Chamber News

On Saturday evening the Prime Minister announced new restrictions from Thursday 05 November.  He advised that Covid-19 cases were rising rapidly across the whole of the UK and in other countries and he must act now to control the spread of the virus.

The new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December.  At the end of the period, the government will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.

Mr Johnson advised that complying with the new measures will help limit the spread of coronavirus, reduce the impact on the NHS and save lives. They will be underpinned by law which will make clear about what you must and must not do from 5 November. The relevant authorities, including the police, will have powers to enforce the law – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

This will all be debated and voted on in Westminster on Wednesday.

Find out how these restrictions may impact on your business:

Contents

1.     1. Stay at home

2.     2. Staying safe outside the home (Social Distancing)

3.     3. Meeting with family and friends

4.     4. Businesses and venues

5.     5. Weddings, civil partnerships, religious services and funerals

6.     6. Going to work

7.     7. Going to school, college and university

8.     8. Childcare and children’s activities

9.     9. Protecting people more at risk from coronavirus

10.  10. Visiting relatives in care homes

11.  11. Travel

12.  12. Financial support

The new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December. At the end of the period, the government will look to return to a regional approach, based on the latest data.

Complying with the new measures will help limit the spread of coronavirus, reduce the impact on the NHS and save lives. They will be underpinned by law which will make clear about what you must and must not do from 5 November. The relevant authorities, including the police, will have powers to enforce the law – including through fines and dispersing gatherings.

Commenting on the announcement, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:

There’s no getting around the fact that these new restrictions will be a devastating blow to business communities who have done everything in their power to adapt and operate safely. 

 “Business and market confidence have been hit hard by the unclear, stop-start approach taken by government over the past eight months, with little end in sight.

“Many firms are in a much weaker position now than at the start of the pandemic, making it far more challenging to survive extended closures or demand restrictions. 

“The temporary extension of the furlough scheme will bring short-term relief to many firms, and it responds to Chambers’ call for business support to be commensurate with the scale of the restrictions imposed. While there is no substitute for a functioning economy, the full financial support package for businesses facing hardship, whether through loss of demand or closure, must immediately be clarified and communicated. Sustained help must be available to employers, to the self-employed and to the many businesses and individuals that have not been able to access any of the government’s schemes to date.   

“The Government must not squander the time afforded to them through another lockdown to enable mass testing and fix Test and Trace systems – which hold the key to a lasting exit strategy for both public health and the economy. 

“Norfolk Chambers will be examining the detail of new restrictions and support carefully over the coming days, together with Chamber business leaders across the whole of the UK.  Our business community will judge them on whether they are clear and evidence-based – and on whether businesses are able to see when these restrictions may come to an end.” 

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is set to end on 31 October 2020 and in recognising the ongoing impact Coronavirus is having on businesses, the UK government announced the launch of the Job Support Scheme (JSS) to take affect from 1 November 2020 to last for 6 months. The JSS applies to current staff whether previously been on furlough or not and requires them to be retained on shorter hours by agreement.

The criteria for this scheme significantly differs from the CJRS and on 22 October 2020 the UK government announced new JSS Open and JSS Closed schemes.

JSS Open will help reduce the financial cost to the employer in employing employees who would otherwise be at risk of redundancies and thus increasing the cost to the UK government. It is aimed at the protection of viable jobs in businesses who can operate safely but are facing lower demand over the winter period due to Coronavirus to avoid mass redundancies

JSS Closed will apply where the employer has been legally required to close the premises as a direct result of Coronavirus restrictions set by one or more of the four UK governments

Norfolk Chambers along with our colleagues at Quest, have developed Job Support Scheme (JSS) FAQs which will be updated as further information becomes available.

From 1 January 2021, there will be a series of guaranteed changes that businesses need to make.

Many of these changes will be required regardless of the agreement the UK reaches with the EU on our future trade relationship, as the UK will be leaving the single market and customs union.

You need to check what will change for your business from 1 January 2021 and take action now, to ensure you are not at risk.

The UK Government has put together a checklist of actions that are relevant to your sector to help you to start identifying what your business needs to do.   They have provided a summary for each action, explaining why your business needs to act and where you can find further information.

New Anglia Enterprise Advisor Network are looking for employers to create a short video (maximum of 10 mins) about their organisation and the jobs/roles that could be available for students leaving school. The videos will be used during tutor times and school assemblies to help widen students awareness of different employers and jobs.

Below are some questions to help guide businesses when creating their video:

Introduction

• Who are you?
• Where do you work/what is your job/role?
• What skills/qualifications are important for your job?
• Interesting/fun fact about you?

