The Chamber Awards is one of the UK’s most contested and prestigious business award programmes and as a member of an Accredited Chamber of Commerce you can enter for free! Each year, from Aberdeen to Norwich and King’s Lynn to Plymouth, organisations of all sizes and from all sectors compete for the coveted titles and the £10,000 cash prize on offer.
See what entering the Chamber Awards did for Titania Ltd, a security and compliance software development company based in Worcester who won last year’s Small Business of the Year award:
‘The entry process for the Chamber Awards really makes you think about the challenges and triumphs that your company has faced. It is a great feeling to see all that we have achieved down on paper and even better to have it read and appreciated by others. Writing the application really helped to solidify ideas around where the company has been and where it is going, our growth plans for the future and where we are aiming to be. This is something that can often get lost during the day to day bustle of running a fast growing SME.’ Ruth Inglis, Sales & Marketing Manager, Titania Ltd
Larkfleet Group, a sustainable house builder and sustainable energy projects developer based in Lincolnshire, entered the Sustainability award in 2014:
‘Entering the Chamber Awards helped us as a business to demonstrate our successes and reaffirm our strengths. This alone was a worthwhile exercise as it is rewarding to remember how far you’ve come and what you’ve achieved as a business.’ Helen Jones, Group Marketing Director, Larkfleet Group
O’Brien Contractors, a family run construction business based in Coventry, entered the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2013:
‘We would encourage others to enter the Chamber Awards, the entry process was straightforward, with a good balance of questions that made sense and were easy to understand. When entering make sure you research your company as if you don’t know anything about it. Speak to your team and customers and ask them what they think makes your organisation different, it’s not always what you think.” Rebecca Gozdecki, Marketing Manager, O’Brien Contractors
The Chamber Awards are open for entry until Friday 26th June. For information about the categories and to enter visit www.chamberawards.co.uk
Rail passengers using Norwich station are to benefit from improvements as Abellio Greater Anglia announces the start of a programme of works to redesign the concourse.
The works will see the relocation of the automatic ticket gates to create easier access to the toilet facilities, the installation of a new First Class lounge, a refurbished waiting room on platform 6, improved cycle parking and the introduction of Abellio Greater Anglia’s cycle hire scheme ‘Bike and Go’.
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber said” Norwich station is the gateway to both business and leisure visitors and it is essential that Norwich creates the right impression to its visitors. The Chamber has been looking for these improvements for a number so years and so we very much welcome the investment in this refurbishment and hope that it can be completed swiftly.”
The first phase, now underway, will see the relocation of the ticket barriers and removal of the central cash points and is expected to take four weeks to complete.
Work will also commence during this time to extend the existing cycle area to accommodate an additional 242 covered, free cycle parking spaces and the company’s ‘Bike and Go’ cycle hire scheme will be installed. Ten high quality cycles will be available for hire for just £3.80 per day.
During the summer months, Abellio Greater Anglia’s Customer Services Team will be relocated to a new, more centrally-located customer service office on the station concourse will which will also feature new retail units and cash machines, subject to planning approval.
Towards the end of the year the existing waiting room on platform 6 will be refurbished and a new First Class Lounge will be created alongside platform 1 (in the old Customer Services Office). The customer toilet facilities will be completely refurbished and will be accessible to everyone without the need to pass through the ticket barriers.
Abellio Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, James Reeve,said: “This is an exciting project for the station which will deliver a much-improved layout of the station concourse, refurbished waiting rooms and toilet facilities and improved cycle storage. Investing in upgrades to stations across the network is extremely important to Abellio Greater Anglia, demonstrating our commitment to providing excellent facilities and service to our customers.
“We will be doing all we can to progress the works as quickly as possible and to minimise any inconvenience to our customers while these improvements are carried out.
“We are grateful to our customers for their co-operation and patience in the meantime.”
Over 70 Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Chamber Members joined together on a sunny May morning at the Knights Hill Hotel for a delicious breakfast and some fantastic networking.
Our host for the morning Heather Garrod, took the delegates through the morning, challenging them to make at least one appointment in the diary with a prospective client. It was then onto a themed ice breaker to get all the delegates thinking and discussing which countries imported which good the most. There was a great atmosphere from this and it continued through breakfast and into our safari move.
Our speaker for the morning Alastair McFarlane followed on from breakfast, he gave a delegates an insight into how much AB Ports are doing across the country and in the local area and the importance of the ports. He told delegates how Kings Lynn port is a major grain exporter supporting agriculture in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire and it contributes £40 million to the local economy every year. A recent refurbishment has meant that there are also now modern laboratory facilities on site for testing of a wide range of products.
