Chamber News

The British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) as the authorising body in the UK for Certificates of Origin has decided that plain paper United Kingdom Certificates of Origin will be issued from the 1st of April 2023 in the UK. Over 40% of Certificates of Origin issued worldwide are now printed on plain paper. As we move into a digital future the BCC wants the Chambers to be in the vanguard working with the Government to achieve its digital ambition for a paperless border by 2025. The move to plain paper Certificates of Origin is the first step in this journey. From this date, all applications will have to be made via the online platform/s. Certificates of Origin printed via the online platform have additional security features such as the QR code allowing anyone with the Certificate of Origin to scan the QR code and see an online version of the Certificate of Origin so they can check the version they have has not been amended or falsified. Anyone with the Certificate of Origin will also be able to verify the authenticity of the Certificate of Origin via the ICC verification website (https://certificates.iccwbo.org). Increasingly Customs authorities worldwide are looking to be able to verify Certificates of Origin online. This will also simplify the printing of Certificates of Origin by exporters as they will no longer need to insert a blank Certificate of Origin correctly into the printer before printing. If you require any further information, please contact the International Team on 01603 729706 or 01603 729707 or email export@norfolkchambers.co.uk

As we continue the countdown to The Big Debate 2023 here are four things to learn on the topic of People, Skills and Wellbeing.   People, skills and Wellbeing #1 Are you joining us at the Big Debate? Are skills at the top of your agenda? Are you looking at how your business can invest in your workforces skills, navigate funding guidance and recruit new apprentices? Then book your place at our series of free LSIP events across Norfolk and Suffolk to find out more. Networking, skills and growth for your business. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/lsip-join-our-free-events-across-norfolk-and-suffolk/   People, skills and Wellbeing #2 “Workplace Wellbeing relates to all aspects of working life, from the quality and safety of the physical environment, to how workers feel about their work, their working environment, the climate at work and work organization.” In this article, Layrd Design explores the concept of workplace wellness, the benefits for business and some of the practical steps you can take to support your team’s wellbeing. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/the-importance-of-workplace-wellness-2/   People, skills and Wellbeing #3 How to solve the skills gap issue? It’s no secret that there’s a severe skills gap in the UK. Trained people are in short supply across several industries, and businesses of all sizes are affected. The result is that these businesses face a new challenge of locating the ideal candidates to fill critical tasks. In this article, we’ll explore different potential fixes that companies may utilise to address it. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/how-to-solve-the-skill-gaps-issue/   People, skills and Wellbeing #4 Have you ever wondered if your business could sustain itself without the right people? Considered outsourcing personnel to close the skills gaps within your company? Have your employees experienced a drop in morale due to gaps in your workforce? https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/main-impact-businesses-see-from-skills-gaps/

Inquiry The International Trade Committee is holding an inquiry into export opportunities and whether UK exporters are able to take advantage of them. The inquiry will look into the current situation for exporters, the support offered by the Government and how easily exporters can access it. The inquiry will also consider whether there are options, not currently offered by the Government, for supporting businesses. It will also explore how the support offered by the UK Government compares with that available in other countries.

This inquiry is currently accepting evidence

The committee wants to hear your views. We welcome submissions from anyone with answers to the questions in the call for evidence. You can submit evidence until Friday 24 March 2023. https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7207/export-opportunities/

Networking is an extremely valuable tool for businesses but it can be intimidating to many. The thought of introducing yourself and talking to people you have never met before is enough to make anyone feel nervous. Feeling like this is normal. Not everyone will be good at networking the first time, it takes time to gain confidence and for you to feel comfortable in that environment. On the 31^st January, we were joined by Mills & Reeve for a networking masterclass at their Norwich Office. Leanne Loome, Marketing Events Manager and Matt Skipper, Head of New Business at Mills & Reeve presented some top tips on how to develop and improve your networking skills. Networking internally is a really good way to not only practice your networking skills but to also grow your internal network and get to know the people around you and what they are responsible for. Leanne and Matt outlined four things to think about before you go networking. Attendees were asked to discuss the four rules in groups and come up with suggestions for each. Do your research

• Where is the event? How far away is it from your office?
• Who is going (this is only possible if the delegate list is visible)?
• Who is the event aimed for? Are you going for a personal gain or to build professional connections?

First Impressions Practice your elevator pitch. Your elevator pitch is a quick description of who you are, where you work and why you are attending the event. You should always end your elevator pitch on an open question, for example, ask them why they are at the event. Walking into the room

• ‘Hunt in packs’ if you are in a group of two ask others to join you and form a group, do not leave someone on their own at a networking event.

