Chamber News

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is launching a new Economic Advisory Council (EAC), to build on its Quarterly Economic Survey, and develop policies to get the economy and businesses growing. The Council will bring together a range of respected national, and international, economists and business leaders. It will provide expert advice and feedback to the BCC and its Chamber Network, with its work focused on the BCC’s long-standing and renowned programme of business research. Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “We’re a year out on a General Election and now is a pivotal moment for business. That is why we have set up an Economic Advisory Council to help shape and guide our economic policies to boost the UK’s growth and prosperity. “We have been working on this for the past six months, and I’m thrilled to have such a diverse range of prominent economic and business experts join us at the BCC. “These people are national and global leaders in their fields, and they will help guide and shape our economic priorities and focus into the future. Our aim is to fuse the practical acumen of entrepreneurs with the technical expertise of economists to help produce policy that will make a real difference to the UK’s growth prospects. “The membership of the council reflects the diversity of our economy – with experts in the subject areas of financial services, logistics, trade, and taxation sitting on the EAC.” Vicky Pryce, Senior Member of the BCC Economic Advisory Council, said: “I am delighted to be joining the BCC’s Economic Advisory Council. Having previously worked with the BCC in an advisory role several years ago, it’s great to be back working with this brilliant organisation once again. “The BCC and its regional chambers play such an important role in assisting firms to navigate and succeed in a complicated and constantly changing economic landscape. “I am very much looking forward to assisting in bringing greater clarity on what is nowadays – and likely to remain for some time- a challenging economic environment for all.” EAC members include:

• Vicky Pryce – Former Head of Government Economics Service
• Ben Allen – Proposition Leader, Financial Sponsors and Executives – Coutts Bank
• Steven Gray OBE – UK Export Finance Representative, West & Central Africa
• Martin Shelford – Start-Up founder and business strategist
• Adam Uszpolewicz – Former CEO of Aviva-Poland
• Dame Teresa Graham – Former Deputy Chair of the Better Regulation Commission (BRC), Chair of the Administrative Burdens Advisory Board (HMRC), Chair of the UK Finance SME Advisory Group
• Mairi Spowage – Director, Fraser of Allander Institute
• Professor Dennis Novy – Professor of Economics, Warwick University

Reacting to the new UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand trade deals which entered into effect at midnight, Julie Austin, International Trade Quality Manager at Norfolk Chambers said:

“A new era of international trade will begin today as the first trade agreements agreed by the United Kingdom since it left the European Union come into force.  

“Combined bilateral trade with Australia and New Zealand amounts to over £15bn per year. Inward foreign direct investment from both countries into the UK is £16.6bn, and in the other direction represents a combined £42.1bn. 

“By 2035, the Australia deal could boost our economy by £2.3bn per year, and the New Zealand deal by £0.8bn, over the long-term, with benefits felt across the UK. 

“For UK firms exporting green goods and services to New Zealand, the agreement offers world leading terms. As the World Trade Organisation recently pointed out, if we get the right fundamentals in place, we can double green trade exports by 2030. 

“Of course, the success of any free trade agreement comes down to whether businesses use it and across the UK only 10% of firms are currently exporting. 

“If we are to realise the UK’s ambition to be at the forefront of the continuing revolution in life sciences, digital services and green innovation we must look to trade more. 

“A recent BCC survey 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.  

“There are strong Chambers of Commerce in both Australia and New Zealand that are affiliated to the BCC, and we will be working with them to get the most from these trade deals for all our economies. 

“Having those contacts, that local market understanding and full recognition of the rules and procedures that apply in a destination country can make all the difference between success and failure. 

“The message to any business thinking about selling goods and services to New Zealand and Australia is a simple one – there really is no better time to take the plunge.” 

  Details of the agreements can be found here: UK – Australia https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-australia-free-trade-agreement Origin section https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040533/uk-australia-free-trade-agreement-fta-chapter-4-rules-of-origin-and-origin-procedures.pdf UK-New Zealand https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-new-zealand-free-trade-agreement Origin section https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1056253/uk-new-zealand-free-trade-agreement-chapter-3-rules-of-origin-and-origin-procedures.pdf

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. Click here to read the Notice. All notices can be found through this link on Government website.