Delegates found the talk very interesting and had lots of questions for Alastair during the Q&A. The morning then ended with some free networking giving the delegates a little bit more time to get that all important meeting in.
Our next event in this area is a Hog Roast and Quiz Night on Wednesday 22 July, for more details click here
The Generation Park Norwich team are holding a series of events as part of the second round of public consultation.
The latest proposals, featuring a display of models illustrating the scheme, will be on display at the King’s Centre, King Street, Norwich, on Friday, May 8th from (2pm – 7pm) and Saturday, May 9th (9am – 1pm). The public will be invited to offer comments on the proposals.
The following week a public meeting will be held for residents of Trowse, focusing on transport. The meeting will be held at The White Horse, Trowse, on Friday, May 15th from 4pm – 8pm.
There will then be another opportunity to see models of the proposed scheme on display in the Atrium at The Forum in Norwich from Tuesday, June 9th to Thursday, June 11th (9am – 6pm daily).
These meetings and the subsequent display at The Forum follow the first public consultation, staged in January this year.
Subject to planning permission, the proposed riverside development, adjacent to Crown Point rail depot, would transform the derelict 30-acre Utilities Site into a new amenity for Norwich and reflect a modern revival of the heritage of the brownfield site.
Generation Park Norwich would feature an efficient green Community Energy Centre producing electricity for major power users in the city and for the National Grid, along with more affordable and reliable heat for local businesses and houses via a District Heating network.
The scheme would create 11 acres of parkland, new cycle routes and walkways on the banks of the rivers Wensum and Yare, plus highly energy-efficient houses and student residences.
In keeping with the low carbon, forward-looking, spirit of the proposal an energy research and development centre and education centre would complete a remarkable new river gateway for the city.
Professor Trevor Davies, of Generation Park Norwich, said: “Community engagement is key to this project as it is very much a development that will serve the local community and at the same time create a new hub with its mix of leisure facilities, housing, education and research.
“The feedback we get from the community is a vital part of the process and we look forward to sharing our proposals.
“For anyone unable to make the consultation, the updated proposals will be posted on the Generation Park Norwich website, where people can also register for news alerts”.
The Norfolk Chamber would like to congratulate all the candidates who were successfully elected to their seats in Norfolk. We look forward to working closely with them to supportNorfolk businesses to drive forward economic growth.
The 9 Norfolk MP’s are:
BROADLAND-Keith SIMPSON (Conservative) HOLD
GREAT YARMOUTH-Brandon LEWIS (Conservative) HOLD
MID NORFOLK-George FREEMAN (Conservative) HOLD
NORTH NORFOLK-Norman LAMB (Lib Dem) HOLD
NORTH WEST NORFOLK-Henry BELLINGHAM (Conservative) HOLD
NORWICH NORTH – Chloe SMITH (Conservative) HOLD
NORWICH SOUTH-Clive LEWIS (Labour) GAIN
SOUTH NORFOLK-Richard BACON (Conservative) HOLD
SOUTH WEST NORFOLK-Elizabeth TRUSS (Conservative) HOLD
As the largest party, the Conservative Party has the opportunity to form the next Government. The Conservative Party must demonstrate how it will support British business and help us to deliver wider prosperity. Support for investment, infrastructure, apprenticeships and exports would promote business confidence and growth, whereas more regulation, tax increases, and uncertainty over the nation’s finances would hit jobs, wages and prosperity.
In particular, we need to see the new Government continue to invest in Norfolk and to ensure that investment decisions that have been put on hold are made as soon as possible. Norfolk Chamber has been working with its local MPs on key issues affecting Norfolk for the period of the last Government and will continue to press the case for the Norfolk business community in the months ahead.
Norfolk Chamber has developed a ‘Business Plan for Norfolk’to help deliver sustainable long-term growth that benefits local people and the Norfolk business community. The 4 key campaign areas are: Development of the A11/A47 growth corridors; developing the talent of our young people; grow Norfolk’s global trade and improving digital connectivity
We are looking for the newly elected government to ensure that the following happens as soon as possible:
Infrastructure (Growth Corridors)
Deliver the commitment to improve the junctions along the A47 – outlined in the Autumn Statement
Release Development Consent and the funding for the NDR – a strongly supported shovel ready infrastructure improvement – potential to bring £1bn economic benefits to Norfolk.
Young People
Support Chambers to bridge the gap between the world of education and work, which will help local businesses to access the talent and skills they need and boosts career prospects for our young people.
