Chamber News

Abellio train operator Greater Anglia has won a major rail industry award for its excellent service delivery during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company received the Cross-Industry Partnership Award at the national Rail Innovation Awards for its impressive performance and customer service standards, achieved in partnership with Network Rail and Transport for London, during last summer’s Games when the eyes of the world were on London.

Greater Anglia welcomed almost 1.3 million additional passengers on its London-bound services over the Olympic and Paralympic Games, with 94.9% of trains arriving on-time. The company provided an average of 150,000 extra seats per day, an increase in capacity of over 25%, with over 600 trains a day calling at Stratford. Extra customer service staff – easily identifiable in their magenta tabards – were deployed across the company’s network to provide assistance to passengers to and from the Games. Additional contingencies were put in place so that if key events overran (as then happened with the Opening and Closing Ceremonies) trains could be held back to ensure everyone was able to get home afterwards.

All these plans were especially important with Stratford the key station serving the Olympic Park, so it was vital that both train and station operations ran smoothly, and with effective coordination with Network Rail and other train operators critical to the success of the plans.

The arrangements were the result of a focused approach led by a dedicated project team which ensured that detailed plans were in place and a real ‘Games spirit’ was created amongst the entire Greater Anglia team and its partners. High standards of customer service were celebrated and encouraged, with the proactive strategy exemplified by the London Liverpool Street cleaner Gaspare Giarracco, whose search and recovery of mislaid Olympics tickets from amongst the huge station waste bins was greatly appreciated by the passengers involved.

Commenting on the award, Ruud Haket, Managing Director of Greater Anglia said:

“I am delighted that the superb efforts of the entire team at Greater Anglia in partnership with colleagues from Network Rail and Transport for London have been recognised with this award. The excellent punctuality results, allied with the highest standards of customer service, ensured that those passengers travelling to the Games last summer enjoyed a great day out and were impressed with the service provided. That all this was achieved only six months into a franchise, was testament to a remarkable team effort, both within Greater Anglia, but also with our rail industry partners. I want to reiterate our thanks to all of our employees and industry colleagues who contributed to such a successful outcome.

“We’re committed to building on those high standards to deliver excellent service on our network on a consistent basis, and have achieved new, record-breaking punctuality results in the 10 months since the Games ended. We recognise there is much more to do and the improvements achieved to date, including the Olympics/Paralympics service which led to this award, are inspiring us to provide an even better service for our customers.”

Broadland District Council is now consulting on its ‘preferred options’ in terms of sites for future development across the district. The consultation will help the Council to produce a Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) which will identify or ‘allocate’ areas of land for specific types of development, such as housing, employment, community facilities etc. It will also include the definition of development boundaries or settlement limits for those places where some further ‘infill’ development may take place. To find out more and to submit your views online, click here. The consultation period will close on 2 September 2013.

• Quarterly GDP in Q1 2013 rose by 0.3%, unrevised from the previous estimate
• Services continue to drive Britain’s modest recovery, with quarterly growth of 0.5% in Q1
• Business investment rose 0.2% in Q1, better than in the earlier estimate
• Current account deficit rose to 3.6% of GDP in Q1, a high level by historical standards
• Revised figures confirm that there was virtually no double dip in 2011-12

On revisions to historic GDP data announced today, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

“The revision to national statistics on the size of the economy confirms what we in business have suspected for some time. Our own Quarterly Economic Survey, other business surveys and strong employment data consistently cast doubt on whether the UK suffered a significant ‘double dip’.

“While statistics can be revised with the hindsight of improved data, the damage to business confidence caused by media headlines and partisan bickering is harder to undo. Boosting Britain’s modest recovery requires a greater emphasis on what’s going right in the private sector – rather than a relentless focus on what’s gone wrong.”

David Kern, Chief Economist at the BCC, added:

“The revisions to past data confirm our view that there was effectively no double dip at the beginning of 2012. Yet the revised national accounts also flag up some major concerns. The peak to trough fall in the economy in the 2008-09 recession is now estimated at more than 7%, worse than originally thought. When comparing Q1 2013 with the same quarter in 2008, before the crisis hit, GDP is now 3.9% lower, when it was previously estimated at 2.6% lower.

“Although the confirmation that the economy has not suffered a double dip will help business confidence, the figures confirm that the economy is still very weak, and our external deficit is unacceptably large. We need to see a realistic, two-pronged economic strategy that combines a serious commitment to cutting the fiscal deficit with policies that enable the private sector to drive a sustainable recovery.”

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has announced the appointment of Nora Senior as its new President, succeeding Martyn Pellew who stands down after two years in post. Nora, who will be the business group’s first female President for ten years, was officially appointed at the BCC’s Annual General Meeting after serving as Vice President since June 2011.

Nora is the Executive Chair for UK Regions of global PR agency Weber Shandwick and has more than 20 years’ experience in the public relations and government affairs sector. She is part of the Regional Advisory Group to the London Stock Exchange, and holds non-executive roles with organisations such as the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, and previously with the National Trust.