Reacting to the latest ONS inflation figures, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said: “Today’s CPI rate of 8.7% indicates that after several false starts, the peak in inflation looks to have passed. This is further evidenced by a significant slowdown in the producer price input rate to 3.9%. Falls in gas and electricity costs provided the largest downward contribution to CPI. “But this does not mean the problems caused by inflation will suddenly go away. Prices continue to rise from an already high base, after 18 months of price shocks. “The last year and a half has had a devastating impact on many small firms who were just starting to see activity bounce back following the removal of Covid restrictions. “With the interest rate currently at 4.5%, widespread skills shortages, and trade frictions on the rise, the cost of doing business is the highest in years. Action by the Government to help with the squeeze on the labour supply, reform of business rates and support on exports would go some way to helping them face the future with more confidence.” More detail on the ONS data can be found here.

Reacting to the release of the Government’s semi-conductor strategy, BCC Head of Trade, William Bain, said: “The fact the UK now has a National Semiconductor Strategy is a welcome first step. “We have been calling for this for the past year and it has arrived not a moment too soon to provide some focus, measurable actions and results. Business across the UK is clear on the imperative to secure long-term semiconductor supply chains for Britain – the foundation of advanced manufacturing here. “The recent semiconductor supply chain agreement with South Korea, and today’s new collaboration with Japan, are strong building blocks to provide greater security for manufacturing on diversity of semiconductor supply chains. “We also need strong engagement with the US and the EU who have adopted their own solutions to semiconductor supply chain challenges through their Chips Acts, including plans for increased internal semiconductor production. “The Strategy usefully puts together policies on R&D, skills and investment, with a domestic focus on compound semiconductors. “Keeping British industry at the cutting edge of research and development is vital and we will be engaging with Government on our role in contributing to the Strategy’s development and keenly focussing on the autumn announcements on infrastructure and additional manufacturing support.”

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.

The Iraqi authorities have prohibited the below goods from being imported into Iraq. Juice | Ice cream products | Potato seeds | Urea fertilizer Fertilizers | Hatching eggs | Processed grease | Buffalo Sheep | Endangered animals | Piranha fish | Mince meats Animal parts | Animal protein | Horses | Predators’ animals Henna plant | Jet plant | Coconut plant | Straw plant Sugar cane | Fungi and Bacteria harmful to plants/soil | Poppy, Khat and Datura plants | Eichhornia plant Unpacked tobacco | Althaea plant | Palm plant | Mexican palm Cotton plant | All types of Citrus | Olive’s plant | Hibiscus plant Iranian apple plant | Grape plant | Dates | Honey Live chicken | Mango | Guava | Sugar apple If you have any questions regarding this or need support with exporting our International Trade team is on hand to help – find out more here.

Responding to the launch of the UK-Switzerland trade negotiations in Bern, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said: “Business has been seeking a swift start to these important negotiations with Switzerland. It is the UK’s sixth largest export destination for services, worth £15bn per year, and our seventh largest export location for goods. Overall, 4.1% of total UK exports go to Switzerland. “The 2021 post-Brexit continuity agreement only rolled over terms on trade in goods but not services, so there has been a major gap to fill, affecting just under half of our trade. “As well as securing market access for our financial, legal, accounting, auditing, architecture and design service firms with the large Swiss market, we also need to make permanent the temporary services labour mobility and business travel rules agreed last year. “With scope to expand digital trade and bilateral data and investment flows with Switzerland, this is one of the most important sets of negotiations for business the UK Government has launched in the post-Brexit era.” More detail from the Dept of Business and Trade on the negotiations can be found here.

The Chambers Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), is the UK’s largest independent business survey and it is NOW OPEN for responses from local Norfolk businesses for Quarter Two 2023. The previous quarter’s QES showed that despite the uptick in business confidence, most firms see no improvement to sales. The BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q1 2023 shows that while business confidence has improved from a very weak base, most firms see no improvement to business conditions.