Export / Grow Global Trade
Support local companies seeking to enter new overseas markets. Companies that export grow faster and are typically more innovative and adept at developing new products and services.
Focus funding to help small and medium businesses to export and/or trade internationally.
Improve Digital Connectivity
Ensure continued invest in fast broadband and improve mobile coverage across Norfolk
The outlook for the UK economy remains strong, despite GDP growth slowing to 2.4% in Q1 from 3.0% in the previous quarter. Public finances continue to improve but the UK deficit widened, rising from £2.9 billion in February from £1.5 billion in January. The widening deficit mainly reflects a fall in exports of goods to non-EU countries, particularly the US.
The global outlook continues to be uncertain as China and US growth slowed in Q1. The US economy slowed as a result of a 7.2% fall in exports and weaker consumer spending and investment. The slow down of the Chinese economy mirrored a similar economic slow down seen in the previous year. The world’s second largest economy grew at an annual rate of 7.0% in Q1, a drop fro 7.3% in the previous quarter.
The A47 at Postwick will be closed again this coming weekend (Friday 8 May to Monday 11 May) for the final stage in lifting bridge beams into place. Diversions will be as on previous weekend closures.*
Both carriageways of the A47 will close at 8pm tomorrow, Friday 8 May, opening no later than 6am on Monday 11 May. A series of overnight closures (details below) will follow, but these will be less disruptive.
This weekend, theA47 will re-open sooner than 6am on Mondayif possible, but the amount of work required is more than on the two weekend closures in April.
Postwick Park & Ride will again be closed. The nearest alternative is Harford Park & Ride.
As on previous weekends, the diversions will be via the junction slip-roads and the new business park access roads. There may be delays on the diversion routes when beams are being moved into position for lifting into place.
If it is not possible to complete the work by 6am on Monday, work will be halted in time to allow the A47 to reopen on schedule, and will resume the following weekend (15 May to 18 May) under another A47closure. If this is necessary it will be well publicised next week.
If all goes well and the beam lifts are complete this coming weekend (8-11 May), there will be no weekend closure on the 15-18 May.
However, there will still be the need for a series of Monday to Thursday overnight closures, starting on Monday night (11 May) and continuing for around four weeks (no closure on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May). These closures will be from 8pm, with the road reopening as soon as possible, but no later than 6am the following morning.
Vehicles will use the same diversions as at the weekend, but this is unlikely to cause significant delays because of the low levels of overnighttraffic.
Later this month there willbe a change to thetraffic management arrangements on the westbound’off’ slip road, where traffic from the Great Yarmouth direction leaves the A47 for Thorpe St Andrew, Broadland Business Park, Postwick Park & Ride and the north and east of Norwich (including Norwich International Airport). The change will be at the site of the Oaks Lane roundabout to allow the north side of the roundabout to be constructed.
*Click here for diversion plans or go to norfolk.gov.uk/Postwickfor further background, including links to A47 closure information.
Norfolk County Council has just released their latest update on Norfolk’s infrastructure. The update highlights the A47 corridor and the proposed plans for the improvements announced in the Autumn Statement; the latest on the NDR, progress on the Postwick Hub; and the Better Bus Area.
The report also gives information on the Cycle City Ambition Project, further improvements on the rail networkand the Better Broadband for Norfolk project.
GDP growth in Q1 2015 was 0.3%, down from 0.6% in Q4 2014
Services output rose by 0.5% in Q1, while construction fell by 1.6% and production eased by 0.1%
GDP in Q1 2015 was 2.4% higher than a year earlier, and 4.0% higher than the pre-recession peak in 2008
Commenting on the GDP figures for Q1 2015, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist of the British Chambers of Commerce said:
“Although we expected a slowdown in GDP growth, following weak construction and production figures, the scale of the decline estimated by the ONS understates the true momentum in the economy. It is likely that the services sector rose by more than 0.5% – in particular we are sceptical that business and financial services output was broadly flat in the quarter. It would not be surprising if this estimate was upgraded in due course.
“Despite these disappointing figures, economic output is almost 2.5% higher than a year earlier and 4.0% larger than before the recession. However, there is no room for complacency. The incoming government must work to foster the growth aspirations of businesses, helping the UK economy achieve sustained growth.”
Nova Fairbank, Norfolk Chamber said:
“The BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) has historically been an accurate indicator of future movements in GDP growth. In Q1 2015, the QES manufacturing sales index anticipated the slowdown in the GDP growth rate. However, not at the size of today’s estimate by the ONS.
