Chamber News

The New Anglia Green Economy Business Conference will celebrate innovative businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk that lead many fields in low carbon, energy and environmental businesses, products and services. Businesses attending will have the opportunity to hear key note speakers, to do business with other businesses in a “Carbon Dating” fair, to exhibit their businesses and to take part in focus groups that develop further collaboration, branding and innovation.

This exciting event will take place on Thursday March 7th at Wherstead Park, just outside Ipswich in Suffolk. Please save the date, booking information will be sent to you early in the New Year.

The nationally recognised work being undertaken by businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk to develop the green economy has been profiled in a national pathfinder backed by government, the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, the Suffolk and Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils and the Environment Agency.

The Green Economy Pathfinder Manifesto was launched in 2012 in the Houses of Parliament. It shows that effective transition to a sustainable economy can boost economic recovery, create jobs, increase resource security and help to make the UK more globally competitive.

The Sustainability 2013 conference on 8 May 2013 at John Innes Centre Norwich will highlight many of the achievements of the Green Pathfinder. The key note speaker at this conference will be Energy Minister John Hayes MP.

The Bank of England Agents’ Summary for December 2012 has now been published. The key headlines were:

• Subdued demand and intense competition, which restricted prices, ensured that business services growth remained modest
• Annual manufacturing output remained marginally negative, although production for export outperformed the domestic markets
• Construction output continued to decline through 2012
• Positive investment intentions can be seen within the manufacturing and service sectors
• Manufacturing and service sectors are operating below normal levels of capacity utilisation
• Labour costs per employee increased in both manufacturing and service sectors

• Share of £70m boost to help reinforce regional export growth

Latest figures released by HM Revenue & Customs show that the East of England leads the way nationally in the growth of exports to countries outside the European Union, with a 19.4 per cent rise in the year to September 2012 at £11.5 billion – accounting for an increasing 42 per cent of the region’s overall exports.

The figures show that the region’s trade with countries such as the USA, China, Hong Kong, Australia, the Middle East and other parts of Asia is growing strongly. Exports to many of these markets are enjoying double digit growth e.g. exports to USA up 18.1%, Hong Kong up 38% as companies seek new business in high growth markets.

The region is also set to share in the benefits of an extra £70 million funding for UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) announced in the Autumn Statement to help deliver a package of support to get more companies exporting.

UKTI in the East of England has urged the region’s firms to take up the export for growth challenge and follow in the footsteps of others such as Ipswich-based engineering firm Siderise (Special Products) Ltd.

Launched in 1972, the company, which produces innovative acoustic and thermal insulation products, has seen its exports double last year thanks the help of UKTI programmes including Passport to Export and Gateway to Global Growth (G3).

This success prompted Sales Director Philip Mohan to request a market research report outlining potential business in the US sports boat industry. Philip said:

“Working with UKTI has given us additional confidence in approaching overseas markets. UKTI has been very supportive and we have come to realise that there is nothing quite like having somebody on the ground.

“Looking forward, UKTI intelligence has shown us there is good potential business to be pursued in the US market for marine leisure. We are also planning on hiring additional staff to help us build double digit growth every year in our export business over the next five years and UKTI is sure to have a role to play!”

According to the latest quarterly figures, overall exports from the East of England are up 3 per cent in the year to September 2012. This is due to a 6.3 per cent dip in exports to European countries when compared to the same period last year.

Another East of England company taking steps to maximise exports is Norwich-based educational consultancy Boosted Education. Founded by Dr George Forster, a former health authority Chief Executive, the company repositioned themselves and are now doing all their work internationally. Having developed a number of science centres around the UK the company contacted UKTI to help them develop their business overseas.

George Forster comments,

“I knew of UKTI and was adamant that that must be our first approach, as we wanted people who knew the patch and could help us market ourselves.We joined the Gateway programme, and very quickly, things took off and we found ourselves contracted by the Science Centre in Singapore to develop an exhibition about the human body.”

They are now working to develop content for another major project”We found out very recently that we now have a £2.5 million contract in Hong Kong to redevelop the province’s Space Centre,” George said. “It will give youngsters a great opportunity to interact on matters of the universe and space travel, and will open in 2015.”