Nora has been recognised with a number of business achievement awards including Scottish Businesswoman of the Year. More recently, she was presented with the UK First Woman in the Media Award on 12 June.

Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“We are thrilled to have just a dynamic person taking the role of BCC President. The Chamber Network Nora wants to achieve, which takes advantage of digital technology, is absolutely where Norfolk Chamber’s plans to be and I am really looking forward to working closely with her. She has already agree to be one of our keynote speakers at our Unlocking Potential Business Conference on 22 November and I recommend everyone puts this date in their diary”

Commenting on her appointment as BCC President, Nora Senior said:

“The British Chambers of Commerce is a leading voice on all issues relating to business and I look forward to championing its crucial work, which benefits businesses of all sizes and sectors across the UK. There are many issues that still need government attention – particularly around the much-needed support for international trade and helping young people to join the workforce, both of which are so important if we are to see a sustainable economic recovery.

“Together with the support of Chambers of Commerce across the UK, I will be working hard to ensure that the views of the business community are heard at both a local and national level, and will continue to campaign for an enterprise-friendly environment so that existing and new businesses can thrive.

“At this crucial time for the UK economy, Chambers of Commerce are more important than ever. They act as a front door in every town and city across the UK, providing support to businesses directly at the coal face. Just take international trade as an example. Chambers help businesses take their goods and services to new markets in a number of different ways – acting as a first port of call for advice, holding export seminars, exchanging knowledge and best practice from ‘mature’ exporters and leading trade missions to fast-growing markets overseas.

“As someone who travels the world as a services exporter, I see first-hand how it’s become easier and more cost effective to trade internationally. Businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized companies across all sectors, need to be encouraged to explore the potential to step into new markets – but the fear of exporting has be removed. Given the need for Britain to achieve an export-led recovery, Chambers are and will remain at the heart of this agenda.”

Outgoing President, Martyn Pellew, said:

“During my tenure as President, I have worked alongside BCC Director General John Longworth to campaign on behalf of British business. My job has allowed me the privilege of visiting some truly inspiring companies over the last two years, many of whom are finding innovative ways to grow their businesses and increase their workforces. I know that with the help of their local Chambers, these businesses will continue to build on these successes.

“I now hand over to Nora, whose vast business and communications experience and previous involvement with the BCC will prove invaluable at this crucial time for the UK business community.”

• Public sector borrowing, excluding transfers from the Bank of England QE scheme, was £12.7bn in May 2013, compared with net borrowing of £15.6bn in May 2012
• Public sector net debt was 75.2% of GDP

Commenting on the Public Sector Finances for May 2013, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

“Various adjustments make it very difficult to make a full comparison of the public finances, although there appears to be a superficial improvement. However the significant fall in our oil and gas reserves, and the problems facing our financial sector, have created a long-term shortfall in the government’s ability to generate tax receipts. Our structural deficit will remain unacceptably high for some time, and the government must persevere with its plan to bring it down. As the economy gradually begins to recover throughout 2013, we expect that public finances will improve.

“Next week’s Spending Review gives the Chancellor an opportunity to reallocate resources, focusing on measures to boost growth such as infrastructure investment, while continuing to make real cuts in current spending. Any room for manoeuvre must be used to help create jobs and drive economic growth.”

The May unemployment figures across Norfolk followed the trend of the rest of the UK and fell slightly. The county showed an overall reduction of 3.6%. Unemployment rates in Norfolk have been falling noticeably since February 2013, however, despite this drop, there are still over 17,000 unemployment claimants in Norfolk.

The latest report shows that 26% of the claimants in our region are aged between 18 and 24 years old and the national percentage is only slightly lower at 25.9%. Norwich has the largest number of claimants between 16 and 64 years old, with just under 4,400 and Great Yarmouth has over 3,500 claimants. The Norwich figure dropped by 2%, whilst Great Yarmouth dropped by 3.2%. This still leaves Great Yarmouth in 13th place on the unemployment tables for the English Local Authorities, of which there are fifty local authorities, whilst Norwich is listed in 45th place.

Norwich City Council have released their latest economic barometer for the region. Some of the highlights are:

• New data suggests that the UK’s services sector, which accounts for around three-quarters of the economy, grew at its fastest rate since March 2012.
• Norfolk’s hard-hit construction industry may be over the worst of the downturn according to recent figures.
• Start-up businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk could have access to millions of pounds of funds to get them off the ground with the launch of a new initiative.
• Norfolk and Suffolk are to get greater decision making power from government over transport schemes. The two counties will receive £39 million for the four years from April 2015, to be spent on transport schemes costing more than £5 million.
• Norwich-based engineering firm, Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions, is celebrating a landmark £5 million deal with a Chinese energy company which is equal to a third of its turnover.
• Average house prices in Norfolk grew by 1.1%, making the average house price £144,227 in Norfolk.

Full details of all the above can be found in the attached Norwich Economic Barometer.

