Chamber News

The recent Mayor’s Business Awards now in its 30th year, held at Kings Lynn’s Corn Exchange, gathered together the top local businesses of the area. These awards are a clear celebration of the hard work the business community does, and how hard they are working to achieve great things over the last year, particularly in the challenging environment. With over 250 guests attending, it’s certainly an event to add to your calendar.

Michael Baldwin, our President of the West Norfolk Chambers Council attended the event in support of the local business community. Michael gave this comment, ‘It was great to see so many inspiring businesses being represented at the Mayors Business Awards on Friday evening and shows the wealth of innovation and technology we have here in West Norfolk.  Congratulations to all involved.’

Mayor Nick Daubney highlighted and praise the strength of the businesses and opportunities given, he said “So very much has changed in that time but what remains is the sheer level of ambition, drive, innovation and determination demonstrated by the businesses of West Norfolk.

“The environment you create, the jobs you create, the opportunities you give us all as a community, everyone here and everyone who enters these awards need to be very proud indeed.”

A very big well done to this year’s winners;

Mayor’s Business of the Year, sponsored by West Norfolk Council:  Merxin Ltd.

Small Business of the Year sponsored by Mapus-Smith & Lemmon: Captain Fawcett.

Business Person of the Year, sponsored by Brown & Co: Richard Finney, Captain Fawcett.

Business Innovation, supported by Robin Brundle: WeType Ltd.

Apprentice/Trainee of the Year, sponsored by Carter Accommodation: Alex Goodman, Dodd Group.

Customer Care sponsored by Lynn News: Home Instead Senior Care.

Independent Retailer sponsored by Agrimech: The Norfolk Delicatessen.

Leisure and Tourism, sponsored by Metcalfe, Copeman & Pettefar: Princess Theatre.

Employee of the Year, sponsored by Mars: Mauricia Tanguy, Carers Elite, Downham.

For more information on the awards visit the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Mayor’s page click here.

Have you considered China as your next export market?

Looking for advice on doing business with China?

China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) is hosting a 1-2-1 business clinic with an expert China advisor on the 13th March, 2019 in Norwich. Boyi Mu- China Market Business Advisor from CBBC will be available to discuss matters ranging from the market potential for your products or services, to how to establish a presence in the market, as well as the support and services available to help you deal with the unique challenges in China and develop your business in a cost effective way.

Please click here for more information and to register for the event.

There is an increasing demand for specialist skills.  New Anglia’s Digital Tech Sector Skills Plan estimates that 10,000 tech roles – both new and replacement of existing positions – will be needed in Norfolk and Suffolk by 2024.  Employers continue to report ICT/Digital skills shortages, which are adversely affecting their business.

As a result, Norfolk County Council wants to better understand what skills shortages there are in Norfolk in ICT and Digital and are asking for feedback from businesses via a short online survey. 

This survey will allow them to evidence anecdotal knowledge of employer need and solidify knowledge of employer-led demand for specific training. Without this evidence, it remains difficult for colleges and training providers to change or grow their provision, therefore this will help in delivering some targeted work with FE and HE providers and work collaboratively to support employer demand where possible.

Generating the evidence base around training/skills shortages is critical to future training provision. It will also ensure that the Skills team and stakeholders who are delivering the Sector Skills Plans are coming up with the right solutions to the most critical issues.

You have until midnight on Sunday 31 March to have your say in a short online survey.

Have your say now.

Going forward over the next few months, Norfolk County Council would also like to develop some focus groups to look at more specific ICT and digital skills issues.  If you would like to be part of these groups, please contact Nova Fairbank on email: nova.fairbank@norfolkchamber.co.uk.

HMRC are encouraging businesses trading outside the UK to apply for an Economic Operator Registration Identification (EORI) number. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, from 11pm on 29th March, UK businesses will need to apply the same processes as are currently used when exporting and importing outside the EU.

If you’re VAT registered this process is simple and can be done online, it should only take around 10 minutes. You’ll need your VAT registration number and name of your business in which you’re VAT registered.

If you’re not VAT registered you’ll need some more information which can be found here. 

To apply for your EORI number or find out more please click here.

