The Royal Norfolk Show is the county’s biggest event of the year. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the UK. And we’re offering two VIP tickets to the Royal Norfolk Show on Wednesday 28 June 2017 as part of a competition.
VIP Tickets include general admission, car parking pass and invitation as guests of Norfolk Chamber to enjoy a spot of Afternoon Tea in the Sponsors & Corporate Hospitality Marquee overlooking the Grand Ring.
Afternoon Tea is available from 3pm – 5pm, relax with a selection of sandwiches, savouries, homemade cakes & sweet treats.
How to enter All you have to do is head over to the official Norfolk Chamber Twitter and retweet the competition tweet.
The competition closes on Friday 2 June at 10am and a winner will be selected at random.
Member Discount Norfolk Chamber members also have an exclusive 10% discount off the price of general admission tickets, click here for more details.
As part of efforts by the Borough Council to make the central area of Great Yarmouth more attractive to shoppers, residents and investors, businesses in the town centre are able to apply for grants to improve their frontages.
Under the Town Centre Shopfront Improvement Scheme, eligible applicants can ask for grants of up to £3,000 each to help fund shopfront renovation, decoration, new signage and/or replacement of historic features including lighting. Businesses must cover 25% of the total cost themselves. At present there is a funding pot of £60,000.
If an application is approved, the business will have six months to complete the works and submit a claim form, with payments made only once works are complete. Before starting work, applications must have obtained the relevant permissions, including any planning permission and landlord permission required.
All applicants, whether successful or not, will be offered free business guidance, and advice on marketing, branding and visual merchandising, via enterpriseGY, the borough council’s business support service.
The shopfront scheme aims to:
Improve business frontages, including shops, commercial businesses and social enterprises.
Enhance the appearance and appeal of the town centre to visitors, customers and local residents.
Preserve and enhance the special character of the conservation area, its listed buildings and other buildings of public importance.
Assist towards encouraging further inward investment and stimulate business and consumer confidence.
Completed applications are assessed on their individual merits by the Town Centre Shop Front Sub Committee, a cross-party sub-committee of the Economic Development Committee.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has already approved its first grants to help businesses improve their town centre frontages, with a total of £8,500 agreed in relation to five successful applicants. The successful applicants are: Gentleman’s Headquarters and the Sock Shop in Regent Street; and Woodcraft, Branded Toys and Wallis’ Wonders in the Victoria Arcade.
Commenting on the town centre improvement scheme, Neil Orford, President of Great Yarmouth Chamber council said:
“We want to see a thriving town centre and these grants will help deliver real change whilst encouraging local businesses to invest in our town and help drive further economic growth for Great Yarmouth.”
Cllr Barry Coleman, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, said:
“”These first successful applications cover a real diversity of businesses and premises in different parts of the town centre, including some historic premises – and it is particularly great that the borough council is able to further help some of the businesses which were affected by last summer’s fire in Regent Road.
“There is, however, still money in the pot and we would like to hand out more grants in the coming months, so if you are an eligible business or social enterprise then please do follow suit and submit a well thought out application, because now is an ideal time to invest.”
What will your business look like in five years’ time and what support do you need to get there?
Come and share your views and help form the new economic strategy for Norfolk. Together with New Anglia LEP and the local authorities, Norfolk Chamber is working on the new Economic Strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk.
At our roundtable events, we need to hear from local businesses of all different sizes about what is important to them. The strategy will look at how we can build on our strengths and make the most of the opportunities in our region.
We need your input, so join us at this free event to share your ideas. You’ll also be able to hear about some of the evidence which has been gathered so far, as well as well as taking part in lively discussions on a range of topics, from global trade to skills and productivity.
Roundtable Events will be held on the below dates – to book your free place click on the relevant link:
· Great Yarmouth – Monday 12 June 2017 4pm – 6pm BOOK NOW
· King’s Lynn – Monday 19 June 2017 4pm – 6pm BOOK NOW
· Norwich – Tuesday 11 July 2017 3pm – 5pm BOOK NOW
A new agreement aims to help promote trade opportunities for engineering and manufacturing companies in the UK and USA.
Signed by the manufacturers’ organisation EEF and its US counterpart, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the deal is being heralded as a bid to boost cross-Atlantic trade for firms in the manufacturing sector.
The agreement – which initially spans three years – will focus on promoting and raising awareness of the possibilities of trade in both countries.
Focusing specifically on opportunities for engineering and manufacturing companies, the agreement will include the sharing of market intelligence data. The two organisations will also help facilitate visits and economic delegations aimed at promoting trade and investment, as well as sharing promotional opportunities at trade fairs and other events.
The EEF and NAM say they intend to provide opportunities to meet both UK and US politicians, as well as senior manufacturing leaders from both countries.
Under the agreement, the EEF will have an associate member of staff in Washington to help co-ordinate and manage day-to-day activities, including creating an EEF-NAM Policy Forum.
