Businesses across the UK, including Norfolk, are being asked to nominate planning regulations to be simplified or removed as part of the government’s “Red Tape Challenge” initiative.
Do you have any planning regulations that you would like changed?Pleaseleave your comments on the Red Tape Challenge websitebyThursday 7 March 2013.
Norwich City Council has released their latest Economic Barometer. The report highlighted that retail sales fell unexpectedly in January with volumes falling 0.6% over the month as a result of heavy snow. The Pound continued to weaken against the US Dollar and the Euro as a result of persistent worries about the health of the UK economy. In addition, umemployment has risen and has now surpassed the previous peak from February 2010. The UK housing market showed signs of improvement with mortgage lending increasing, led by a big rise in first-time buyers. The Council of Mortgage Lenders also reported that the number of homes being repossessed fell to its lowest annual level since 2007. InCrops, an Adapt Low Carbon Group initiative, based at the UEA, has received £750,000 of additional funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This additional funding will allow InCrops to continue their programme to promote innovation in alternative and non-food crops until March 2015. Two HMV stores in Norwich and one in King’s Lynn have survived a round of cuts by the adminstrator, Deloitte, despite increased speculation that a least one store in Norwich would closed to help drive down the debts of the beleaguered retailer. A new era in local television broadcasting was launched at the end of January with the start of the country’s first dedicated web TV. Mustard online will stream an array of videos aimed specifically at viewers in and around Norwich. The full Norwich Economic Barometer report is attached.
Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, ‘Opportunities 2013’ on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club, is a must-attend for businesses looking to exhibit their products and services because there will be a guaranteed footfall of people attending throughout the day.
You can take a stand in one of six themed business zones designed to help visitors to grow their business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.
Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, which is holding the event, said: “Suppliers wanting to enhance their business are advised to take a stand at the event because there is so much going on throughout the day, which means there will be a huge footfall of potential customers. For suppliers, this will be a vital captive audience to promote themselves and be part of the region’s biggest business show.”
Highlights of the event include a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 36 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.
Visitors will also be attending a series of three, 40-minute interactive and informative workshops designed to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.
Also likely to bring in a great deal of visitors is the event’s Networking United event, which brings together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections. This presents an ideal opportunity to bring along some business cards and make contacts.
To book your stand, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here
If you’re a supplier looking to sell your products and services, don’t miss Meet the Buyer, which is part of the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Opportunities 2013’ event on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club. Open4business is delivered in conjunction with Norfolk County Council and is a tried and tested Meet the Buyer event that will bring the region’s buyers and suppliers together under one roof.
Suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at up to four pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 36 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.
Caroline Williams, Norfolk Chamber CEO, commented. “These Meet the Buyer events are hugely successful and are a rare opportunity for suppliers to get in front of the region’s key buyers. The list of buyers attending is growing all the time and we are confident that some very profitable relationships will be forged on the day.”
‘Opportunities 2013’, which is free to attend, also includes three other elements; a business exhibition, a series of informative workshops and a Networking United event.
The business exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.
The three 40-minute topical workshops at the event are interactive and informative, to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.
Making its debut, the Networking United event brings together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections. This is an ideal opportunity to bring along some business cards and make contacts.
To book your place at Meet the Buyer, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here
If you want to make business contacts through networking, then don’t miss Networking United which is part of the Opportunities 2013 event to be held on 14 March at Norwich City Football Club.
For the first time, the free-to-attend Opportunities 2013 event will feature Networking United held 12.30 – 1.3.30 in the Norfolk Lounge, which will bring together a range of Norfolk networking groups under one roof, with the aim of making those vital connections.
Prior to the Networking United will be held a free workshop called: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by the dynamic Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success who was such a success at the Chamber’s Unlocking Success conference last November. To book please go onto the event website
Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber, commented: “Networking is one of the most successful ways to do business, make contacts and form new business relationships, so we have created the Networking United event to bring the business community together in one place. We advise anyone to come along with a stack of business cards and make those connections.”
‘Opportunities 2013’ also features Norfolk’s largest business exhibition, where suppliers from around the region can promote their products and services. The exhibition is divided into six themed business zones designed to help you grow your business and find the areas which are of most interest. They are Enterprise, Advice & Finance, Hospitality & Leisure, Technology, Promotion & Marketing and HR & Training.
