Chamber News

Commenting on the Montague Report on housing, published today, Jonathan Cage, Managing Director, Create Consulting Engineers Ltd and Chair of the Norfolk Chamber Planning group said:

“The housing market has had little or no government support since the start of the recession unlike other industries, instead it has knuckled down, reshaped and amazingly is ready to meet the challenges as we come out of recession. The last few years has lead to the shortage in houses being constructed dropping further behind the required targets, the whole industry now needs to push forward with confidence to start delivering the much needed housing required in the UK. We now need the recent planning reforms to work, along with the release of funding for developments and motivated land owners. This coupled with a more positive, realistic outlook from the planning authorities will enable the regions house building industry to get on, delivering a quick and much needed boost to the economy.

Paul Clarke from Bidwells said:

“This is a further Government report that confirms how important housebuilding is to contributing to economic growth, and how how as a nation we never meet our housing requirement. The key element to this report is the importance of the private rented sector which could provide high quality accommodation. This form of development could provide flexible accommodation to allow potential employees to take up jobs – the difficulty will be reinvigorating this part of the housing market when financing is not readily geared for it. There remains an inertia in the development system and it fundamentally relates to access to finance. If major investors such as Aviva want to invest in building in the residential market, rather than stocks and shares, then this could help. We can continue to modify and amend the planning system, however, unless landowners are incentivised to release land/buildings, and developers/investors can see an ability to make profit through the delivery of housing, the residential market will remain stalled.

The move in tenure from owner-occupied to private-rented is significant and the ‘Englishman’s home is his castle’ remains a fundamental part of our psyche. It may be long overdue given that the bias in most other European countries is towards private rented. It is important, however, to recognise that an ability for potential employees to take up jobs wherever they may be is vital to a revived and more balenced economy. “

Steve Lucas from paul robinson partnership (uk) llp commented:

“The suggestion of councils to consider relaxing requirements for developers to build affordable social accommodation as well as private housing would seem on the face of it a sensible approach. The housing sector, in particular, is in dire need of invigoration and offering prospective developers the opportunity to maximize their returns could provide the kick-start that is needed. However, yet more ‘tinkering’ with planning policy could, in the short term, actually stall impending housing projects as developers postpone decisions whilst awaiting the outcome of potential legislative changes.”

Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber commented:

“A housing market that doesn’t deliver the right number of homes, in the right place, at the right price and of the right quality, has a negative impact on business. Studies show that high housing costs cause labour shortages, especially when companies try to recruit workers in high-cost areas at the lower end of the pay scale. Furthermore, a poorly-functioning housing market may force employees to live further away from their place of work which drives up congestion along key routes and is bad for the environment.

“A better functioning private rented sector is essential to improving the Norfolk housing market particularly at a time when the high cost of housing puts home ownership beyond the reach of many. We welcome the measures contained in the Montague Report to improve the private-rented sector, but these measures will not be enough on their own to radically improve the supply of new homes across the country.

“A poorly designed planning system and availability of land has for too long prevented development and growth. We would like a firm commitment from the government to increase the amount of available land, which will go some way to delivering new and much-needed housing. In some cases, it may be necessary to review the greenbelt status of land with little amenity value, which could be better used to provide jobs and homes. At a time when the economy is stagnating, it is vital that the government does everything possible to unlock house building which will in turn, boost much-needed growth in the Norfolk economy.”

The Norfolk Chambers fashion based business networking event, Look the Business, was a resounding success with delegates enjoying the combination of fashion, networking and the story of John Lewis’ s business success.

Starting with an insightful presentation from Selling Operations Manager of John Lewis Norwich, Lesley George highlighting the culture of the company and how its past has helped to shape its future. Lesley also explained the benefits of being a partner in a co-owned business and John Lewis ‘the brand’.

Then the experts from Clarins provided a demonstration into basic skin care and beauty tips for business, and the fashion team and personal shoppers demonstrated how to achieve the ultimate capsule wardrobe by carefully selecting accessories to create different looks. Our models for the evening were both members of Chamber staff, Louis & Nova, who kindly volunteered to be part of the event.

