Chamber News

Around 4 in every 5 businesses have seen their costs increase this year through changes in employment legislation, according to a survey released today (Friday) by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

BCC’s annual workforce survey of over 1,400 businesses, including those in Norfolk, and held in partnership with Middlesex University, reveals that pensions auto-enrolment, the National Living Wage and the Apprenticeship Levy have increased the cost base of businesses, and could lead to reduced opportunities for investment and wage growth.

The rise in the National Living Wage (NLW) in April of this year has increased employment costs for one-in-two companies (50%) in the UK. There appears to be a North/South divide, with firms in the North of England (55%) and the Midlands (51%) more likely to be impacted by the National Living Wage than firms in the South (43%).

For the UK to remain an attractive and competitive environment going forward, action is needed to prevent unsustainable rises to the cost of doing business. The BCC is calling on the government to ensure no new upfront costs or taxes – which sap investment, growth and recruitment potential – are imposed on business for the remainder of this parliament.

East of England key findings of the survey are:

• Nearly three quarters (68%) of respondents report an increase in costs as a result of pensions auto-enrolment, with nearly a quarter (15%) indicating a significant increase 
• A fifth (20%) of businesses have seen costs increase from the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy, and 2% from the Immigration Skills Charge
• Based on the forecast that the National Living Wage will increase to £8.75 per hour by 2020, 33% of respondents said in response that they would raise prices of products and services, with a further 25% expecting to reduce pay growth

• Consumer-facing industries were particularly affected by the rise in the NLW, with 73% of B2C sector firms – including wholesale, retail, accommodation and foods sectors – seeing an increase in costs. In comparison, 56% of manufacturers and 41% of B2B services report higher costs

• 21% of businesses say they would respond to future planned increases to NLW by reducing pay growth for staff, 17% by reducing staff benefits and 12% by scaling back recruitment

Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber said:

“Norfolk businesses are under increasing pressure from the burden of employment costs, and this will influence the choices they make and outcomes for employees. Higher employment costs impact on the bottom line and reduce the resources available to invest in the business and its people.  

“The Chamber survey shows that two thirds of businesses will need to take action in response to proposed increases in the National Living Wage over the next three years.  Firms are most likely to respond by raising prices or adjusting employee pay growth and wider benefits.  Increasingly, manufacturers are looking towards greater use of technology and automation. There comes a point at which rising employment costs can no longer be absorbed through reduced profits.

“At a time when employers across Norfolk and the rest of the UK are facing acute skills shortages, it is vital that they have the resources and flexibility to invest in their workforce and the future needs of the business.

“Employment is just one element of the high upfront cost of doing business in the UK.   It is the cumulative impact of all of these changes, and the pace at which they are being introduced, that causes the greatest concern and poses the biggest risk.  There is little scope for firms to absorb any further costs without there being damaging effects on competitiveness, growth and opportunities for people in the workforce. The government must ensure that there are no upfront further costs or taxes on businesses and entrepreneurs for the remainder of this parliament.”

David Williams, Director Corporate Engagement at Middlesex University London, added:

“Businesses are facing the challenge of maintaining profitability while remaining price competitive. This is a tough balance to achieve during what is an uncertain period, and we are seeing many start to tighten their belts and pull back investment.

“We need to up our productivity to enable us to compete globally in a post-Brexit Britain, so it is important when making difficult choices, the development, upskilling and retention of the workforce is high on the list of investment priorities, and that businesses get the support they need to do this.”

Events like the B2B Exhibition 2017 are excellent ways of telling people about your business so it pays to prepare. We asked some seasoned exhibitors for their tips.

Charlotte Sheehy, Associate – Business Development and Marketing, Leathes Prior Solicitors said:

“Firstly, if you’re not booked in for a stand at the B2B Exhibition then I would go for it. The package is great value and the event is great for networking and brand awareness. Make sure you man the stand well throughout the first part of the day as this is when the event is at its busiest.

Create a competition or a prize draw to collect valuable data from business cards which, provided you seek authority, could be a great addition to your emarketing lists. Make sure you stand out, there is a lot going on at the exhibition so make sure you don’t get lost in the crowd!

Try to have enough people on your stand so that you can take time out to network with delegates and other exhibitors, and attend the free masterclasses.

Follow up! Take careful notes of all enquiries and don’t forget to contact delegates after the event.”

The team at Indigo Swan said:

“Be engaging. People are expecting to just mosey around passing a lot of the stalls, so it’s extremely important to do something easy and interactive.