In addition, ‘Opportunities 2013’ includes a Meet the Buyer event called Open4business, where suppliers will have the opportunity to pitch to key private and public sector buyers at pre-booked, 10-minute, one-to-one meetings. This year there are more buyers than ever before, with more than 35 signed up for the event. They include a wide range of councils and colleges, Kinnerton, Adnams, Perenco, Norwich City Football Club and many others.
Visitors can also attend a series of three, 40-minute interactive and informative workshops designed to help boost business skills and give a real competitive edge. Topics are: ‘Networking so easy anyone can do it’, delivered by Mark Rhodes, of Rhodes2success; ‘Broadband: it’s more than just speed’, by Mike Joes of Modello (sponsored by BT Business); and ‘How to get results for email marketing’, by David Tillyer, of 101 Smart Ltd.
To register for the Networking United, or to find out more about ‘Opportunities 2013’, go here
To comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Carriage of Dangerous Goods By Air, Royal Mail has updated rules which prohibit specific products from international services.
It will now be possible to send lithium batteries contained in a device in the international post, subject to packaging requirements. All lithium batteries were previously prohibited from international parcels. Lithium batteries not installed in a device continue to be prohibited.
Also, with effect from 14 January 2013, beverages with alcohol content above 24% ABV are prohibited from international parcels. Aerosols, nail varnish, perfumes and aftershaves continue to be banned, as regards sending to international destinations, for all business customers.
Royal Mail points out that dangerous goods transport regulations also apply to other parcel delivery companies.
The Civil Aviation Authority, Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have agreed updated rules with Royal Mail for individuals sending small quantities of specific, previously prohibited consumer items through the post to UK addresses.
It is intended that these will come into effect on 15 July, following public consultation expected to begin in March.
Ernst & Young’s annual globalisation report suggests that there are increasing challenges when operating in some BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies, as well as slowing growth in some of these markets.
As a result, nearly half of the survey’s respondents expect an increase in protectionism in the BRIC countries. In contrast, respondents see a decline in protectionism as more likely in other, smaller, rapid growth markets.
These markets show consistently high economic growth close to that of the leading BRICs.
Turkey, Mexico and Indonesia closely shadow China and India in terms of GDP growth from 2000 through 2015, for example, while Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Malaysia and Vietnam, as well as several countries and regions in Africa, are all shaping up to be among the most dynamic parts of the world for investment.
The number of executives questioned who view rapid-growth markets, other than the BRICs, as the most important source of new revenue nearly doubles, from 26% today to 45% in three years time.
They are planning accordingly, with South Africa, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey reported to be the most competitive locations.
Despite weak growth in 2012, and an uncertain economic outlook in many markets for 2013, globalisation is still increasing among a majority of the world’s 60 leading economies, according to the report, “Looking beyond the obvious: globalisation and new opportunities for growth”.
As well as the growth of the “second tier” markets such as Mexico and Turkey, the report also forecasts the rise of smaller European countries, including Belgium, Slovakia and Hungary.
HMRC is introducing Real Time Information (RTI) for PAYE from April 2013. The majority of employers are required to start submitting PAYE returns in real time in April 2013 and all employers will be routinely reporting PAYE information in real time by October 2013.
From April, PAYE returns are electronically required each time a payment is made, as part of routine payroll processes. Employers operating their own payroll will need to consider and take the appropriate action to either update their payroll software, obtain new payroll software or, where an agent or payroll bureaux is used, discuss the changes with their payroll provider. During October HMRC will be writing to all employers telling them about RTI, advising what they should be doing to get their business ready for the changes to PAYE in April 2013, and signposting HMRC guidance.
A new national information campaign and website has been launched to raise awareness among UK employers of the introduction of PAYE RTI. The website is a not for profit collaboration of business and accounting professional associations, that is independent of government and HMRC.
The site aims to become the leading independent source of news and information on this, which will be one of the key issues for UK business in 2013.
Please email queries or requests for additional information, to admin@payerti.org.
A deal with the Council of Ministers to give customs officials at EU borders better tools to confiscate, store and destroy goods that infringe intellectual property rights (IPR) has been endorsed by a leading European Parliament committee.
The Internal Market Committee noted that imports that infringe IPR are a growing problem in the EU due in particular to the rising volume of goods bought by EU citizens online and shipped to them by post from countries outside the Union.