Follow up

• Always follow up after a virtual event, connect with them on LinkedIn and send them a message e.g. nice to meet you today.

The masterclass concluded with the key to networking, be yourself and enjoy it. Thank you to Leanne Loome and Matt Skipper for joining us and creating an activity lead masterclass that provided some top tips to make us feel more comfortable for future networking events.    

As we continue the countdown to The Big Debate 2023 here are four things to learn covering our four Big Debate topics. Infrastructure and transport Mobilitways Commuter Census Survey 2022 reported that 81% of commuters were considering an alternative travel mode and 61% of commuters worried about rising fuel costs. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/providing-large-employers-with-a-suite-of-climate-tech-tools-to-measure-reduce-and-report-their-commuter-emissions/ People, skills and Wellbeing How can the menopause affect your finances? Despite the menopause affecting roughly 50% of the population, it’s often left unspoken, and its symptoms misunderstood. In fact, a survey found that 91% of women aged 50-64 felt that there was little to no acknowledgement of the menopause within their workplace. www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/how-can-the-menopause-affect-your-finances/ Net zero & sustainability One month into 2023, how are your resolutions going? Refresh your starts and new beginnings by setting yourself a resolution can provide a sense of purpose and direction. Many people find that having a sense of community and shared purpose can help them stay committed to their goals, and telling others about your resolution is a proven way to increase how successful you are in keeping it. www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/8-eco-friendly-new-years-resolutions-canopey/ Cost of Living Crisis If you’re wishing for a healthier and happier life in 2023, these finance-related resolutions could go a long way. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/new-years-resolutions-getting-your-finances-in-shape-for-2023/

Returning on Friday 10th February, 1pm-4.30pm, The Big Debate is back bringing together local MPs and business leaders to influence change and give voice to Norfolk businesses. The debate will be spilt into four main topics:

• People, Skills & Wellbeing
• Transport & Infrastructure 
• Net Zero & Sustainability
• Cost of Living Crisis in Norfolk

This is your chance to put your questions directly to key decision makers, network with other businesses in Norfolk and be part of Norfolk Chambers flagship policy event that lets the voice of the Norfolk business community be heard. Debate 1: Trasport and Infrastructure  Debate 2: People Skills & Wellbeing Debate 3: Cost of Living Crisis in Norfolk Debate 4: Net Zero & Sustainability How to submit your questions Whilst questions will be coming in live from attendees, there is also the opportunity to submit any burning questions in advance of the event. If you would like to submit a question on any of the four topics, you may do so here: click here to submit questions The Big Debate 2023 is sponsored by Greater Anglia and is open to members and non-members. To book your tickets click here. And don’t forget to get involved in the discussion on Twitter at #BigDebate23

Reacting to the Chancellor’s speech setting out his vision for economic growth, Nova Fairbank, Chief Executive of the Norfolk Chambers, said:  “The Chancellor is right to be optimistic for the future of Norfolk businesses which are desperate to grow and prosper. “Our Chamber Network is jam-packed with innovative and forward-looking firms. They are developing new products and services that can sustain our economy for years to come. “But beyond pledges to introduce Investment Zones and to use reform of Solvency II to unlock capital there was very little meat on the bones of the Chancellor’s vision. “Crucially he missed out two Es when he detailed his focus on ‘enterprise, education, employment and everywhere’. Without addressing the issues of energy and exports, our economic growth will continue to be stunted. “While wholesale energy charges might now be starting to fall, the reality is that thousands of businesses were locked into new contracts last year at prices that will remain far higher for months to come. This will be unsustainable for many and must be addressed. “It is also very disappointing that he did not mention exports at all. Government must help businesses to harness the opportunities provided by existing free trade agreements, and those coming on stream. “Vision is important, but the mechanics of delivery matter too. The Chancellor should make full use of our 53-strong Chamber Network, which is plugged into local economies across the UK, and 79 international affiliated members to help deliver growth through exports. “The four Es is a start, but we moved no further forward this morning. We urge the Chancellor to read the BCC’s business manifesto for realistic polices to help get back to growth.”   Does your business needs export support? Whatever you need to know about trading overseas, your first port of call should be the International Trade Team at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce. Email our expert team at export@norfolkchambers.co.uk or call us on 01603 729706  