Top export partner for the region is still Germany but regional exports to the country have dipped slightly year on year but are still valued at £3.5 billion. Trends show that the USA is set to overtake Germany as the East of England’s biggest export market in the near future. Third biggest market for the region is France and exports are up 5.7% at £2.82bn.

Elsewhere, exports to Asia and Oceania are up 16.6 per cent at £3.7 billion, while those to the Middle East are up 21 per cent at £1.1 billion. Exports to Southern Africa are up 92 per cent at £829 million. Commenting on the figures, Liz Basing, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Regional Director said:

“The East of England’s export performance remains strong with the annual total for exports of goods at £27.4 billion in the 12 months up to September 2012.

“We know we’re facing a tough time at the moment, especially when it comes to exports to Eurozone countries, so we need to continue our efforts to boost overseas business.

“That is why UKTI’s annual budget has been increased by £70 million a year for the next 2 years while £30 million has also been allocated to continue the GREAT campaign. This will enable us to deliver an ambitious package of support designed to get more SMEs exporting, help UK companies access the highest value trade opportunities and reinforce the UK as the location of choice for Europe-bound investors.

“We will be continuing to work with local companies and our many partners to encourage more East of England companies to follow in the footsteps of companies like Siderise.

“Our aim is to help meet the challenge set by Government who are looking to us to find 100,000 more exporters nationally by 2020 because by helping more companies export we help to create essential economic growth. Our Export Insight visits to European markets in the first part of 2013 will allow more companies considering exporting to learn about the support available from British Embassies in different markets to help them begin doing business overseas. For eligible companies, a nominal fee of £99 + VAT covers group travel and accommodation. See www.embltd.org.uk/ukti for more information.”

To find out more about the wide range of support services available through UK Trade & Investment to help your company succeed overseas call the UKTI East’s International Trade Team on 0845 641 9955 or visit www.UKTI.gov.uk/eastofengland

As part of this year’s Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) in November, Norfolk Chamber in conjunction with enterpriseGY ran the Pitching for Business event in Great Yarmouth.

The event was designed to enhance entrepreneurial activity across all sections of the Great Yarmouth business community. Delegates took advantage of the opportunity to learn with interactive workshops, make connections through networking and then finalised their learning by meeting and pitching to key local buyers over lunch.

The event was awarded a Global Entrepreneurship Week High Impact Event Award. Daniel Idowu, from the GEW Team said “I just wanted to thank the Norfolk Chamber and its partners for taking part in GEW this year. We encourage our partners to ensure their events are high impact and have awarded the High Impact Badge to the Norfolk Chamber and enterpriseGY in recognition of their Pitching for Business Event in Great Yarmouth.”

Monday 17th December – Normal Service Tuesday 18th December – Normal Service Wednesday 19th December – Normal Service Thursday 20th December – Normal Service Friday 21th December – Normal Service (Office closes at 4pm)

Monday 24th December – CLOSED Tuesday 25th December – CLOSED Wednesday 26th December – CLOSED Thursday 27th December – CLOSED Friday 28th December – CLOSED

Monday 31st December – CLOSED Tuesday 1st Janurary – CLOSED Wednesday 2nd Janurary – Normal Service Resumes

Norwich City Council has produced a draft Statement of community involvement and they are asking for your views on this Statement.

The Statement of community involvement (SCI) is the Norwich City Council’s code of practice on how people can expect to be involved in the planning process. It covers the production of different types of planning policy documents, and the different stages for each one. It is also concerned with how people should expect to be involved in the planning application process.

Norwich City Council’s current SCI was adopted in March 2010, however there have been significant changes to the overall planning system and the new SCI reflects the most up-to-date legislation and regulation changes. The new SCI also proposes a more streamlined approach to consultation and greater flexibility in terms of dealing with future legislation changes.

This is your opportunity to have your say. The draft document is available to view at the Planning Reception on the 2nd floor of City Hall and also in the Millennium Library at the Forum. You can also provide your feedback by completing the response form and emailing it to LDF@norwich.gov.uk.