Piracy and counterfeiting alone cost European businesses €250 billion in lost sales each year.
The new regulation on Customs enforcement of IPR aims to improve the effectiveness of customs controls so as to prevent illegal or dangerous products from entering the EU while setting down clear rules on detention and destruction procedures.
The new rules, which are to apply directly in all Member States from 1 January 2014, will allow customs officials to work faster and more effectively.
They include a simplified procedure to allow the destruction of goods without a court order, provided that the copyright holder agrees and the importer does not object.
A special procedure for small consignments of up to three kilos will also speed up the destruction of counterfeit goods. The new rules set a 10-day deadline for the importer to object before the good is destroyed.
In general IPR holders asking the customs authorities to enforce their rights would bear the costs of destroying the goods. However, the right holder could seek compensation from the infringer or other persons, including intermediaries such as carriers.
Non-commercial goods carried in a traveller’s personal luggage are excluded from the new regulation’s scope.
Eight areas, listed by the Chancellor in a speech at the Royal Society last November, are to receive significant funding after he identified them as vital to the UK’s future growth and to helping it stay ahead in the global race.
The Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, has confirmed that £600 million is to be invested in “big data”, space, robotics and autonomous systems, synthetic biology, regenerative medicine, agri-science, advanced materials and energy.
He noted the unique strengths of the UK’s research base but stressed that the Government now needs to capitalise on this by backing the right technologies and helping to take them through to market.
Mr Willetts said: “Strong science and flexible markets is a good combination of policies. But it is not enough. It misses out crucial stuff in the middle – real decisions on backing key technologies on their journey from the lab to the marketplace. It is the missing third pillar to any successful high tech strategy.”
He also announced a £350 million investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in Centres for Doctoral Training and a £1 million Technology Strategy Board competition to help to accelerate the development of concepts where robots are able to interact with each other and humans.
Of the latest funding, £35 million is to go to centres of excellence in robotics and autonomous systems to be created in and around universities, innovation centres, science parks and enterprise sites to bring together the research base and industry.
Another £45 million will be provided for new facilities and equipment for advanced materials research in areas of UK strength such as advanced composites, high-performance alloys, low-energy electronics and telecommunications.
Lee Hopley, Chief economist at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said that the new measures should help to address the barriers faced by innovative SMEs in accessing expertise and facilities.
“Public spending on innovation spending, just as much as science, offers high returns and this should be a priority in the Government’s forthcoming Spending Review,” she said.
Business competitiveness and export performance are increasingly tied to countries’ integration into global production chains and a willingness to open markets to wider imports.
This is one of the key findings of the preliminary international trade data released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Their joint “Trade in Value-Added Initiative” breaks with conventional measurements of trade, which record gross flows of goods and services each time they cross borders.
It seeks instead to analyse the value added by a country in the production of any good or service that is then exported, and offers, the partners believe, a fuller picture of commercial relations between nations.
“Countries’ capacity to sell to the world depends on their ability and readiness to buy from the rest of the world,” OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria said during the launch of the new database in Paris.
Among the key findings are: China’s bilateral trade surplus with the USA shrinks by 25% on a value-added basis, reflecting the high level of foreign-sourced content in Chinese exports; one-third of the total value of motor vehicles exported from Germany actually comes from other countries; nearly 40% of the total value of China’s electronics exports come from foreign sources.
While conventional trade data suggests that services represent less than one-quarter of total trade, on a value-added basis services trade reaches an average 50% of OECD countries’ exports.
It is in fact well above that in the USA, the UK, France, Germany and Italy – in large part because services add significant value to manufacturing output.
The Norfolk Chamber are at thethe Norfolk Catering and Hospitality Expo 2013 held at the Norfolk Showground. As Partners of Norfolk Expo the Chamber is here to show our support for all the Norfolk Businesses in these sectors.
The one stop trade only show for anyone working in or supplying to the hospitality and catering sectors in Norfolk and the East Anglian Region.
With over 150 stands, a restaurant and a demonstration stage offering a full programme of events for the trade this is a chance to celebrate the £2.6bn of business the industry generates in the area.
Many Norfolk Chamber Members are exhibiting here as well. Full information on the vent can be found here:https://www.norfolkexpo.co.uk/