There was also a competition to win a Clarins hamper worth over £100, with the prize being scooped by Josie Hustler from Lexia Media. With the event drawing to a close with some free networking or shopping time.

The format of the sell out event certainly went down well with attendees, with some great testimonials on twitter:The Norfolk Chambers fashion based business networking event, Look the Business, was a resounding success with delegates enjoying the combination of fashion, networking and the story of John Lewis’ s business success.

Starting with an insightful presentation from Selling Operations Manager of John Lewis Norwich, Lesley George highlighting the culture of the company and how its past has helped to shape its future. Lesley also explained the benefits of being a partner in a co-owned business and John Lewis ‘the brand’.

Then the experts from Clarins provided a demonstration into basic skin care and beauty tips for business, and the fashion team and personal shoppers demonstrated how to achieve the ultimate capsule wardrobe by carefully selecting accessories to create different looks. Our models for the evening were both members of Chamber staff, Louis & Nova, who kindly volunteered to be part of the event.

There was also a competition to win a Clarins hamper worth over £100, with the prize being scooped by Josie Hustler from Lexia Media. With the event drawing to a close with some free networking or shopping time.

The format of the sell out event certainly went down well with attendees, with some great testimonials on twitter:

Photos from the event are available to view on the Norfolk ChambersFacebookandGoogle Pluspage.

• July 2012 retail sales volume up 0.3% on the month, up 2.8% on the year
• Annual high street inflation slowed to 0.2% in June, the lowest since 2009

Commenting on the retails sales figures for July 2012, Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“UK Retail sales made modest but satisfactory progress in July, with the monthly increase higher than expected. The 2.8% annual increase in retail sales volumes supports our belief that some of the pessimism surrounding the recent performance of the UK economy is unwarranted. This figure provides hope that in the third quarter of the year we will see some recovery in economic activity. There is no doubt that retails sales across Norfolk can be patchy but the success of the Norwich BID and the stream of national names heading from Norfolk demonstrates our continued retail strength. We have a lot of talented retailers in Norfolk and we need to ensure that they are supported especially those in the independent sector who are finding the current economic situation particularly challenging.

“The further decline in high street inflation is also welcome news. This will support disposable incomes and consumer spending, at a time when austerity and the eurozone crisis continue to put the economy under pressure.

“Despite the positive job market figures published this week, it is clear economic growth in the UK is still far too weak. We will continue to encourage the government do much more to help businesses to grow and create jobs at a time when the public sector continues to shrink.

“We need to see more measures to boost Norfolk infrastructure and strengthen the construction sector, alongside forceful deregulation and moves towards the creation of a state-backed business bank. It is also important to ensure that the Funding for Lending scheme is made to work effectively so that credit-worthy businesses are able to grow. We are working with our Business and Finance Group (BFC) made up of the key financial businesses banks and accountants to monitor what is happening in Norfolk

Commenting after the release of A-level grades for 2012, Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said, said:

“We offer our congratulations to Norfolk students who have achieved their goals at A-level.

“Business will welcome the fact that the constant grade inflation seen in previous years has finally been constrained. Companies tell us that they have had a hard time assessing the skills and abilities of job candidates with A-level passes, to the point that only 29% of businesses surveyed in 2011 felt very or fairly confident in hiring a school-leaver with A-level qualifications. An end to grade inflation will improve business confidence in the qualifications achieved by young people.

Business will welcome the fact that the constant grade inflation seen in previous years has finally been constrained

“Yet it’s not all about A-levels and university. With university tuition fees rising and many young people looking for alternatives to higher education, business wants to see more media attention and investment in further education and vocational training.. Norfolk businesses including smaller businesses have a real opportunity to take advantage of the new apprenticeship schemes available to them to ‘train their own’. Norfolk Chamber have recently taken on 2 higher level apprentices and they are very quickly adding real value to the business at the same time as they are gaining valuable work experience.