Be clear. Can people look at your stand and understand what you do?

Also, can the people on your stand explain simply in one sentence exactly what you do?

Be attentive. Make sure when speaking to someone, engage with them and don’t get distracted by other people taking interest. Due to this, it is vital to have a well manned stall at all times.

Smile and have fun. The most important thing to remember is people attract people. Would you naturally gravitate to the stall where people are having fun doing a fun activity or the stall with the person just on their phone

Children’s charity Break exhibits at many events through the year and works hard to try and stand out from the crowd on a relatively small budget. Here are some of their top tips for making an impact:

“Let people know you will be exhibiting. Promote in newsletters, e-signatures and through social media and look for PR opportunities on the back of the exhibition.

Use social media on the day.

Have a strong branded presence, the backdrop, decoration, branded clothing or pin badges – it shows pride in the brand.

Keep the stand organised and tidy – again, shows pride in the brand.

Know the audience and have literature that explains what you do in a way that’s relevant to them. Also have information about other aspects of the organisation to hand – you never know who you will meet and what their interests are. Have something that will grab attention and be a talking point – so people will stop and make conversation. This year, we will have one of our giant GoGoHares.

Interactivity; use a screen to show a video about what you do and the impact you make. People will stop and watch and you can begin the conversation.

Have people on the stand who are knowledgeable about your organisation and who enjoy talking to people. They should be good listeners, be knowledgeable and be able to spot opportunities for potential partnerships.Have enough people available to work the room.

Think about capturing contact details, e.g. a business card draw and the follow up. Ideally, make sure follow up is done the first working day after the event

Maximise impact post event through social media and PR e.g. create a gallery of photos on FB.

Sweets and more sweets…”

Rebecca Houston, Client Services Director, Desire Marketing said:

“The key to a successful event lies as much in the planning as being present at the event itself. The better prepared you are, the more successful you’re likely to find the event. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Research attendees and other exhibitors. See if there is an attendee list. Know who’s going to be there and some preparation. Create a ‘buzz’ about the event.

In the run-up to the event you need to let people know you’ll be there. Use social media to start engaging with visitors well before the event. Make sure you use any relevant hashtags being used by the event. Think about all the touch points you have with customers. Make the most of any opportunity to promote your attendance. From emailing customers and adding details to your website through to simple things like updating your voicemail message and bringing it up in conversation.

They can all be effective in creating a ‘buzz’.

Eye-catching stand design. If you plan to turn up with a tired looking stand and just hand out free pens, you may not get the results you want.

An eye-catching stand design can attract people to come and talk to you. Why not think about hosting a competition or prize draw to attract visitors? Run a video showcasing your products or services. How the staff manning the stand look is also important. Wearing a uniform and/or name badges will help promote a professional image.

Finally, review how the event went. You are likely to learn some valuable lessons for the next event you attend.”

We still have a few remaining stands left at the B2B Exhibition on Thursday 12 October 2017, at Norwich City Football Club starting at £325+VAT. The event is FREE to attend as a visitor with expert masterclasses and 100+ exhibitors to meet with it’s the region’s premier business to business exhibition. Visit www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/b2b

Notice is hereby given that the 121st Annual General Meeting of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce & Industry will be held at The Open, 20 Bank Plain, Norwich on Wednesday 04 October 2017.  Registration will be at 9.45am, for meeting commencement at 10am.  Please see attached for all papers relevant to the meeting. Papers for the AGM are attached. 

The British Chambers of Commerce International Trade Summit is taking place on 12th October at Vox Conference Centre, Birmingham.

The summit is designed to provide companies at all stages of the export journey with knowledge, expertise, advice and contacts to succeed overseas. This event is not about selling to businesses or telling them what they already know.

What you WILL get on the day:

• Dynamic exporters sharing lessons and tips from their experience
• Knowledgeable speakers sharing their insights
• Interactive workshops on the practicalities of exporting 

Speakers include:

• The Hon Alexander Downer AC, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
• Dr Nik Kotecha, CEO, Morningside Pharmaceutical
• Elizabeth Gooch MBE, CEO, egsolutions
• Neil Goldman, CEO, Colpac 
• Shanker Singham, Director of Economic Policy & Prosperity Studies, Legatum Institute
• Alex de Ruyter, Founder of the Centre for Brexit Studies, Birmingham

Take part in interactive breakout sessions and network with Chambers of Commerce from across the world – and get the skills, knowledge and contacts you need to take your international trade to the next level!