Announcing the move, EEF Chief Executive Terry Scuoler said that the USA is a vital market for UK industry and is likely to assume even more importance in the wake of Brexit, as the UK seeks to extend its trade links across the globe.
“I am delighted to sign this agreement with our US counterpart, which will hopefully provide mutually beneficial opportunities for manufacturers in both countries,” he concluded.
A local Chamber of Commerce in Colombia, South America (Cámara de Comercio de Valledupar) is planning to visit to the United Kingdom during April for a reference trip relating to the Dairy Sector. The delegation will be composed of Chamber of Commerce of Valledupar`s CEO and the small project team that is leading this effort.
The Chamber of Commerce of Valledupar, jointly with The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism have launched an initiative to improve the competitiveness of the Dairy Sector in the Department of Cesar – Colombia. More information on the initiative is available here.
Through this process it is conducting a strategic review of the sector, accompanied by an action plan aimed at improving the competitiveness of companies in the region. Within this analysis they have identified interesting opportunities to grow and become more competitive in milk production and processing to derivatives milk, taking into account the trends of differential products that have added value in addition to functionality more features specific to each market segment.
In order to understand these opportunities better, they are are organising a study trip for representatives from Chamber of Commerce of Valledupar to visit international best practices in the production and consumption of the dairy sector. They have identified Norfolk as a relevant region and would be very interested in having the opportunity to meet anyone in this sector, during their visit.
They are interested in meeting producers, retailers and manufacturers of complementary goods (machinery, logistics) for the sector, with the aim of learning from British companies and establish commercial relationships.
For more detailed information on the visit, please take a look at the Executive Summary.
The trip is pencilled in for April 22nd to 24th, but these dates are still tentative and may therefore change slightly. As there are only a couple of weeks left before their planned trip, if you would like to be included in their agenda of visits to our region, please contact the International Trade Team as soon as possible, on Tel. 01603 729712 or email us at export@norfolkchamber.co.uk.
The EU is removing import duties on a wide range of products imported from Sri Lanka. Effective since 19 May, the initiative will see the full removal of duties on 66% of tariff lines, including textiles and fisheries products.
Made in response to reforms made by the Sri Lankan administration, the EU’s action is tied to what it characterises as rigorous monitoring of Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable development, human rights and good governance.
Sri Lanka has committed itself to effectively implementing 27 international conventions on issues including labour conditions and environmental protection, the European Commission noted.
The removal of import duties has been agreed as part of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+), which supports developing countries by fostering their economic development through increased trade with Europe.
An application for GSP+ was made by the Sri Lankan Government in July 2016. The country had previously benefitted from the scheme, but preferential treatment to Sri Lankan imports was stopped by the EU in 2010 over concerns about human rights violations.
The EU is Sri Lanka’s biggest export market. In 2016, total bilateral trade amounted to almost €4 billion, with EU imports from Sri Lanka totalling €2.6 billion (primarily textiles, rubber products and machinery).
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said that granting GSP+ status to Sri Lanka is intended to provide an opportunity for further economic development, including creating more and better jobs for all Sri Lankans.
Sri Lanka joins eight other GSP+ beneficiaries: Armenia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay and the Philippines.
We have an announced the lucky winner of our competition to receive 2 x VIP Tickets to the Royal Norfolk Show, congratulations Jonnie Butcher from Desire Marketing.
Don’t forget Norfolk Chamber members can receive 10% off the price of Royal Norfolk Show tickets.
The Royal Norfolk Show is the county’s biggest event of the year. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the UK. It takes place on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th June 2017 at The Royal Norfolk Showground.
To purchase your ticket and receive 10% discount click here and use the code RNS44.
Addressing the 2017 European Business Summit in Brussels, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström set out the state of play for the EU’s ambitious agenda of trade policy.
This includes working with partners including the USA, China, Canada and Japan as well as Latin America, southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
The Commissioner noted the benefits trade can bring including cheaper products and services, and the creation of new jobs. She called for an approach which responds to people’s concerns, with a trade policy which is transparent, based on values and which shapes globalisation.
With regard to the UK, Ms Malmström expressed her personal sadness at the Brexit vote.
“But we’ll have to respect it and get on with it,” she continued. “Negotiations will resume after the election. The first priority is to ensure it’s an orderly withdrawal.”
In her speech, the full text of which, is available at trade.ec.europa.eu, the Commissioner gave an overview of progress in the trade agreements currently under discussion.
She also took the opportunity to attack the rise of protectionism and populism, and stressed that trade must not lead to a race to the bottom, with each side undercutting on standards.
The Commissioner closed by calling for a strengthening of the open, rules-based global trade system. The EU, she said, is open for business.
If you’re considering entering the EDP Business Awards but you’re unsure about which category is right for you, or you would like advice on how to tell your business story, then this session is not to be missed.