Have you ever wondered if your business could sustain itself without the right people? Considered outsourcing personnel to close the skills gaps within your company? Have your employees experienced a drop in morale due to gaps in your workforce? Skills shortages can have a major and wide-ranging influence on people and organisations. When you have a discrepancy between the skills present in the workforce and the skills needed for the job, then skills gaps arise. The consequences of this soon become apparent. It can impair an individual’s ability to advance in their job and result in lower productivity and competitiveness. Additionally, organisations may have trouble finding and keeping top employees, which could result in missed business opportunities and workload increase for existing employees. We’ve listed below the most common impacts businesses experience with skills gap.   #1 – Slow business growth Not having the right people or talent in place could slow the growth of your business, or see you struggle to deliver your service or product to the expected standards.  Which, in turn, impacts your revenue and expectations when it comes to your business ambition. This can create doubt within your workforce in the future of the company, leading to drop in motivation or need for a change in career.   #2 – Struggling to meet delivery expectations Maintaining your business’ services when there’s a skill gap can be a slippery slope to failure. Staff turnover or difficulties to keep up with the demand can also be factors in a skills shortage. Technology, demand, and processes evolve all the time, and it can be challenging to keep your staff up to date or evolve their positions to meet new demands.   #3 – Difficulty in competing If your business is in a competitive industry, you’ll find that skill shortage can put you in a difficult position against your competitors. While some companies can invest in internal training or in the right talents, this may not be true for all businesses.   #4 – Depending too much on outsourcing Outsourcing came be a great solution for your business, but if your operations depend heavily on this, it can lead to an unnecessary stress on both your team and your clients. There are cases where some businesses are nervous taking on new contracts or feel in a vulnerable position because they can’t rely on outsourcing or feel limited with costs and availability.   #5 – Workload and stress increase within the workplace When your resources are limited within your business, you may find yourself giving your existing employees more work. In turn, this can increase stress within the workplace with the potential to impact staff morale and increase dissatisfaction.   #6 – Can’t attract or retain the right talent Sometimes, skills gap can have a very different impact where the company doubts its capabilities of attracting the right talent. For example, if skilled people decline a company’s offer, that company may begin to question its offering, entering a vicious circle of low staff moral and slow business growth.   How your business can overcome these impacts There are various ways in which you can lift your business’ skills and staff morale whilst retaining the right talent. You can read our article here to find out more about what you can action near you. Or participate in LSIP to make a difference to the future of local skills for Norfolk & Suffolk. Learn more about Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) here.    

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with the Co-op and with support from Time to Change Wales, See Me and Change Your Mind/Inspire. Time to Talk Day is all about bringing people and communities together to talk and be more open about mental health. You can read more about Time to Talk Day here. Reasons why talking part in Time to Talk Day is important:

• 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem every year
• Talking helps to create supportive communities which can empower us to seek help when needed
• By opening up the conversation about Mental Health, we can support both ourselves and others.

Every conversation matters. There are several ways you can start a conversation on Time to Talk Day, you could check-in with a friend or colleague, put Time to Talk posters on your community notice board, take a friend or family member to coffee or simply send someone a text message. Talking and Listening can Change Lives. View some talking tips here to make sure you approach talking about mental health in a helpful way. If you want to help support Norfolk and Waveney Mind and fundraise for Time to Talk Day, there are two fundraising activities you can get involved in. You could sign up for ‘Get It Off Your Chest’ which is a sponsored chest was or host a Tea and Talk where you can get together with friends, colleagues and family to talk over a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Found out more here Time to Talk Day is about us all being open to the idea of talking. Whether you’re managing your own mental health problem, or supporting someone else, Norfolk and Waveney Mind are there for you. View their website here for further information including a list of their services.

Nova Fairbank, Chief Executive | Norfolk Chambers of Commerce

“We are so pleased to welcome such an experienced and knowledgeable group of business and education leaders to our LSIP Board. The LSIP is a fantastic opportunity to bring employers and providers closer together and, through greater collaboration, make a difference to the local skills agenda for Norfolk and Suffolk.”

John Dugmore, Chief Executive | Suffolk Chambers of Commerce

“Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has been involved in shaping the LSIP programme for nearly two years, so this first Norfolk & Suffolk LSIP board meeting represents an important milestone in embedding the business voice into future skills planning cross the two counties.”

Dean Pierpoint, Project Manager | Norfolk Chambers of Commerce

“After many weeks of planning and discussion it was great to get the first Board meeting in the diary. I am sure with the breadth of knowledge on skills from education providers and public sector organisations as well as input from the business community we will be able to shape the local skills improvement plan to have a positive effect on the skills landscape in the region. The team are now looking forward to engaging with the business community for their views on skills!”

Introduction

It’s no secret that there’s a severe skills gap in the UK. Trained people are in short supply across several industries, and businesses of all sizes are affected.