Find out more at www.bccexport.co.uk

On Thursday 17th August over 50 guests joined us at Jarrold Norwich for an informal evening of fun, fashion and networking! The evening started with a networking icebreaker called the outfit challenge, this involved guests getting into groups and picking an on-trend outfit from the fashion floor for under £250. Each team presented their outfit and were judged by the Jarrold’s stylists. The winning outfit included Black jeans and textured white jacket. Jarrold provided a delicious buffet which guests tucked into before and after the networking challenge and the wine was flowing throughout the evening.

Following guests were treated to a beauty demonstration by MAC and fashion show from the Jarrold’s team. The evening was closed with a raffle prize draw with prizes from Jarrold and an exclusive hour for guests to shop around the fashion floor. All guests left with a big smile on their face, and several left with a new piece for their wardrobe! The next upcoming event is Talking Technology on Thursday 20th September at The Space in Norwich https://bit.ly/2x5bNCW

Commenting on the position paper for continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK, Julie Austin, International Trade Manager for Norfolk Chamber said:

“Businesses here in Norfolk and the rest of the UK, as well as on the Continent will welcome the British government’s desire to maintain maximum continuity in the way goods are traded when the UK withdraws from the EU. 

“UK goods will be fully compliant with EU regulations, product standards and safety checks at the time of the UK’s exit from the EU, and vice versa. Trading companies should not have to get new product approvals, or be subject to duplicate safety checks, for existing products. Related services should also be able to be sold as well. 

“As the negotiations continue, both sides should commit to avoid unnecessary compliance checks for businesses, both at the time of the UK’s exit from the EU, and in future wherever the UK and the EU agree to maintain close regulatory alignment.

“A ‘no deal’ scenario, which would see loads of extra red tape imposed on goods traders on both sides of the Channel, must be avoided – as it’s in no one’s best interests.”

Norfolk Chamber, is working in partnership with New Anglia LEP, BITC and the Enterprise Advisor Network to support the work being done in the Norwich Opportunity Area to create greater engagement between business and schools.  

The Norwich Opportunity Area is one of 12 Opportunity Areas in the UK and has received £6m investment from the Department of Education to ensure that all young people in our city can reach their potential.

The ambitious target of the Opportunity Area is for every child in a Norwich school to have a meaningful encounter with an employer each year that they are at school. While many of our schools already do great work in this area with many businesses and providers, to improve social mobility we must scale this up significantly – in 2016 Norwich was ranked 323rd out of 324 local authority areas for social mobility.

The Norwich Opportunity Area and its supporting partners are looking to create a cohesive and effective approach to raising aspirations and equipping young people with the skills that they need to succeed but we need the help of the Norfolk business community

To hear more and find out how your business can help – you can attend a free event on Wednesday 20 September 2017 in the Auditorium at The Forum in Norwich from 5.30pm – 7pm.

You will be able to hear how Norwich City schools and colleges will now be supported by the Department for Education and the Careers and Enterprise Company to engage more strategically with local employers and organisations. We’ll show you how you can get more involved in a city school

Who should attend this event?

• Are you a business that would like to support young people in a Norwich school to think about careers and prepare for working life?
• Do you already have a strong relationship of supporting employability, careers or enterprise in a school in Norwich?
• Do you have an engaging company programme that you would like to share with schools and colleges in the city?
• Does your organisation promote and/or broker employer engagement through a wide range of activities?

Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“Through our Young Chamber programme, we are working to help bridge skills gap, using our extensive connections with the local business community and the strong relationships with our school members.

We have recently launched our Young Chamber Enterprise Recognition Award to recognise and celebrate education establishments in Norfolk who are committed to improving the employability skills of young people in our region.  We would encourage any business, looking to engage and support schools, to attend on 20 September to find out how to they can help deliver their workforce of tomorrow.”

Register for your free place now.

In Quarter 2, the outlook of companies in all sectors and locations across Norfolk, indicated that for many businesses growth was static at best, and at worst, beginning to slow.

The Norfolk services sector saw domestic activity, employment and investment results weaken and the manufacturing sector saw export sales and orders falling.  Both sectors reported concerns over raw material costs and pay settlements and confidence in future turnover decreased.

Has your overall business confidence improved in this quarter or has continued economic uncertainty continued to hamper you?