Export Licences

The Department for International Trade has announced a new Open General Export License (OGEL) for the export of dual-use goods (with both civilian and military application) to the EU. These items could be used for both civil and military applications and could include: goods, software, technology, documents, diagrams, raw materials such as chemicals, components like bearings and complete systems such as lasers. You can find further information on these items here.

The licence will come into effect as from 11pm on 29th March, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

You can find out more here.

Transitional Simplified Procedures

HMRC has written to 145,000 businesses who are trading with the EU regarding the transitional simplified procedures (TSP) for customs, if we leave the EU without a deal.

The procedures should help to avoid prolonged checks at the border and would also mean that goods can be transported from the EU to the UK without having to make a full customs declaration at the border, also delaying the payment for import duties.

Whilst we are not sure how long these changes will last; the government have said they will provide 12 months’ notice if any changes need to be made.

Registrations for TSP are now open, and businesses can register if they have an EORI number, please click here for more information.

If you have a specific query or need more advice on Brexit, please contact: hello@norfolkchamber.co.uk or call 01603 625977.

More Norfolk businesses will be able to benefit from ultrafast broadband after Norfolk County Council secured £8m from the UK Government Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Department’s Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) fund.

The £8m funding is part of an £11m programme to upgrade more than 370 of Norfolk’s public sector buildings to the latest ultrafast connection speeds. It will enable 230 schools, 108 Norfolk County Council Corporate buildings (including 38 libraries) and 34 fire stations to be upgraded to gigabit (1,000 mbps) fibre internet connections within two years.

As a result of the scheme, thousands of Norfolk businesses will be able to benefit from lower fibre connection costs by using private funding to access the upgraded fibre network. They can also apply to a voucher scheme that will provide up to £2,500 per business to fund their connection and pay the first-year running costs.

Commenting on the funding, Chris Sargisson, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:

“Norfolk Chambers actively supported the County Council’s ambitions to bring more funding for better broadband connections for our region, so we are delighted that their funding bid was successful. 

Ultimately, we want every business in Norfolk to be able to access ultrafast broadband to ensure that our business communities can compete with the rest of the UK and beyond.  This funding another step in the right direction.”

Cllr. Tom FitzPatrick, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Digital Innovation & Efficiency Committee, said:

“This funding will deliver significant digital infrastructure across the county, in addition to what the County Council has already delivered. Ensuring that Norfolk has the digital connectivity it needs to build a thriving economy is a priority for us.

“I would like to thank officers at the County Council for their hard work in ensuring that we were awarded this funding and the businesses who supported this bid. I am pleased this scheme will benefit them as well as provide vastly improved services.”

On Wednesday 27 February we booked out the top floor of Bill’s Norwich for a sold out networking breakfast. With over 85 businesses joining us in the newly refurbished restaurant, and different menu options to awaken the taste buds.  The morning started with coffee of course, followed by some networking time between attendees. On arrival, we gave each delegate a sticker with a name on. This name then paired up with another in the room, for example if you had salt, you would have to find pepper. The activity got delegates mixed around and meeting businesses they may not have met before.  It was then time to sit down for breakfast, with Full English, vegetarian, vegan and the healthy option of avocado on toast dishes flowing out of the kitchen. Conversations carried on over breakfast filling Bill’s with a great atmosphere.  When everyone was full we welcomed our guest speaker James Groves of Indigo Swan. James joined us to give his top five tips to embed a positive culture in your workplace. James’ top tips were: 1. Remember that culture is not just felt internally, but externally as well 2. Live your values – it’s not just words 3. Walk the walk, don’t just talk the talk 4. Show you care about your people personally 5. Enjoy what you do! After answering some questions from the audience with fellow swans Tom, Alex and Aimee, James left the audience with a final question – ‘when is the best time to plant a tree?’. The answer; 20 years ago. Given that none of us have a time machine handy, James emphasised how you can’t go back, but you can start now.  Our next Norwich event is our Wine Tasting at HarperWells! Make sure you join us to socialise among the business community over wine tasting and cheese boards. Click here for more details.

Commenting ahead of today’s Cabinet meeting and the Prime Minister’s statement to the House of Commons on the Brexit negotiations, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“At this pivotal moment, the government must take decisive steps to avoid the damage that a messy and disorderly exit would cause to business and the economy in just a month’s time. 

“It is time to be honest. Government and its agencies are not prepared for a ‘no deal’ exit on 29th March. Neither are many businesses. 

