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
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.
To support the tightening Covid-19 restrictions due to come into effect on 05 November. The Government has announced the following support mechanisms:
An extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until 2 December
More generous support to the self-employed and paying that support more quickly
Cash grants of up to £3,000 per month for businesses which are closed o £1.1 billion for councils to enable them to support businesses more broadly over the coming months, as a key part of the local economy
Plans to extend existing Loan Schemes and Future Fund to the end of January and an ability to top-up Bounce Back Loans o An extension to the mortgage payment holiday for homeowners
Providing councils with up to £500m of funding to support the local healthcare response
In light of the increased restrictions the UK government is introducing additional economic and business support measures:
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, also known as the furlough scheme, has been extended to December 2020. Check to find:
Which employees you can put on furlough to use the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
For information on claiming for wages through the scheme click here.
The Job Support Scheme will not be introduced until after Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme ends.
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension: The grant is being extended from 1 November 2020. The grant will be increased from the previously announced level of 40% of trading profits to 80% for November 2020. Find out if you are eligible and how much you can get.
Business Grants: Business premises forced to close in England due to local or national restrictions will be eligible for the following:
For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks;
For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2,000 per month, or £1,000 per two weeks;
For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3,000 per month, or £1,500 per two weeks.
Business grant policy is fully devolved. Devolved Administrations will receive Barnett consequentials which they could use to establish similar schemes.
The SEISS grant was extended from 1 November 2020. Yesterday, the Chancellor announced that support for millions more workers through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will be increased, with the third grant covering November to January calculated at 80% of average trading profits, up to a maximum of £7,500.
Find out if you are eligible and how much you can get
New Coronavirus restrictions come into effect on 05 November, so businesses could be forgiven for taking their eyes off the ‘Brexit ball’. However, the number of days left to prepare for Brexit are rapidly dwindling and business needs to take action now.
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:
Do you have an EORI number starting with GB?
Who is currently moving your freight and who do you currently use to process your customs declarations?
Who’s currently holding the liability for your declarations? (direct/indirect representation)
Do you have an international team? What is the level of expertise in that team?
When did you last review or check your commodity/tariff codes?
What is the likely volume of your imports/exports from the EU?
Which ports/airports do you use?
Do you have your own deferment account with HMRC?
Are your imported goods liable for excise duty?
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:
This was the theme for our Great Yarmouth breakfast on Thursday 3rd April where 55 businesses attended, they heard from Brand Manager at Visit Norfolk, Pete Waters and Great Yarmouth Business Grosvenor Casino who gave delegates an insight into the presence tourism has in Norfolk and specifically, Great Yarmouth.
The breakfast started in the usual way with plenty of networking opportunities both before delegates sat down and once they were at their tables, with icebreakers and new or previous connections being made. Plus a Safari move later on for them to meet a whole new table of potential contacts.
Event sponsors, Norse Commercial Services, started us off by giving delegates a brief history of the company and also what they are currently doing to help boost tourism and keep the area of Great Yarmouth tidy and enticing.
After Breakfast it was then onto the main part of the event which started off with a talk from Pete Waters about all that Norfolk has to offer and some of the challenges they and the county are facing and the ways in which we can work together to overcome them. The main aim of Pete’s talk was to address the fact that we need to boost tourism all year round not just in the summer and boast about what we have on offer as a county in the winter.
Trevor Saunders then gave a business case to how businesses in Great Yarmouth are working together to increase visitors to the area but also what can be done even better in the future. He explained how for them they only tend to get visitors in the evening and they need to work out ways to get people through the door all day, again emphasising the whole theme of Norfolk is open 24/7 all year round.
They event ended with a short Q&A and more networking, with delegates leaving with a very positive attitude.
With Coronavirus restrictions come in place, many businesses could be forgiven for taking their eyes off the ‘Brexit ball’. However, the number of days left to prepare for Brexit are rapidly dwindling and business needs to take action now.
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:
Do you have an EORI number starting with GB?
Who is currently moving your freight and who do you currently use to process your customs declarations?
Who’s currently holding the liability for your declarations? (direct/indirect representation)
Do you have an international team? What is the level of expertise in that team?
When did you last review or check your commodity/tariff codes?
What is the likely volume of your imports/exports from the EU?
Which ports/airports do you use?
Do you have your own deferment account with HMRC?
Are your imported goods liable for excise duty?
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:
Commenting on the ONS labour market statistics for November, published today, BCC Head of Economics Suren Thiru said:
“The rise in the unemployment rate and redundancies is further evidence that the damage being done to the UK jobs market by the Coronavirus pandemic is intensifying.
“While there was a rise in the number of job vacancies, this is more likely to reflect a temporary bounce as the economy reopened before recent restrictions were reintroduced, rather than a meaningful upturn in demand for labour.
“The extension to the furlough scheme will safeguard a significant number of jobs in the near term. However, with firms facing another wave of severely diminished cashflow and revenue and with gaps in government support persisting, further substantial rises in unemployment remain likely in the coming months.
“Increased grant support for businesses impacted by restrictions is urgently needed to help businesses protect jobs, particularly given the delay to the job retention bonus. Closing the remaining gaps in government support, including for some self-employed and company directors must also be a key priority.”
With only a few weeks to go until the United Kingdom transitions out of the EU, time is of the essence for businesses to prepare. The government has put in place new rules that organisations must adhere to on 01January 2021. This year has already been an incredible challenge for the majority of businesses due to the COVID pandemic, so it is understandable that strategising for Brexit may not have been your top priority.
However, with time fast slipping away, now is the time to act in order to prevent any further disruption to your operations. And the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce are on hand to help.
How we can support your Norfolk business through Brexit and beyond
The complexity of Brexit, from the regulation changes to the shifting EU exit dates, has made it a daunting concept. To alleviate any concerns, the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce have moved swiftly to implement a Brexit Hub on our website.