“From September, schools will have a new duty to secure independent careers advice for students but they do need the business community to work with them to ensure the information is up-to-date and relevant to our long term needs.. Norfolk Chamber members are committed to work closely with the education sector to ensure that vocational options, including apprenticeships, are given as much attention as the option of going to university.”

We have been informed by the Egyptian-British Chamber of Commerces that their certification charges for documents, haveincreased slightly with effect from 1st August 2012.

The new total costs for documents, including Vat, are now:

Certificate of Origin (Original) – Members: £130.10, Non-Members: £160.10

Certificate of Origin (Copy) – Members: £124.10, Non-Members: £154.10

Invoice/Other Document (Original) – Members: £128.90, Non-Members: £158.90

Invoice/Other Document (Copy) – Members: £122.90, Non-Members: £152.90

Please note that payment for these documents would be required in advance, as the certification andlegalisation in London has to be paid at the time of stamping.

The Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic has recently announced changes to the requirements of legalisation of documents with effect from 9th August 2012.

Please see the official notification received from the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

The Middle East Association will be taking a Trade Mission to Egypt from 3rd to 8th November. It will visit Cairo and Alexandria.

The mission will be multi-sector but will have an emphasis on:

• Education and Training
• Financial Services
• Oil and Gas
• Power and Renewable Energy

Other key market sectors in Egypt include Construction & Infrastructure, Environment & Water, ICT and Retail.

Please click here for more information.

The International Trade Team at Norfolk Chamber is delighted to offer a new Training Service from January 2013.

Through our linkage with the British Chambers of Commerce, 6 x Level 2 (VQ Terminology) courses have been identified, which form an export curriculum that provides invaluable basic skills for small and large companies alike.

Candidates will have to demonstrate knowledge of the subject and their performance will be marked by external examiners on the completion of each module.

Successful candidates will receive a certificate; completing all six courses will result in the candidate achieving a nationally recognised Foundation Award in Exporting.

These courses are suitable for both experienced exporters and those with no previous knowledge of exporting.

The 6 course titles include:

• Understanding Exports
• Methods of Payment
• Export Documentation
• Incoterms® 2010
• Letters of Credit
• Import Procedures

These new courses will replace the existing courses that Norfolk Chamber has been delivering for many, many years although, they are very similar.

Click here for further information.

The courses will still be delivered by our trusted and accredited trainer Mike Strawson, who has been working with us for years. Those of you who have attended our courses will know that Mike has an incredible knack of delivering the content in such a crystal clear manner, delegates walk away with a sound understanding of the subject.

A new version of the Export Control Organisation’s current Training Bulletin is now available.

The Bulletin includes details of all forthcoming ECO seminars and workshops taking place from September to December 2012 (along with an attached course booking form at the bottom of the bulletin). Courses are scheduled to be held during the next few months in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Nottingham, Oxford and London.

The schedule includes a briefing session on the implementation of the Intra-Community Transfer Directive concerning military goods and a seminar on Ministry of Defence procedures (eg F680 procedures).

These courses are all designed to increase your understanding of UK strategic export controls and what your responsibilities are when exporting controlled items. All courses are delivered by UK government experts working within the UK’s Export Licensing Community.

Click here for more information.

Ahead of the launch of the Green Deal in the autumn the government has announced that a £7m loan will be made available to The Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC). Green Deal Providers will be able to access finance through TGDFC, enabling them to offer finance packages to consumers to improve their homes and for businesses to become more energy efficient. The scheme is also being considered as an early source of funding for infrastructure guarantees. Infrastructure guarantees will provide backing for major UK infrastructure projects and could potentially support up to £40 billion of investment. Details include:

• £7m loan to The Green Deal Finance Company to help ensure it is ready to offer finance to Green Deal Providers in early 2013
• HM Treasury announces that Green Deal will be an early candidate for the use of infrastructure guarantees
• Green Deal registration opens today allowing organisations to begin the Green Deal authorisation process
• The new Green Deal Quality Mark will show who is authorised and protect consumers

A £7m loan from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to The Green Deal Finance Company (TGDFC) has been agreed today that will allow TGDFC to continue developing its offer of low cost finance, expected to be available early in 2013. Green Deal Providers will be able to access finance through TGDFC, enabling them to offer low cost finance packages to consumers upgrading their homes under the Green Deal.