The consultation period will end at 5pm on 19 February 2013 and all responses must be received before this time.

Now is the opportunity to have your say on EDF Energy’s early plans to build a new nuclear power station, Sizewell C.

This Stage 1 Consultation is your first opportunity to look at EDF’s initial proposals and options and give them some feedback on the work so far.

EDF Energy have produced a special consultation edition newsletter which details about the development site, the construction phases and EDF Energy’s plans for housing and transporting the large numbers of people needed to build Sizewell C. It also provides an initial outline of their aims to reduce the volume of freight on the roads by using alternative forms of freight transport.

EDF Energy will be holding public exhibitions, for you to view their plans and also to speak to EDF Energy representatives. The dates of the Public Exhibitions are listed on the attached newsletter. You can also feed directly into the consultation by completing the online questionnaire. The consultation period will close on 6 February 2013.

Commenting on the appointment of current Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney as the future Governor of the Bank of England, Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce , said:

“The new Governor of the Bank of England will take office at a crucial time for both the UK and global economies. As the Bank takes on greater supervision of Britain’s financial services sector, and in particular our major lending banks, we hope that the new Governor will focus relentlessly on supporting business growth across the UK – not just in the Square Mile.

“In particular, the new Governor must work closely with the Treasury to find ways to boost the supply of credit to new and growing businesses. We hope that Mark Carney will also play an instrumental role in bringing a British Business Bank to life – something that Canadian SMEs have benefited from for many decades.”

Train operator Greater Anglia is working with The Cloud to introduce free Wi-Fi at 100 stations across the region.

The service will be rolled out over the next few months, meaning visitors at train stations including Cambridge, Norwich and Stansted Airport will be able to access the fast, free internet connection for anything from email access to web browsing.

The project comes as Greater Anglia continues to enhance the service it offers its customers and deliver on its franchise commitments, from improved information provision to station facilities and train services.

Greater Anglia’s Customer Service Director Andrew Goodrum said: “Since taking over the franchise in February we have been focusing our efforts on improving customer service. Offering our customers free Wi-Fi is an important part of this as we recognise that the internet is a vital part of people’s everyday lives. We are seeing a huge number of passengers using mobile devices and wanted to provide them with a fast, reliable Wi-Fi so they can work, shop or browse easily. Working with The Cloud, we’ll be able to achieve this and immediately make a positive impact on our customers’ journeys.” Great Anglia manages some of the UK’s busiest stations, by using The Cloud’s free Wi-Fi, Greater Anglia customers will experience much faster browsing times than previously afforded by 3G.

Vince Russell, managing director at The Cloud, said: “By rolling out free Wi-Fi, Greater Anglia is further improving the service it provides to its customers. We have seen usage on our network increase at an unprecedented pace in the last two years, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Our unique user-base has doubled over the past 6 months showing there’s a real demand for Wi-Fi at busy high street locations and transport hubs around the UK. To keep their customers satisfied, Greater Anglia needs a fast and reliable internet connection, which The Cloud Wi-Fi will provide; ensuring each person passing through the stations can enjoy the best journey possible.”

Greater Anglia customers will see The Cloud service is available on their Wi-Fi enabled devices, which will enable them to use the Wi-Fi, for free, for one hour a day at the participating stations. BSkyB customers will have free unlimited access to the Wi-Fi at participating Greater Anglia stations.

Over 150 Norfolk businesses attended the Norfolk Chambers’ Unlocking Success Business Conference, held at OPEN on 23 November, to hear expert advice from business and industry professionals to help them ‘unlock success’ in their business – and it didn’t disappoint! Delegates comprising of the most influential business leaders from the region learnt the secrets of success from speakers who both inspired and motivated their audience.

The event was hosted by ITV Anglia’s Business Correspondent, Matthew Hudson who expertly guided the day’s packed programme of knowledgeable speakers. Delegates representing a variety of business sizes and industry sectors heard from Martyn Pellew, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, about the challenges facing the UK economy and what the BCC are doing to help businesses and stimulate growth.