• Over half (52%) of UK firms believe their business turnover will increase over the next 12 months, up from 44% in Q3 2022.
• However, only one in three (34%) firms experienced an increase in sales over the past three months.
• Almost half (47%) of hospitality businesses reported a drop in cashflow in the last quarter.

Read the full results from Q1 2023 here. The survey takes less than three minutes to complete – it is anonymous and your support would be greatly appreciated. The QES 2023 Q2 is open for responses until midnight on Thursday 8th June.  Have your voice heard and take part in the QES today. Photo credit: Chamber Canva Pro

“Where Business Belongs” was the rallying cry of a new campaign from the British Chambers of Commerce, launched today at their Global Annual Conference in London. Alongside Grant Tuffs, Regional Engagement Manager from our Gold Patron Anglian Water, we took the voice of Norfolk businesses to the centre of Westminster. The packed agenda focused on issues critical to businesses across the country, including the Cost of Living, digitisation, decarbonisation, skills and economic growth. With keynote speeches and Q&As with the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer and the Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey, Chambers across the country heard first-hand the latest from both sides of the political spectrum and put some testing questions to decision-makers. Nova Fairbank, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce CEO said “This year’s conference has been a brilliant opportunity to make Norfolk’s voice heard and it’s been reassuring to hear that with a general election looming, both main parties are proactively engaging with business and in listening mode for the big issues facing our membership. What we need now is clear, costed manifesto commitments that will deliver on Norfolk’s big challenges and we look forward to contributing to that process and working with whichever party forms the next government to bring much-needed growth to Norfolk.”

Our third Bikers Breakfast event was another big success on Friday 12th May 2023! We kicked off the event by hearing from our sponsor, Westcotec. Westcotec has been at the forefront of the vehicle-activated sign industry since 2001. Based in the centre of Norfolk, they have grown to become one of the biggest suppliers of quality vehicle-activated signs in the UK. They have another busy year ahead exploring new exhibitions showcasing the importance of road safety with their road signs and bespoke projects. Chris Spinks, Managing Director of Westcotec and former Police Chief Inspector, has a real passion for road safety. Chris qualified as a Serious and Fatal Collision Senior Investigating Officer Roads, and using his experience allows him to assist clients with collision hotspot solutions and other road safety schemes. “I am so grateful to the Norfolk Chambers team who support us on our events. It is so important to raise awareness for road safety and work together with all Norfolk businesses,” said Chris Spinks. We were delighted to be joined by Gary Stevens (Funding & Marketing Manager), and Rebecca Bushell (Funding & Marketing Officer) of Nelson’s Journey, a charity that is a close partner of Westcotec. Since 1997, Nelson’s Journey has been supporting children and young people in Norfolk with their bereavement needs, helping them to understand and cope with their feelings. The charity also supports professionals in the county who work with children, such as teachers and health workers, to help raise awareness of issues affecting bereaved children. As the charity celebrates its 25^th year Gary Stevens and Rebecca Bushell shared the many options and ways how businesses and individuals can support the charity, from volunteering and fundraising to selling their products. The charity works closely with Hill Top to provide well-being days for children. All the funding the charity receives goes straight back into the services they provide. “We are incredibly grateful to Westcotec and Norfolk Chambers for the support for the charity, it is wonderful to see a breakfast event filled with positive energy and meeting new businesses along the way,” said Gary Stevens. Following these two fantastic speakers, the delegates were served a delicious full English breakfast from our hosts Barnham Broom. Next, we heard from Andy “Billy” Lawyer, Andy Micklethwaite and Iain Temperton from Safe Rider. Safe Rider is a joint initiative between Norfolk Constabulary and Norfolk County Council which aims to reduce motorcycle casualties. Billy expressed how proud he is to work at Safe Rider. He spoke about the importance of having tools that encourage riders to learn and process and, more importantly, be safe. Billy has taken part in being a team leader for the King’s Coronation and The Queen’s funeral. We were delighted to then be a part of a special surprise presentation to Andy Micklethwaite. Safe Rider was originally instigated and developed by Andy who has continued to be part of the safe rider team ever since. Iain Temperton, a Road Safety specialist, presented photos and key moments from Andy’s career and his values for Safe Rider. “We want to carry on the next 25 years by creating events to support and promote the community,” said Iain Templeton. We were then joined by Paul Sanford, the Chief Constable of Norfolk Police, who then presented a special recognition award to a shocked and surprised Andy! Paul Sanford expressed his gratitude and said that Andy’s work has saved lives on Norfolk roads. Paul continued that he is hugely proud of Andy’s work and achievements. We were shocked to hear when Paul highlighted the second biggest killer in Norfolk after suicide is road death. Our final speaker was Simon Weir, former editor of Ride Magazine and Journalist of Motorcycle travel books. Simon showcased his new book on holiday travel plan of Europe, where he starts off in France with amazing views across the country. He then moved on to Austria where he saw some of the best mountain passes, and he highly recommended Marziell. He then went onto the home of the Italian Job! Finally, he finished in Spain which is full of great riding routes and stunning scenery. Simon Weir said “Thank you, Tim James (Westcotec). It is a real honour to be a part of the Bikers Breakfast this year, this event highlights the importance of road safety and what brilliant business’ there are here in Norfolk.” We’d like to say a huge thank you to the team at Westcotec for supporting this event and once again raising awareness of road safety across. our county. Tim James, Design and Development Engineer said “As a long-term supporter of Safe Rider and Andy Micklethwaite, it was a privilege to be able to help arrange the surprise presentation. That we could also celebrate 25 years of Nelson’s Journey, and raise money for them, is the icing on a particularly enjoyable cake.” Due to the weather, we unfortunately were unable to close the event with a bike ride to the Norfolk coast, however, we hope to host a tour this summer. A big thanks go to our stand holders Nelson’s Journey, Norfolk Riders Rospa group and Safe Rider.