“The overriding priority must be to assure businesses, employees, investors and communities that an unwanted ‘no deal’ scenario will not be allowed to happen by default on March 29th.”

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s statement to the House of Commons on the next steps in the Brexit process, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:

“While this is a giant political leap for the Prime Minister, this is only a small step towards the clarity and precision that businesses need to chart their future direction.

“The overriding priority is still to assure businesses and communities that an unwanted ‘no deal’ scenario will not happen by default on March 29th.

“Businesses still need to ensure they are preparing for all possible scenarios and government and its agencies must provide clear, precise and accurate information for all eventualities.”

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has now advised that they will no longer be legalising Certificates of Origins and Invoices.

Commenting on this change, Julie Austin, International Trade Manager for Norfolk Chamber said: 

“Many importers still request that the documents from UK should be legalised by the Saudi Arabian Embassy to secure payments and meet contractual terms.  As such, the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce is lobbying the Embassy to try to reverse this decision.  The Embassy have confirmed that they are looking into this matter.

“In the meantime all pending documents are being returned until the issue is resolved, in the meantime the Arab-British Chamber will continue to certify documents only.

“If you have any concerns or would like more information, please contact our international team on 01603 729706 or export@norfolkchamber.co.uk.”

Blaze A Trail

How you can get involved and support National Apprenticeship week is fast approaching, it’s great if you and your business can get involved. This year’s theme is “Blaze a Trail.” The aim of the campaign is to shine a spotlight on apprenticeships and the fact they can be a great path for people at any stage of their career.

If you are keen to get involved with this week. Click on this link for more information and a toolkit too.  https://bit.ly/2Te4ZAR

Commenting on the latest update to existing trade agreements if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The lack of progress revealed today is an incredibly disappointing, though not unexpected admission. This is unfortunately yet another example where politicians have overpromised and underdelivered – and it is businesses and consumers both at home and abroad that will pay the price.

“The British Chambers of Commerce has warned government for over two years that the replication of EU trade agreements would not be easy. We have also warned politicians that some trading businesses don’t even know they are benefiting from the provisions of these agreements, and will be surprised to see their costs going up or their products treated differently overseas in the unwanted event of ‘no deal’ on 29 March.

“There are firms now who have shipped their products to important overseas markets like South Korea whose customers may now face higher costs and new administrative burdens and purchases languishing at the dock after 29 March. UK firms and their partners have spent time building strong business relationships and will not appreciate sudden and expensive changes in trading arrangements.

“It’s time for government to work far more closely with business communities to ensure that more existing agreements are rolled over and their benefits to businesses and consumers preserved. The best way to do this in the first instance is to avoid a messy and disorderly exit from the EU on 29 March – which would see the terms of trade for some businesses worsen overnight.”

Second annual event highlights the success stories of the district

The second North Norfolk Business Awards were held on the evening of Thursday 21 February 2019, with two dozen of the district’s businesses winning plaudits for their success.

The awards, organised by North Norfolk District Council and held at Gresham’s School, saw awards presented in eight main categories, as well as a Chairman’s Award, which was presented for the first time this year.

The winners were:

• Agriculture, Horticulture & Countryside, in association with Lovewell Blake: Crop Systems
• Business Growth, in association with FOUR: Crisp Malt
• Environment, in association with Fakenham Racecourse: MarGins Walking and Glamping Holidays
• Innovation, in association with Archant: Chell Instruments
• New Business, in association with Eastlaw: Archangel Distilleries
• Small Business, in association with MENTA: The Norfolk Brewhouse
• Tourism & Hospitality, in association with Thursford: Norfolk Cottages
• Young People & Skills, in association with New Anglia LEP: Holkham Estate
• Chairman’s Award: Oyster Yachts

Presenting the awards evening was Norfolk Chamber’s Chief Executive, Chris Sargisson.  He said:

“I was delighted to be able to join this celebration of the best in business. The quality of entries was fantastic and showed just what a thriving district North Norfolk is.”

Cllr Sarah Butikofer, Leader of North Norfolk District Council, said:

“It was a tremendous night and it was great to see so many businesses from our district doing well.

“The quality of all the shortlisted businesses was inspiring, and demonstrated just how many success stories we have in North Norfolk.”