Has your company increased its sales and orders, either at home or overseas?  Are you looking to recruit more staff, or invest in plant and machinery? 

It is more important than ever that as many Norfolk businesses as possible complete the survey, so have your say now.  Today (Monday 21 August 2017) is the first day of the fieldwork period for the Q3 Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).   

The QES is the largest independent business survey in the UK and is used by both the Bank of England and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to plan the future of the UK economy.  It is also closely watched by the International Monetary Fund.

You can have your say by completing the QES online NOW, which takes less than 3 minutes.  The completion deadline for this survey is midnight on Monday 12 June 2017.

Some key Norfolk findings in the previous Q2 2017 survey:

• Manufacturers report continued pressure from the price of raw materials, with +82 reporting this as the cause of price increases (up from +68).
• Pressure from pay settlements also rose in both, rising from +20 to +27 in manufacturing and +21 to +49 in services
• The manufacturing sector reported increased domestic sales – rising slightly from +9 to +12, as did domestic orders from +6 to +10. Export sales fell from +17 to +11 and export orders fell from +20 to +7
• In the service sector, domestic sales remained static and domestic orders fell from +13 to +8. The balance reporting increasing export sales rose from +6 to +13 but export orders fell from +4 to 0
• The balance of manufacturers confident that turnover would improve over the next 12 months fell from +35 to +23, and the balance for services from +42 to +31

Norfolk’s young people are making important decisions about their future career based on their A Level results, released today (Thursday 17 August). We are confident their hard work will have paid off with excellent results, but employers also value personality and experience. Now, it is time to think broadly about the opportunities available.

Whilst university has been the traditional next step, it is not always the right opportunity for everyone. Whilst recent research has highlighted an ‘image problem’ with apprenticeships, many of Norfolk’s young people are seeing the advantages and benefits and taking this opportunity.

Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager at Norfolk Chamber said:

“Young people have many options open to them and I would encourage those students who have received their ‘A’ Level results today to consider all options, including an apprenticeship.  With modern advanced apprenticeships, young people can have a fantastic opportunity to access great training, develop skills and gain qualifications whilst working for an employer.”

The following useful tips can help young people understand what options are available whatever their results:

• Norfolk’s careers information, advice & opportunities website: Help You Choose for a range of courses available post A levels; degrees, Foundation Degrees, HNDs and other courses at the same level. You can tailor your search by educational establishment, subject, qualification or location. It tells you how to apply, and different sources of finance which might be available.
• The National Apprenticeships Service website has details of locally available apprenticeship schemes.
• If your plan involves further education and your results aren’t what you expected, find useful information on the clearing area of the UCAS site
• For opportunities at the University of East Anglia, a top UK university right here in Norfolk, visit their clearing website 

Wolf Digital Marketing is a marketing agency based in Norwich. We specialise in online campaigns that will help to improve a combination of three things; traffic, leads/sales, and conversion rate. Whether we are working with an e-commerce business or a lead generation organisation, our philosophy remains the same.

All of our campaigns begin with a ‘think digital first’ mantra. How can we use the highly targeted and measurable tools that the world of digital marketing provides us? We want to share this way of thinking with our clients so that we can work closely together to establish successful digital marketing campaigns.

We create bespoke marketing campaigns for each and every one of our clients. Our broad range of sector experience allows us to share our knowledge and learnings gained from many years of industry experience. The tools that we use include Paid Digital Advertising (PPC), Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Website Builds, Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO), Digital Consultancy and Digital Marketing Training.

Wolf Digital Marketing regularly host training sessions with the Norfolk Chamber and are also Google Partners.

Directory Listing: https://sandbox.norfolkchambers.co.uk/directory/wolf-digital-marketing

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), in partnership with DHL, today (Thursday) publishes its latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook, which shows that while many exporters continue to put in a solid performance, wider economic factors are a cause of concern.

The BCC/DHL Trade Confidence Index, which measures the volume of trade documentation issued by accredited Chambers of Commerce for goods shipments, fell by 2.25% on the quarter – but still stands at the third highest level on record.

The survey, based on the responses of over 3,500 exporting businesses, including those from Norfolk shows that while export sales remained steady during Q2 2017, there are a number of economic factors that are giving businesses cause for concern.

As the pound continues to fluctuate, the findings of the survey show that 68% of manufacturers who export consider exchange rates as a concern to their business.