Rob Mears, Managing Director of Bernard Matthews UK and Robert Ashton, The Barefoot Entrepreneur talked of unlocking success as a Norfolk business, how being based in the county has proved advantageous and how the entrepreneurial spirit is still strong for Norfolk businesses.

The delegates heard opening statements from both South West Norfolk MP, Elizabeth Truss and Shadow Minister Chi Onwurah MP. Following the statements, the delegates were asked to vote for which topic they would like the MPs to discuss. The two most popular choices, with 30% of the vote each, were ‘how do we encourage entrepreneurship among young people?’ and ‘business needs top-class infrastructure to grow – how can we address this challenge?’

Liz Truss said young people should be armed with basic skills such as mathematics and science and advised that the Government wanted to ensure that the schools had the freedom to teach in new and exciting ways and be able collaborate with local businesses at a much earlier stage to ensure the future workforce had the necessary skills. She also highlighted that funding was now in place for improving broadband and the dualling of the A11 was underway.

Chi Onwurah said the encouraging entrepreneurship in young people was absolutely key. She highlighted that this generation was the first generation not to be able to expect a better standard of living than previous generations. Young people need to be encouraged to see setting up a business as a viable option and there was a need to enthuse the education system with entrepreneurial spirit. She also advised that infrastructure was essential to creating an economic platform for investment.

The Conference closed with a internationally recognised motivational speaker and author, Mark Rhodes, who shared with delegates how he has achieved every goal he has ever set himself and how they can do the same for what they want to achieve in their business.

Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said “At a time when we hear a lot of doom and gloom it was great to be truly inspired by our speakers today about how to unlock success. The atmosphere in the room was buzzing with business being done within the networking breaks. We are so fortunate to have loyal members able and willing to sponsor these event to enable them to be able to really help the wider Norfolk business community”

The event sponsors, Norse Commercial Services and TEN Group, both agreed the conference was essential for motivation businesses in a time of austerity;

Peter Hawes, Managing Director of Norse said “Amid these highly challenging economic conditions, it is vitally important that Norfolk businesses are creative and imaginative in finding new ways of unlocking success. This conference has encouraged a spirit of enterprise, explored fresh ways of working and offered tips and advice from experts who really know what makes businesses tick. As a dynamic Norfolk-based business, a major employer and a passionate believer in the importance of innovative thinking, Norse is delighted to have played a key role in such a high-profile gathering.”

Dick Palmer, Group CEO of TEN Group said “Unlocking Success is a timely theme for all those seeking creative and effective solutions to the constraints and opportunities before us in a climate of austerity – for the established business community in Norfolk, for start-ups and entrepreneurs, as well as for those in the public and voluntary sectors.”

Norfolk County Council has recently published an infrastructure update which gives the latest news and progress on key infrastructure projects like the dualling of the A11, improvements to broadband and rail, details of the ‘Transport for Norwich’ strategy, an update on what is happening with the A47 and Norwich Airport. The highlights are given below:

A11 – Fiveways to Thetford Improvement The contractor, Birse is expected to commence on the Fiveways Roundabout in mid-January 2013. For the duration of the main works a 40mph speed limited will be in place. There will be limited capacity through the junctions for an 8 week period with diversion routes to reduce traffic levels.

The B1112 was fully closed from 15 October to 5 November to allow for junction improvements, as this will be one of the diversion routes whilst Fiveways is being upgraded.

The improvement works will also require some tree felling and the routes highlighted below will be closed overnight from 8pm until 6am on the following dates:

• B1112 to Elveden Crossroads 13 – 14 November 2012
• Elveden Crossroads to Thetford Roundabout 20 – 21 November 2012

To see the full progress of the improvements to the A11, a public exhibition will be held in Elveden Village Hall from 22 to 24 November 2012.

The overall construction duration is expected to be 20 months with a planned completion date of 2014.

Transport for Norwich Government funding of £86.5m has been secured for the Northern Distributor Road (NDR). Norfolk County Council Cabinet has approved proposals for the NDR to be a dual carriageway from Postwick to the A1067. The Postwick Hub has been given planning permission and work is due to start later in 2013, subject to the completion of a Public Inquiry into the side roads and slip roads.