Norfolk Chamber of Commerce are running a special one-off free training as part of their Chamber Sessions which are one-hour free training workshops at their Norwich office. How to write award winning entriesDate: Friday, 23 June, 2017 – 8:30am to 10:00 Venue: 9 Norwich Business Park, Whiting Road, Norwich, NR4 6DJ FREE TO ATTEND
The interactive workshop will feature top tips from PR expert Suzy Pettican from Reflection PR, revealing the secrets of how to construct a winning entry which stands out to the judges.What’s more, Anna Norman (Events Manager for EDP Business Awards) will be providing insights about meeting this year’s criteria and answering any questions you have about the judging process.
Entering the awards provides significant opportunities to reward, recognise and promote your business – so if you have an initiative to shout about, join us and improve your chances of success.
Three take aways from this session:
Know what category is right for your business to enter.
Discover how to make your entry stand out from the crowd.
Find out answers to EDP Business Awards myths.
To book your place on this free workshop click here.
EDP Business Awards 2017
The EDP Business Awards 2017 are open for entries. The deadline for submitting your entry to any of the twelve award catergories is Sunday 30 July. Finalists will be invited to the black-tie Awards Ceremony at the Norfolk Showground on Thursday 2 November 2017.
If the UK is to retain its position as a global trading hub, then the Freight Transport Association (FTA) believes that creation of increased airport capacity in the southeast of England is vital.
The leading membership association in the logistics sector, whose members account for around 70% of the UK’s imports and exports, made the comment in response to the Government’s Draft Airports National Policy Statement.
It called for a swift resolution to discussions over the construction of a third runway at Heathrow before the airport loses further prominence in global trading to its European neighbours, including Paris Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol.
Alex Veitch, the Association’s Head of Global Policy, said: “The FTA has consistently supported the construction of a third runway at Heathrow, in preference to Gatwick, as our members believe it will deliver greater economic benefits to the whole of the UK from what is the key logistics hub for the entire country.”
Cargo is currently sent to and from Heathrow to 185 destinations in 84 countries, he went on, and expansion work must start swiftly to protect the airport’s reputation as the UK leading air freight gateway.
According to the York Aviation Report, jointly commissioned by FTA and Transport for London (TfL) in 2015, failure to expand capacity at London’s airports would have a detrimental effect on future trading partnerships, hitting shippers in terms of time and cost as they attempt to get goods to market, both in the UK and overseas.
The FTA’s Sky-high Value report into the value of extending Heathrow’s capacity can be found here.
On Wednesday 7th June Norfolk Chamber held its first South Norfolk Business Breakfast, at Applewood Hall Banham. Over 60 Chamber members attended the popular networking morning, hosted by Events Manager, Philippa Bindley. The morning got underway with a popular networking icebreaker that that asked delegates to reveal their first or worst jobs, leading to interesting discussions about their career paths and working lives. After tucking into to a full English breakfast and getting to know other members in the room through a safari networking move, Matt Sykes, a Trainer at Mindspan delivered an insightful presentation about the challenges that sales professionals are experiencing in today’s marketplace. Matt warned delegates of common mistakes they may be making when trying to promote their businesses at networking events, such as talking excessively about their business selling points. He stated that: ‘People aren’t interested in what you do…they want the result and the benefit that comes with the service you provide.’You can watch the video of Matt’s presentation online here or access the presentation slides by clicking here. The morning ended with a final round of free networking and a last chance to exchange of business cards. The next South Norfolk Business Breakfast will take place on Thursday 26th October 2017
In an effort to avoid post-Brexit tariffs, a third of British businesses are looking for UK firms to replace EU suppliers. Meanwhile, nearly half of EU businesses working with UK suppliers are in the process of finding local replacements.
The figures are revealed in a new survey by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), which found that 32% of UK businesses who work with suppliers on the continent are actively looking for alternative suppliers based in the UK.
For those trading with other Member States, UK-based suppliers are set to lose out as 45% of businesses currently using them seek non-UK replacements.
The survey of more than 2100 supply chain managers also found that 36% of UK businesses are intending to respond to Brexit by beating down supplier prices and that 11% of firms think that part of their operations may no longer be viable.
Although both UK and European supply chain managers agree that the main priority for the Brexit negotiations should be to keep tariffs and quotas to a minimum, those in the UK with responsibilities for brokering international deals believe there are serious obstacles to achieving that objective.
More than a third (39%) said they thought that the UK is in a weak position to negotiate and 36% cited lack of time as a major factor in achieving a good deal.
Even more worryingly, 33% of respondents believe that the UK has a dearth of supply chain expertise and knowledge to draw on.
Commenting for the CIPS, Gerry Walsh noted that both European and British businesses will be ready to reroute their supply chains in 2019 if trade negotiations fail – they are not wasting time to see what happens.
“The separation of the UK from Europe is already well underway even before formal negotiations have begun,” he added.