The Green Deal is also being considered as an early candidate for the use of infrastructure guarantees, Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, announced today. This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to working with the private sector to provide finance at a low but sustainable cost to Green Deal customers. Infrastructure guarantees will provide guarantees for major UK infrastructure projects and could potentially support up to £40 billion of investment.

From today, the register for Green Deal Providers, Assessors and Installers will also open. The register will give the seal of approval to businesses that successfully go through the Green Deal authorisation process.

All authorised Green Deal Providers, Assessors and Installers will have to display the new Green Deal Quality Mark to demonstrate they comply with the required Green Deal standards. This will be vital for protecting customers from any rogue traders. Only registered and authorised businesses will be able to use this mark.

The government has announced the results of its energy red tape challenge initiative. The package will see the scrapping of 86 regulations and improvements to 48 regulatory regimes. According to government estimates the package, alongside other measures, will save businesses around £400 million over the next 20 years. Most of the measures contained in the package relate to minor or out of date regulations. An announcement on the future of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, a current regulation that seriously burdens businesses, is due in the autumn.

As part of a drive to cut red tape burdens, Minister of State for Energy, Charles Hendry, has announced the scrapping of 86 regulations and a further 48 improved regulatory regimes, whilst keeping protections as strong as ever. Coupled with other reforms, DECC’s overall reform package is estimated to deliver businesses savings worth around £400 million over the next 20 years.

Minister of State for Energy, Charles Hendry, said:

“Energy is vital to the economy and essential to driving growth. It is also the biggest infrastructure sector in the UK. Our reforms aim to stimulate over £100bn of new investment in the electricity sector and could support around 250,000 total jobs in electricity to 2030.

“It is therefore vital that we have a regulatory regime which promotes fairness and consumer and environmental protection, but does not impose unnecessary costs or barriers to generating the necessary investment, innovation and skills we need to build the low carbon economy.

“The Red Tape Challenge has provided the opportunity to ensure we continue to meet these objectives. We have listened to our stakeholders as they suggested regulations which add cost or complexity without effectively leading to protections, and I am pleased to announce that DECC will scrap or improve 134 regulations.”

Supporting today’s announcement, Terry A’Hearn, Regulation Lead of the Aldersgate Group said:

“We welcome the Government’s work in cutting back excessive and outdated regulation, whilst ensuring that protection of our environment remains as strong as ever.

“Smart regulation corrects market failures, drives innovation and provides the foundation for long-term economic growth, jobs and competitiveness and we congratulate DECC’s recognition of the importance of prioritising these long-term outcomes.”

• Annual producer output inflation down from 2.0% in June, to 1.7% in July
• Annual producer input inflation up from -3.0% in June, to -2.4% in July

Commenting on the producer price figures for July 2012, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The producer price figures are positive overall. Output inflation has decelerated steadily since last September, and the annual rate is at its lowest since 2009. Input inflation has risen in July, but the annual rate is still in negative territory. The figures do highlight some worrying upward pressures on prices, in particular the impact of the US drought on food prices.

“We expect consumer price inflation to continue falling over the next year, which will be good news for the economy. In the face of tough fiscal austerity at home and difficult problems in the eurozone, falling inflation will be key in easing pressures on disposable incomes and underpinning demand in the economy.

“The Monetary Policy Committee should not use additional QE to limit the fall in inflation. In recent years UK inflation has consistently been above the 2% target. A temporary period of inflation lower than this level in 2013 would benefit the economy and should not be resisted. Meanwhile the economic situation remains difficult and businesses as well as consumers are facing major challenges. While the government perseveres with its deficit reduction plan it should act more forecefully to create the right conditions for businesses to grow, through deregulation, and supporting business lending and exports.