“The Norfolk manufacturing sales balance fell very slightly from +13% in Q4 2014 to +12% in Q1 2015, while GDP growth fell from 0.6% to 0.3% in the same timeframe. Similarly, the service sector sales balance fell by sixteen points to +35% in Q1 2015, but still remained higher than the manufacturing sales index.”
Businesses who make the leap into international markets are reaping the rewards, according to an international trade survey being published today (Tuesday) by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
The results show that the majority of current exporters (59%) recorded sales growth in 2014, despite stagnation in the Eurozone and the appreciation of sterling. Furthermore, a third of exporters (34%) had to expand their production capacity last year to cope with demand from international markets, compared to only 3% that reduced capacity.
Despite the rewards on offer to all firms, it’s the long-established international players that are getting most of the benefits. Of the exporters that responded to the survey, the majority (61%) have been trading internationally for more than 10 years, compared to only 6% who have been exporting for up to two years.
Firms considering exporting suggested that greater access to overseas distributors and partners, and increased funding and support, would encourage them to seek out international markets.
BCC Director General, John Longworth said “we must redouble our efforts to grow a pipeline of new exporting companies that the UK economy so desperately needs”.
Key findings from the survey:
More businesses need to join the ‘export game’
The majority of the exporters (61%) surveyed have been trading internationally for more than 10 years, while new exporters (0-2 years) account for only 6% of the sample.
89% of businesses have ambitions to grow domestically, however fewer than half of firms (44%) have ambitions to grow internationally.
Exporters stand to reap the rewards as they tackle additional markets
The majority of exporting firms (59%) reported an increase in sales in the past 12 months, compared to 18% who said sales have fallen.
A third of exporters (34%) had to expand their production capacity last year to cope with demand from international markets.
Firms face challenges when trying to export
The most influential factor when considering exporting is the ease of finding customers, agents and distributors, according to the majority of firms (77%).
Increased funding (26%) and access to overseas agents and distributors (20%) are identified as key factors that would encourage non-exporting businesses to export for the first time.
Almost six out of ten (59%) non-exporters say they do not have the right product or service for export.
Commenting on the findings, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:
“Firms willing to explore international markets reap the rewards on offer. It is encouraging to see some businesses exporting for the first time. But we need to redouble our efforts to grow the pipeline of new exporting companies and help more of our existing exporters to break into new markets. Together this will drive up our export performance and rebalance the UK economy.
“A long-term partnership between government and business can bring about a revolution in exports, encouraging more businesses to export for the first time and those already exporting to go further. We must make it easier for companies to consider trading internationally. By making exporting a bigger part of our business culture, we can build our collective appetite to trade. Increasing funding and improving market access for potential exporters will go a long way towards removing the perceived barriers for non-exporters, many of whom could be selling their wares overseas.
“As the election debate rages, Britain’s political parties have failed to set out how they will address the export challenge – and achieve the ambitious growth targets that the Prime Minister set out for 2020. Businesspeople want to work with the next government to implement ambitious plans that help Britain recapture its reputation as a premier trading nation. Only then will we eliminate the UK’s stubborn trade deficit – and unlock future economic growth.”
The BCC’s Business Manifesto: A Business Plan for Britain has proposed a number of measures to assist first-time exporters, and to help existing exporters target new international markets:
Continue to develop a world-class, global business-to-business network of British Chambers and business groups- linking British firms with customers and opportunities for growth in the fastest-growing overseas markets.
Continue work to bring UK Export Finance up to par with the world’s best export finance agencies – ensuring UK businesses can access finance needed to seal deals in markets around the world.
Reform the UK’s passport and visa system – to allow overseas British business people and their foreign counterparts to conduct trade activity with ease, boosting Britain’s export performance.
Make foreign language learning compulsory from age seven to 16 – supporting more young people to ‘think global’, and acquire the knowledge and skills that are highly valued by Britain’s exporters.
Commentating on the Conservative’s small business manifesto, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“A focus on promoting our small businesses is welcome, as is much of the thinking within the Conservative’s small business manifesto. The commitment to improve access to finance, investing in our rail, road and broadband infrastructure and a major review of business rates are all priorities for businesses around the country and it is good to see them being addressed.
“Alongside these encouraging ideas, there is wiggle room which we would like to see closed. For example, what does it mean to ‘respond’ to the airports commission? We need more than a response; we need action to expand our airport capacity. The proposals for a permanent increase in the Annual Investment Allowance and cuts to red tape set the right mood music, but we need to see the details to understand how they will be translated into action which helps our SMEs.
“The one element we would like to see more of, is support for established businesses looking to scale up. It is great to help start-ups, but they are not the only businesses in need of support.”