back in Norwich soon!
UK producers and product users are being invited by the Department for International Trade (DIT) to give their views on existing EU trade remedy measures.
Publishing the provisional findings of an earlier consultation on the issue, DIT has now issued a call for evidence aimed at identifying which existing EU anti-dumping or anti-subsidy measures should be maintained when the UK begins to operate an independent trade remedies framework.
That earlier consultation elicited 74 responses, of which 47 were from producers and 27 from other parties.
An initial assessment of the data provided by respondents has determined, the Department notes, that 42 existing EU measures should be maintained, with appropriate levels of duties to be set.
The measures to be maintained will be reviewed by the UK’s new Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) and adjusted if necessary to ensure that they reflect the UK-specific market situation and injury to UK industry.
DIT also found that 72 measures did not meet its criteria and will not be reviewed or put in place once the UK begins to operate its own trade remedies system.
Anyone with an interest in reviewing the provisional findings and in providing any further evidence to the Department is now being given an opportunity to do so. That includes those who might wish to apply for measures to be maintained, but did not do so earlier.
Further details of the call for evidence can be found at www.gov.uk. The deadline for responses is 24 August 2018.
A new year is always a good time to have a review of your people strategy, looking ahead for the rest of this year and into 2023.
Our expert team are on hand to support you. We are Chartered Fellows of the CIPD with over 20 years’ experience and we are here to support businesses in looking after their most important asset – their people!
Take a look at the packages we offer: www.ignitepeoplesolutions.co.uk/