The result is that these businesses face a new challenge of locating the ideal candidates to fill critical tasks. In this article, we’ll explore different potential fixes that companies may utilise to address it

An underinvestment in education and training is one of the key factors contributing to the skills gap. There is a lack of suitable applicants for many occupations as a result of many young people not acquiring the education and training they require to thrive in the workforce.

The issue is exacerbated by the fact that many elderly workers do not update their skills, subsequently falling behind on the knowledge needed as industries grow.

Many factors can contribute to the skills gap:

• A lack of experience
• Outdated or inadequate training
• Failures in the broader educational system
• Change in roles or responsibilities
• External political changes (e.g. Brexit)

How it impacts businesses in the UK:

• Loss of productivity
• Higher staff turnover
• Lower quality of work and decreased morale
• Inability to expand your business
• Loss of revenue

Businesses need to be proactive in this situation and invest in training their own employees. This may involve providing training and development opportunities for current workers via online providers or one-to-one coaching in person.

Businesses can also collaborate with nearby colleges and universities to provide young people with internship and apprenticeship opportunities, bridging the gap between education and the workforce.

Working in collaboration with the government and similar groups will help develop training and education programmes that are specifically designed to meet the requirements.

Giving older workers the chance to refresh their skills within the organisation might increase loyalty to their employer as well as boosting their productivity. It also gives them a chance to practice these new skills within a known environment rather than starting from scratch, which could result in higher anxiety in the workplace.

This involvement from businesses may ensure that young people are obtaining the training they need to thrive in the workforce from the start of their careers.

Give access to online training

Online training is the most popular and easy way to help upskill your employees. This method is readily available, and can target  a variety of skills or knowledge you might need for your business.

There’s a lot of soft skills eCourses that many industries may find useful to solve the most common skills gaps.

The drawback of this method is that not all skills are available to be taught online or might require someone on-site to educate your employees. Depending on the industry you are in, online training may not be suitable. Plus, you could be looking for an advanced training that might be hard to find or require a certificate.

Allow working time aside for self-development and learning

Some businesses may have the skills needed in-house with the right people to teach employees, but time may be limited.

However, try to allow some time for the relevant workers to learn from the skilled employees. Even though time may be tight, your business could benefit in the long-term from this “unpaid” route.

Some businesses make the mistake of ignore internal training due to lack of personnel or time constraints. If you already have the right people with the right skills, you’ll do your business a favour by prioritising internal training.

The biggest benefit? Uninterrupted business trading with the right knowledge and the right workforce.

Conclusion

The UK is experiencing a serious skills deficit that is affecting companies of all industries.

Businesses can contribute to resolving this issue by providing internal training or taking time to hire the right candidates, or by sharing their skills needs to a Local Skills Improvements Plan organisation.

The best scenario is to help both young and established workers to learn the future skills soon-to-be in demand, so businesses do not experience interruptions to their delivery.

Share your business’ pain point with skill gaps: get involved with your LSIP

The UK Department for Education (DfE) will help to unlock skills gap for many different industries. All it takes is for businesses to share their pain points with the relevant chamber of commerce. This will help your county to make a case and allocate the necessary investments to close the skills gap.

To put it simply, your chamber of commerce will ask for businesses to share their experience about skills gap or how difficult it is to find the right candidates.

This information will help inform the DfE about potential to invest in your local region and help fund the relevant area to bring that knowledge in to close the skills gap.

Learn more about Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) here.

Or make your business’ voice heard today and share your impact with skills gap here: LSIP employer survey.

Impact of industrial action on 1 February 2023 at UK ports and airports You may have seen reports that up to 100,000 civil service members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union will be going on strike on Wednesday 1 February 2023. HMRC members will not be taking part, but the industrial action will include UK-based Home Office members, including Border Force staff. The industrial action is likely to impact the movement of goods through UK ports and airports on 1 February 2023, as well as those travelling to the UK from UK Border controls in Calais, Dunkirk and Coquelles in Northern France. There may also be some disruption on the morning of 2 February 2023 as business returns to normal. What you can do If you are able to move goods outside of this period, then we would advise that you do so. If you cannot delay your movements then please be aware that the industrial action could lead to disruption and delays at ports and Inland Border Facilities (IBF). You should be prepared for these delays and check with your operator before starting your movement. You can also check IBF site availability online. If you are planning to carry merchandise in baggage or more than £10,000 in cash and need to make a declaration For merchandise in baggage under £1,500/1,000kg which does not contain licensed items, the simplest way to declare your goods is though the simplified online declaration form. The simplest way to declare large amounts of cash is also online, following this guidance. If you cannot use the online service, the red point service at the port or airport will be operational during this period but it is possible you will experience some delays.