Director General of the BCC, Shevaun Haviland, is to urge the Government to reconnect with business as firms see no progress on the barriers to growth. She will speak out at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Global Annual Conference 2023 on Wednesday, May 17. In her keynote address, she will urge Government to put business at the heart of its plans to revive the UK economy. And with a General Election less than 18 months away she will set out the keys issues that matter most to firms. She will say that only by addressing these can business confidence be regained after being battered and bruised by the pandemic, the fallout from the war in Ukraine and last year’s political chaos. ON THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION Shevaun is expected to say: “As we move forward into an increasingly digital age, it’s vital that we answer the crucial questions that firms are asking. “How can we use AI to revolutionise the way we operate? What policies could help us embrace its benefits?  And how can we safeguard against negative consequences and ensure no one is left behind in this new digital age? “At the Chambers, we’re led by one of Britain’s true digital pioneers. Our President, Martha Lane Fox has been at the heart of digital innovation. [We must] harness the transformative power of technology, tackle the challenges ahead and redesign our future.” ON GLOBAL BRITAIN Emphasising the importance of international trade in growing the UK economy, Shevaun will say: “Post-Brexit, the UK is figuring out its economic role in the world.  Both exports and inward investment are facing growing competition. “But it’s a problem we are well placed to help solve. We know how to find opportunities and partners all over the world and give businesses the tools to break into new markets. “We are working to ensure that the UK continues to be a great place to invest. “So that when global investors are deciding where to put their money, they see in the UK the conditions, talent, and access to finance that make it one of the best places in the world to invest.” ON GREEN INNOVATION She will bring her perspective as chair of the Business Advisory Group for the Climate Change Committee to outline the issues firms are facing: “The UK is a leader in green innovation but with the lack of direction by government, we are seeing the US and the EU moving ahead, and fast becoming a far more attractive opportunity for those businesses. “This is a huge economic opportunity for UK Plc. New global markets for low carbon products and services are worth an estimated £1trn to the UK by 2030. Let’s not turn our back on that.”