Education background

• What school did you go to?
• What subjects did you choose and why?
• Who was your favourite teacher and why?

Career Path

• What did you do when you left school (what was the journey to get to your role)?
• What do you love most about your role?
• What progression is there within your role?

Hints/tips

• If you could give your younger self one piece of advice when at school what would it be?
• What has been the most valuable learning during your career?

If you have any questions, or wish to submit at video, contact Ashley Ruthven – Senior Enterprise Coordinator: ashley.ruthven@newanglia.co.uk

This week businesses are being urged not to get caught out by new rules at the end of the Brexit transition period by both the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove. But what does that mean for your business?

At present businesses have free movement of their goods into/out of Europe, however on 01 January 2021, you will need to produce international trade documentation for all your products both imported and exported to/from the EU.

Whether you are an importer or an exporter, deal or no deal, you will need to do things differently from 01 January 2021 and that means you need to step up your Brexit preparations now, to ensure you are fully ready to meet the coming changes.

To ensure that your business is ready to meet the new UK import/export regulations on 01 January 2021, you need to have considered the following ten key areas:

1. Do you have an EORI number starting with GB?
2. Who is currently moving your freight and who do you currently use to process your customs declarations?
3. Who’s currently holding the liability for your declarations? (direct/indirect representation)
4. Do you have an international team?  What is the level of expertise in that team?
5.  When did you last review or check your commodity/tariff codes?
6. What is the likely volume of your imports/exports from the EU?
7. Which ports/airports do you use?
8. Do you have your own deferment account with HMRC?
9. Are your imported goods liable for excise duty?
10. Do your import/export goods require licences, health certificates or dangerous goods notifications?

Norfolk Chambers has also been gearing up to meet the expected demand from these changes.  We now have trained expert Chamber Customs staff to provide both support and advice, as well as the processing of customs declarations for both import and exports.

It is expected that in early 2021, there is likely to be considerable constraints on the capacity for processing customs documentation across the whole of the UK.  As such, we are encouraging you now to make sure you are prepared to meet the challenge of Brexit. 

Depending on your preparations, we may be able to offer you the opportunity to secure some of Norfolk Chambers’ processing capacity for your customs declarations.

To secure your capacity, we will need some detailed information about your importing and exporting needs and we will need to ‘on-board’ you into the Chamber Customs system.

To find out more about securing Customs Declaration capacity for your business, please contact:

Andrea Wilson            Andrea.wilson@norfolkchambers.co.uk

Julie Austin                 Julie.austin@norfolkchambers.co.uk

Nova Fairbank            Nova.fairbank@norfolkchambers.co.uk

Or call: 01603 625977

Please find attached the new July to September 2020 edition of the Norfolk Economic Intelligence Report.

In this quarter’s issue you can read about:

• Page One: £2.225m Tourism Sector Support Package:  Great Yarmouth Operations and Maintenance Campus
• Page Two: Norfolk Economic Snapshot
• Page Three: Internet of Things (IoT) Network Launch:  Cybersecurity events:  Rise! A recovery conference for food and drink producers: Agri Food Intelligence and Feasibility Research
• Page Four: Planning for the Future:  Transport East
• Page Five: Recruit – Retain – Reward:  Agri-food – Developing Skills Provision
• Page Six: Bid Writing Workshops

The Norfolk Economic Intelligence Report is produced by the Growth and Development team at Norfolk County Council, and reflects economic activity in Norfolk during these last three months.

Commenting on the Chancellor’s announcement of further support for businesses and jobs as Coronavirus restrictions increase, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:

“This is a very significant improvement in the support available to businesses struggling with the impact of increasing restrictions across the UK.

“Chambers have been campaigning for greater support for businesses experiencing big falls in demand as a result of new restrictions, and a number of the steps announced today, including the lowering of employer contributions and the number of hours worked needed to qualify for the scheme, respond directly to our calls.

“Backdated grants for hospitality firms in tier two and enhanced grants for the self-employed will go some way to alleviating pressure on many of those who have been particularly vulnerable to the economic impact of the pandemic.

“Chambers have called for support to be truly commensurate with the restrictions imposed on businesses as part of our five tests for Coronavirus measures. The true test of these reforms will be whether they help businesses on the ground get through the difficult months ahead. Chambers of Commerce will continue to work with the Treasury to ensure that support is responsive and preserves businesses and livelihoods.” 