The latest Bank of England, East of England Agents’ summary of business conditions has shown that:

• The manufacturing output for both export and domestic markets has continued to grow slowly.
• The housing market has continued to strengthen
• Annual growth in retail sales moved forward at a slow pace.
• Investment intentions have remained very modest
• Increases in manufacturing and service sector prices remained subdued

The full Bank of England Agents’ Summary is attached.

At a recent meeting of the Norwich Chamber Council, Karen O’Kane the Programme Director for Better Broadband for Norfolk and John Cullum, the Senior Deployment Manager for BT Openreach provided a progress report on upgrading broadband in Norfolk and highlighted the benefits to business.

Facts about Next Generation Access (NGA) Infrastructure:

• 600 cabinets and 157 local telephone exchanges in Norfolk
• Starting Point: Installation of fibre spines to connect local Exchange Areas to the nearest Head Exchange.
• Average length of a fibre spine in the UK is 3km to 5km
• Average Norfolk fibre spine length will be 13km

Click here to view short video showing how better broadband will be implemented.

Constraints in supplying the NGA infrastructure:

• Capacity and conditions of the existing infrastructure i.e. the ducts through which the fibre will be laid
• Availability of power in rural areas
• Timescales surrounding planning applications
• Necessary road closures – which will be more prevalent in rural locations than urban ones

The locations for the first phase of improvements have been recently announced and it is expected that every couple of months updates on further locations will be advised. You can find out the status of the nearest exchange by clicking here and entering your postcode.

Benefits to Business:

Better broadband will provide new opportunities for businesses in Norfolk allowing them to innovate and expand into different markets. It also has the potential to increase efficiency and drive down costs by offering access to:

• Cloud computing – business data and software applications that are hosted remotely. Many cloud based business applications are now available ranging from basic office software to more sophisticated business software such as customer relationship management systems
• Voice over internet (VoIP) communication systems which enable basic call routing and voicemail through to video conferencing.
• Web conferencing enables businesses to meet in real time and share desktops
• Data transfer – upload latest content quickly and effectively to keep ecommerce and other websites up to date. Send and receive large files (e.g. complex plans and drawings, videos etc).
• Remote data storage – backup business data automatically and regularly to a remote and secure location.
• Flexible working – work from the office, from the home or on the move in a way and at a time that meets your business, and employee, needs.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Local Transport Body (LTB) has been created. This is a new body that will receive funding from the government for large transport schemes in our region. It will cover the geographical area of the two counties and New Anglia LEP, and is likely to receive around £39m of funding for major transport schemes over the 2015-19 spending period.

The Norfolk and Suffolk LTB is one of many local transport bodies that have been set up across the country to manage major transport scheme money. Whereas previously this money was managed centrally, government has now devolved the funding to local areas. The LTB comprises representatives from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the two local transport authorities (Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council).

A ‘Long-List’ has been derived from existing, agreed, and adopted strategies such as the counties’ Local Transport Plans, Growth Plans and Infrastructure Plans. Because these plans have already had extensive stakeholder engagement, the LTBare confident that the ‘Long-List’ is a good starting point to identify the transport projects to which they should direct its funding.

The Norfolk and Suffolk LTB are currently seeking the views of the local business community onthe ‘Long-List’ plus any suggestions for additional large capital transport schemesthat should be includedin the spending programme for 2014-19. Your comments will help provide a starting point and will allow the priorities to be assigned. The consultation period ends at midday on Friday 12 July 2013.

For more information on the consultation and to access full details of the ‘Long -List’ click here.

The British Chambers of Commerce recently carried out an International Trade Survey on businesses across Norfolk and the rest of the UK. The results showed that exporting was on the increase, rising from 32% of those surveyed in 2012 to 39% in 2013.

Some interesting responses were received from Norfolk businesses – please take a look at the Norfolk Survey Results.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to the survey.

At a recent meeting of the Great Yarmouth Chamber Council, the members were pleased to note several positive good news stories for Great Yarmouth:

• Pinch Point Funding of £4.7m has been awarded for the new road between the A143 and the A12, which will service the Great Yarmouth Enterprise Zone and will also facilitate 1,000 new homes and help create 15 hectares of industrial land.
• A recent report from the Town Centre Partnership highlighted that footfall in the town centre was up by 13% during May and in the seven weeks running up to 1 June 2013 it increased by 9%.
• Funding bids have been submitted for the regeneration of the Co-op building and a joint bid from Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft College has been submitted to provide workforce development funding for training in areas such as engineering, travel and tourism.

The Great Yarmouth Chamber Council members also debated the New Anglia LEP Apprenticeship Plan and whilst the members supported the intention of the plan, they expressed concern regarding the reality of persuading SMEs tofacilitateapprenticeships, as it may be a hard task to change the perception of many SMEsto apprenticeships.

To help with just this concern, the Norfolk Chamber has created an Apprenticeship Broker Service which is an active step in encouraging more of the region’s businesses to take on apprentices. This service will guide businesses though the apprenticeship process and work on your behalf to make the recruitment process as simple and straight forward as possible. For more details contact the Chamber team on 01603 625977 or e-mail membership@norfokchamber.co.uk.