Work on a range of Transport for Norwich implementation measures has begun:

Dereham Road Bus Rapid Transport Corridor: Construction works to improve the Old Palace Road junction will commence in January, following utility works.

Better Bus Area Programme: The Grapes Hill Bus Lane Consultation has been completed and a report will now be considered by the Norwich Highways Agency Committee (NHAC) on 29 November. If the proposals are successful work will commence in April 2013.

Other improvements being considered as part of the Better Bus Area programme are new electronic signage at key transport interchanges; improved interchanges between bus and rail at Norwich railway station; and bus shelter enhancements along Dereham Road / Newmarket Road.

Consultations are underway (5 November to 3 December) on the removal of general traffic from St Stephens and Surrey Street and improvements to Chapelfield North, with the results going to the NHAC in January 2013.

A47 Corridor An A47 Prospectus is due to be published this month setting out the business case for improvements. It will be launched by Norfolk MP Keith Simpson driving the Norfolk stretch of the A47 in his Union Jack mini, from the west of the county, via the Showground, to Great Yarmouth. The journey will be filmed from within the car to compile a short film giving a driver’s eye perspective of the A47. The launch has been timed to coincide with the A47 Alliance sending a delegation to Westminster to present the business case to the new Roads Minister, Stephen Hammond MP on 26 November 2012.

Work is taking place in 2012/2013 to identify improvement schemes for the A47 Thickthorn and Longwater junctions to accommodate the growth that is projected by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership’s Joint core Strategy and work is also being done with the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk to identify which junctions/links will need to be improved to accommodate growth in and around King’s Lynn.

The Government’s Pinch-Point programme provides funding for schemes that are designed to relieve congestion and spur economic growth through small-scale schemes on the trunk road network. £1.3m has been approved for the Honningham expressway. The scheme will be constructed over the next 2/3 years, although no detailed programme is available at present.

£40m of the Pinch-Point funding is still to be allocated and Norfolk County Council has submitted bids for: the A12 Beacon Park; A12 James Padget and Bridge Road, Great Yarmouth; A149 ASDA junction right turn; and improvements at the B1108/A47 Norwich Research Park junction. A decision on these schemes is expected in the New Year.

Rail Improvements The Norfolk Rail Prospectus was launched on 4 October and the event was well attended by Norfolk MPs, local businesses and stakeholders from the rail industry and local authorities. At present a consultation is ongoing until 16 November.

In July this year the Government issued a High Level Output Statement, setting out high level objectives required from rail, together with announcements about larger schemes to be delivered between 2014 and 2019. The Ely junction was included in the announcement. Norfolk County Council continues to work with the Government and the rail industry, as the detailed spending programme is drawn up by Network Rail.

Atkins have now completed their consultation work to identify how to deliver more capacity and faster journeys from Norwich, via Ipswich and Colchester to London. Work is ongoing with Essex and Suffolk County Councils and New Anglia LEP to get their recommendations included in rail investment programmes.

Better Broadband for Norfolk BT was approved as the project partner for this scheme in September 2012. The BT bid met the County Council’s ambitions of providing broadband access (a minimum of 2 megabits per second) to every property in the county and superfast (24Mbps+) to most. 83% of Norfolk properties will be able to receive superfast broadband by June 2015 – this is double the number that would be able to receive it by this date without the BT deal. BT will install an ‘open’ infrastructure – this will allow any Internet Service Provider to offer services on it and customers will have the choice of who to purchase their Broadband from. The contract is due to be signed this Autumn, with installation work beginning in Spring.

Norwich International Airport Andrew Bell, the CEO of Norwich International Airport (NIA) is looking at ways that the local business community can work with NIA to promote and increase business travel. The airport needs help to get businesses to identify needs and opportunities, as it must present robust businesses cases to airlines when trying to attract them to open new routes. Norfolk County Council will shortly launch a survey to assess current and future potential travel needs.

The recent report from the Bank of England highlights that the UK economy has barely grown over the last 2 years, as it has laboured against the consequences of the financial crisis and its impact on global demand, a sharp squeeze in domestic spending power and a necessary fiscal consolidation. To view the full report, please click here.