Also commenting on Rishi Sunak’s announcement today, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:

“Whilst Norfolk remains in the lowest Tier – Medium Risk and therefore does not currently qualify, we do welcome the availability of additional support, should Norfolk’s risk increase and further restrictions.  We are particularly pleased that our hospitality and leisure sector and the self-employed have also been given more support.”

Commenting on the launch of the government’s ‘time is running out’ campaign, urging businesses to prepare for the end of the transition period, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:

“Facing the triple threat of a resurgent Coronavirus, tightening restrictions and a disorderly end to the transition period, it is little wonder businesses are struggling to prepare. Many firms will be tired of posturing, cliff edges and deadlines, while others are still grappling with fundamental challenges as a result of the pandemic.

“More businesses will undoubtedly step up preparations for change over the coming weeks, but many are still facing unanswered Brexit questions that have a big impact on their day to day operations.

“A UK-EU deal is still both possible and critically important.  No matter what happens, businesses will have to change. But we need a deal that supports businesses and jobs, and final clarity over what changes they must make.”

In a letter to the Prime Minister, British Chambers of Commerce Director General, Dr Adam Marshall, BCC President Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith and Chamber CEOs from across the United Kingdom set five business tests that must be met to limit the impact of Coronavirus restrictions on businesses and jobs and take a long-term approach to tackling the pandemic.

The letter from the Accredited Chamber Network – which collectively represents 75,000 firms of all sizes and sectors across the UK employing nearly six million people​ – comes following a week of increasing, regionally tiered restrictions, with more severe ‘circuit breaker’ restrictions under consideration, as the country battles a second wave of the pandemic.

Dr Marshall, Baroness McGregor-Smith and the Chamber Chief Executives challenge the Prime Minister to meet five business tests for current and prospective Coronavirus restrictions:

1. Are the restrictions evidence-based and targeted effectively?
2. Are the restrictions clear and do businesses have time to prepare? 
3. Is support for businesses commensurate with the impact on them? 
4. Will the time that the restrictions are in place be used to significantly improve the Test, Trace and Isolate system? 
5. Is there a clear process for increasing and decreasing restrictions? 

The letter reads: “While the recent announcement of an enhanced Job Support Scheme will assist some firms, Chamber members tell us it will not be enough to stave off mass redundancies and business failures.” 

There is also a clear warning that improving the government’s ailing test and trace system is the only way to get a grip on the virus over the long term and prevent economic paralysis. The letter reads: “The need for additional restrictions cannot be blamed on a lack of care by hardworking people in businesses across the country. Instead it represents a failure of the Test and Trace system, which must be urgently improved and expanded.”

Chambers are clear about the consequences of not meeting the tests. The letter continues: “These tests must be met – to avoid serious damage to business and consumer confidence, and potentially catastrophic economic consequences. We must preserve our economy in the immediacy, while also laying the foundations of future growth. Failure to do so will undermine any broader efforts to ‘level up’ left-behind parts of the UK.”

The letter concludes: “The Coronavirus is not going away anytime soon. The government must waste no more time in setting out a clear strategy to keep the economy functioning, while protecting public health over the long term.”

On 31 October, the Government’s Furlough Scheme comes to an end.  On 9 October, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak announced further support for businesses.

The Job Support Scheme is designed to protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to Covid-19, to help keep their employees attached to the workforce. The scheme will open on 1 November 2020 and run for 6 months.

The company will continue to pay its employee for time worked, but the cost of hours not worked will be split between the employer, the Government (through wage support) and the employee (through a wage reduction), and the employee will keep their job.

The Government will pay a third of hours not worked up to a cap, with the employer also contributing a third. This will ensure employees earn a minimum of 77% of their normal wages, where the Government contribution has not been capped.

Employers using the Job Support Scheme will also be able to claim the Job Retention Bonus if they meet the eligibility criteria.

• Job Support Scheme will be expanded to support businesses across the UK required to close their premises due to coronavirus restrictions
• government will pay two thirds of employees’ salaries to protect jobs over the coming months
• cash grants for businesses required to close in local lockdowns also increased to up to £3,000 per month

Under the expansion, firms whose premises are legally required to shut for some period over winter as part of local or national restrictions will receive grants to pay the wages of staff who cannot work – protecting jobs and enabling businesses to reopen quickly once restrictions are lifted.

The government will support eligible businesses by paying two thirds of each employees’ salary (or 67%), up to a maximum of £2,100 a month.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, said:

“Throughout the crisis the driving force of our economic policy has not changed.  I have always said that we will do whatever is necessary to protect jobs and livelihoods as the situation evolves.  The expansion of the Job Support Scheme will provide a safety net for businesses across the UK who are required to temporarily close their doors, giving them the right support at the right time.”