Recruitment difficulties are high for exporters in both sectors, with 67% in manufacturing and 51% in services reporting problems finding the right people. Access to skilled manual or technical labour was a particular issue for exporters in the manufacturing sector (69%).

Just over a third of exporters are concerned about inflation (36% in manufacturing and 33% in services). The results also show that 39% of exporting manufacturers expect the price of their products to increase over the next three months. Of these, 81% say this is due to the pressure from the cost of raw materials.

Key findings from the report:

• The balance of manufacturers reporting improved export sales rose to +27% from +26% in Q1, the highest level since Q4 2014. In services, the balance of firms reporting improved export sales rose to +13% from +10% in Q1, which remains below the historical average of the sector
• The balance of manufacturers reporting improved export orders fell to +20% from +22% in Q1, while in services it rose to +9% from +5%
• The balance of exporting manufacturers who expect their prices to rise stands at +39%, and raw materials were the cause of price pressures for 81%
• 68% of exporting manufacturers cite exchange rates as a concern to their business, and 49% in the services sector
• 36% of manufacturers and 33% of services firms view inflation as a concern
• The BCC/DHL Trade Confidence Index, a measure of the volume of trade documentation issued nationally, fell by 2.25% on the quarter. The Index now stands at 123.72 – down 2.54% on Q2 2016 – but stands at the third highest level since records began in 2004

Commenting on the findings, Julie Austin, International Trade Manager at Norfolk Chamber said:

“Norfolk exporters continue to put in a solid performance but are keeping a watchful eye on volatile exchange rates, rising inflation, and ongoing skills shortages.

“Many Norfolk manufacturers are capitalising on the advantages the fall in sterling has brought to overseas sellers since the EU referendum. That said, exporters also tend to import raw materials and product components, and are concerned that the sustained depreciation of the pound may erode their margins.

“The recruitment difficulties facing Norfolk companies reaffirms the need for action on the domestic agenda. Tackling skills shortages, and ensuring the UK’s future immigration system is responsive to economic need, will help boost the growth potential of Norfolk’s all-important exporting businesses. At the same time, a real push to provide local firms with practical exporting advice and on-the-ground support, will put the UK in a better position to take advantage of post-Brexit trading opportunities.”

Ian Wilson, CEO DHL Express UK and Ireland, said:

“Whilst UK businesses continue to deliver a strong export performance, they are increasingly concerned about what lies on the economic horizon.

“68% of manufacturers report exchange rates as a concern, and over a third of exporters are concerned about inflation and rising costs of raw materials. Access to the right talent is also an issue and, combined, these concerns serve as a stark reminder that more needs to be done to secure the future of UK exporters.

“As we begin negotiations for our departure from the EU, the UK government must ensure that the concerns of businesses are acknowledged and that the necessary infrastructure is put in place to ensure Britain continues to be truly global – maintaining and further developing our country’s international trading links.”

We’re pleased to announce details of the free 20 minute masterclasses at the B2B exhibition on 12th October 2017. We’ve selected a line-up of highly experienced, successful trainers to cover core areas that will be useful for any business.

Ian Hacon, from Yellow Brick Road will kick things off at 11.30am by revealing ‘The Secret of Successful Networking‘ to help visitors make the most of networking opportunities at the exhibition and grow their business contacts.

At 12.15pm we’ll hear from Matt Sykes, a trainer at Mindspan Global, with over 20 years of sales experience. Matt will be delivering an interactive session that focuses on ‘How to improve your selling game‘, revealing the behaviours of highly successful sales professionals.

Jonathan White, Managing Director of Desire Marketing will speak about the effectiveness of ‘Using Social Media to grow your businesses.’ Social media is the perfect digital marketing channel to help businesses with customer retention, acquisition and development strategies. Discover how using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter can support your business growth at the same time as raising your company profile.

Sarah West, an award winning chartered marketer from Full Mix Marketing will deliver the final session of the day, entitled. ‘How to get the most from your marketing budget‘. This session will cover setting your budget for the results you need, understanding the types of marketing that will give the best return and improving your marketing to get more from your budget and customers.

Completely free and open to all businesses the masterclasses are available for all visitors to attend. Find out more or reserve your place online here

Agenda 11.30 am The Secret of Succssful Networking, Ian Hacon 12.15 pm How to Imrpove your Selling Game, Matt Sykes 1.45 pm Using Social Media to Grow your Business, Jonathan White 2.30 pm How to get the Most from your Marketing Budget, Sarah West