Countdown to Change online webinar series hosted by Customers expert, Liam Smyth. Covering import and export processes, systems and controls, these webinars are designed to guide your business through the complexity of change.
Chamber webinar recordings from throughout the year that cover a range of topics from COVID and mindset resilience, to staff motivation and strategies.
International documentation including ATA Carnets, International Import Certificates, Arab Certificates of Origin, A.TR Movement Certificates, EUR1 Movement Certificates and European Certificates of Origin. We can also arrange for the legalisation of these documents through the Chamber Network.
Information on other topics that could impact your business including people, trade, borders, digital, regulations and standards, tax, finance and banking as well as funding.
Links to other useful sources of information to keep you updated including the British Chambers of Commerce, New Anglia LEP and the GOV.UK website (who also provide an email service for updates).
Going further to help ease the pressure on your business
In addition to the hub, we are delighted to announce that we have specialist Brexit advisers available to talk to. These advisers are qualified to manage Customs Declarations, making them a fantastic, easy to reach, point of contact for your business.
We do recommend phoning in sooner, rather than later, as this service has been incredibly popular. You can contact an adviser by calling 01603 625977.
By covering all angles, we hope to make this a stress-free process for your business. Especially as 2020 has been one of the most difficult years in the last few decades. Together we can be Brexit-ready.
The Kickstart Scheme is aimed at 16 to 24 year olds who may find it more challenging to access the world of work. The scheme provides 6 month placements, at 25 hours per week at minimum wage – although the employer can offer more hours and cover the additional cost. The total grant available from the scheme is £6,500, which pays for the wages and the on-costs such as NI etc.
In addition, there is a further £1,500 payable to the employers for them to provide wrap-around employability support – this can be either in-house or the employer can pay for the support to be delivered. Whichever way, you will need to be able to evidence what the support is and the impact/benefits to the employee. Norfolk Chambers is working with various training providers and others to offer a suite of support options to make it easier for the employers to provide the wrap-around employability support. At present all the support is based online, due to the current pandemic restrictions.
To qualify for a Kickstart placement – the business must be able to demonstrate that this role is additional. The placement is for 6 months, at the end of that period, you can either take that person on or replace them with another placement for a further 6 months.
The Kickstart Scheme requires employers to be able to offer a minimum of 30 placements which for the majority of Norfolk businesses will not be possible – therefore Norfolk Chambers has become a Gateway, and we will collate the 30 placements on behalf of a group of employers.
If your business wishes to take part in this scheme, you will need to advise how many placements and the type of placement. Apply for your placements now.
Once Norfolk Chambers have received the 30 completed applications, we will submit the cohort to the DWP and notify you of the submission day. The DWP are quoting up to 30 days for a response on the cohort applications.
If your application is successful, a grant funding agreement will be issued and you must return the signed funding agreement and provide a detailed job description for the position. Candidates via the DWP will then apply for the job placements and you can choose who to employ. Please note, you will only obtain funding if you appoint a young person that DWP have introduced.
For more information on what happens following the submission of the cohort to DWP – click here.
If you have any questions on the Kickstart Scheme, please contact:
Following the Chambers’ Countdown to Change 75 days webinar on 16 October, the UK Cabinet Office has shared responses to the questions posed during the session with the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office.
For more information on how Norfolk Chambers can help support your business through the transition on 01 January 2021, visit our Brexit Hub.
British Chambers of Commerce calls for evidence and clarity for businesses as government mulls post-December 2nd Coronavirus restrictions in England
The British Chambers of Commerce has called on the UK government to publish its approach to national Coronavirus restrictions in England without delay, providing firms with:
at least one week’s notice ahead of December 2nd;
scientific evidence for any continuing restrictions on specific business sectors; and
an economic impact assessment of the impact of continued business restrictions and closures on communities and the wider economy.
With the second national lockdown in England due to end on 2 December, the leading business organisation – which collectively represents over 70,000 firms of all sizes and sectors across the UK employing six million people – is concerned about the lack of clarity over what form restrictions will take after the current lockdown.
BCC has called for government to publish its plans with at least one week’s notice before restrictions are set to end on 2 December, allowing firms adequate time to prepare to re-open and trade afterwards.
The group is also pressing government to explain clearly why businesses in a number of sectors have been forced to close despite taking considerable steps at huge expense to comply with Covid-secure guidance, including leisure, non-essential retail and beauty.
It has submitted a Freedom of Information Request to the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to determine what evidence base, if any, was used to inform government guidance on the closure of businesses in England from November 5. This clarity is essential for businesses and government to work together on steps that avoid the need for business closures in future.
The call follows the BCC’s challenge to the Prime Minister to meet five business tests to limit the impact of Coronavirus restrictions on businesses and jobs and take a long-term approach to tackling the pandemic.
BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:
“Nine months into the pandemic, business communities are still crying out for timely information and a clear strategy from government so that they can survive and rebuild.
“Delays and imprecision mean people lose their livelihoods. Firms are taking difficult decisions every day about their futures, and are tired of being left to rely on speculation and rumour. The government must urgently set out the exit plan for the end of national restrictions in England on 2nd December – and make it crystal-clear which businesses can operate, and under what conditions.
“Businesses have played their part by working hard and spending hundreds of millions of pounds to become Covid-secure, in line with official guidance. We must see the evidence for why many were forced to close again on 5th November, and absolute transparency on what may happen from 2nd December.
“Business communities – whether in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland – cannot take another year of rushed stop-start restrictions from governments while vaccines are rolled out. Broad-based workplace testing would help bridge the gap, maintaining employee confidence and helping as many businesses as possible remain open and trading at this crucial time.”