Under the scheme, employers will not be required to contribute towards wages and only asked to cover NICS and pension contributions, a very small proportion of overall employment costs. It is estimated that around half of potential claims are likely not to incur employer NICs or auto-enrolment pension contributions and so face no employer contribution.

Businesses will only be eligible to claim the grant while they are subject to restrictions and employees must be off work for a minimum of seven consecutive days.

The scheme will begin on 1 November and will be available for six months, with a review point in January. In line with the rest of the JSS, payments to businesses will be made in arrears, via a HMRC claims service that will be available from early December. Employees of firms that have been legally closed in the period before 1 November are eligible for the CJRS.

The scheme is UK wide and the UK Government will work with the devolved administrations to ensure the scheme operates effectively across all four nations.

In addition to the expansion of the JSS, the government is making the Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme more generous so that businesses in England can receive up to £3,000 per month, and are eligible for payment sooner, after only two weeks of closure rather than three.

This week, the prime minister, Boris Johnson has announced a new three-tier system of restrictions in England to try to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Every area will be classified as being on medium, high or very high alert – tiers one, two and three.

Level 1 – Medium Risk

Baseline, mimimum restictions applicable to all of England

Fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 of population.

Areas with the lowest rates of infection will be placed in Tier One. They will face the basic national rules currently in force.

The rule of six applies, which means that you may not meet in a group of more than six people, indoors or outdoors.

There are some exemptions to this rule, such as if you live in a household of more than six people or if you are in a support bubble, which allows a household with only one adult in it to join up with another household of any size.

When meeting people from other households (people you do not live with) you should stay two metres apart if possible, or one metre while taking extra precautions, such as wearing face coverings.

Face coverings must be worn in various places indoors such as in shops and on public transport. You should also wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds.

Also in Tier One, pubs, bars and restaurants all have to close at 22:00.

Level 2 – High Risk

Triggers when a rise in transmission cannot be contained through local responses

Cases above 100 per 100,000.

The rules for Tier One also apply in Tier Two.

In addition, you are not allowed to meet socially with people you do not live with indoors. That includes in private homes, pubs or restaurants.

People in support bubbles can go on meeting as before and informal childcare may also be provided.

You can still meet friends and family outdoors, but only in a group of up to six people.

Level 3 – Very High Risk

Triggered when Level 2 measures have not contained the virus, or where there has been a significant rise in transmission

Significantly higher transmission rates

Tier Three is where areas with the most rapidly rising transmission of coronavirus will be placed.

There are basic restrictions and there may be further measures agreed for particular areas – the government said it would work with local councils on the additional measures.

In Tier Three areas you are not allowed to meet socially with anybody who is not part of your household or your support bubble indoors or in certain outdoor locations.

You cannot meet in private gardens or pub gardens, but you are allowed to meet in parks, beaches, countryside or forests, as long as you are not in a group of more than six.

Pubs and bars will be closed unless they are serving substantial meals and only serving alcohol with meals.

The majority of areas in England are on the lowest level, Tier 1, however areas of Lancashire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, the Midlands and the North East are currently in Tier 2, High Risk and at present just the Liverpool City region is facing Tier 3, Very High Risk.

We are excited to share with you that Apprenticeships Norfolk, in collaboration with UEA, have launch a new research survey looking specifically at the higher skills needs of businesses across Norfolk and the resulting demand for Higher & Degree Apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are a great route for attracting high calibre recruits to your business and to upskill your existing workforce. With generous levels of Government subsidy (fully-funded in some instances), they can provide your organisation and employees with the essential training needed to aid your business plans and support your growth ambitions.

Please click here to complete the survey! We would also like to invite you to share the survey with your employer networks across Norfolk.

The electronic survey is quick to complete and shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.

Below are some answers to the most frequently asked questions:

• The survey is open to any business with higher skills needs in Norfolk – the more responses the better as it will help to identify gaps in higher/degree apprenticeships in terms of supply/demand.
• Employers can be levy or non-levy size – doesn’t matter!
• Your organisation can complete the survey as well as forward/promote to other businesses or networks.
• You are able to include the blurb & link in your social media/publications to businesses eg: newsletters.
• The survey will be open for October – so plenty of time to get out far and wide.

Thank you for taking the time to complete/share this survey and helping to inform the future of Apprenticeships in Norfolk.