Commenting on the government’s updated Border Operating Model, published yesterday, BCC Director of Trade Facilitation Liam Smyth said:
“Today’s announcement of a revised Border Operating Model provides some more of the detail that was missing from the version published less than 12 weeks ago. Duty deferment accounts and postponed VAT accounting will both help firms’ cashflow as we enter a period of huge change at our borders.
“However, as highlighted in our recent unanswered questions document, businesses still have many areas where they urgently need more certainty, such as how the border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain will operate, clear guidance on rules of origin, which will only be done by ramping up government engagement with business.
“With just over 80 days until the end of the transition period, the businesses that produce the £300bn of UK exports to the EU are desperate for news of a comprehensive free trade agreement that will provide jobs and future prosperity across the United Kingdom.”
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.”
The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme Grant Extension provides critical support to the self-employed in the form of two grants, each available for three month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.
1. Who can claim
To be eligible for the Grant Extension self-employed individuals, including members of partnerships, must:
have been previously eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme first and second grant (although they do not have to have claimed the previous grants)
declare that they intend to continue to trade and either:
are currently actively trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus
were previously trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus
2. What the Grant Extension covers
The extension will last for six months, from November 2020 to April 2021. Grants will be paid in two lump sum instalments each covering a three-month period.
The first grant will cover a three-month period from 1 November 2020 until 31 January 2021. The Government will provide a taxable grant covering 40% of average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering 3 months’ worth of profits, and capped at £3,750 in total.
The Government are providing broadly the same level of support for the self-employed as is being provided for employees through the Job Support scheme.
The second grant will cover a three-month period from 1 February 2021 until 30 April 2021. The Government will review the level of the second grant and set this in due course.
The grants are taxable income and also subject to National Insurance contributions.
3. How to claim
The online service for the next grant will be available from 14 December 2020. HMRC will provide full details about claiming and applications in guidance on GOV.UK in due course.
In light of the increased restrictions the UK government is introducing additional economic and business support measures.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)
Yesterday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP announced a five-month extension of CJRS, also known as the furlough scheme. The CJRS will now run until the end of March 2021 with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked.
The Board of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today announced that Director General Dr Adam Marshall will leave the organisation in the Spring of 2021.
Marshall has been Director General of the leading business group for five years, and has been part of the leadership team of the BCC for almost 12 years. He leaves the organisation with an enhanced profile and impact, a stable financial position, strong governance and a record number of female leaders amongst both its non-executive and executive leadership.
Working closely with the Board, Marshall will remain at the helm over the coming months and will ensure a smooth and effective transition with his successor. He will leave the organisation with the respect and gratitude of the Board, staff, Chambers and members across the UK and worldwide. Marshall has not yet announced his future plans.
Outgoing BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said:
“Chamber business communities represent the best of British business. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve this civic-minded, passionate, and purposeful network for nearly twelve years. I feel the time is right to hand over to a great successor who will continue the fight for our business communities during the period of renewal ahead.”
BCC Chair Sarah Howard MBE said:
“I know I speak for so many Chamber members, both here in the UK and across the world, when I say that Adam will be missed. He took over at a time of great uncertainty but has led BCC confidently to its strongest position in years. Chambers have never been more relevant or more necessary than they are today and together with the BCC Board, I will be leading a search over the coming weeks to identify a suitable successor to build on the BCC’s achievements and lead the organisation into the future.”
BCC President Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE said:
“Adam’s commitment to UK businesses, communities and diversity is one of many reasons I was excited to become President of BCC this year. He has dedicated great energy and passion to the organisation, and leaves the BCC and the Chamber Network in a stronger position at this critical moment for our businesses and for our country.”
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.
The Quarterly Economic Survey is significant piece of economic data, used by many organisations and the country’s decision makers to help shape economic policies for the UK.
The Bank of England recently worked on the latest round of Quantitative Easing and they used data supplied by the Chambers Quarterly Economic Survey to help inform those decisions.
With England in its second round of Covid-19 restrictions and the UK Government putting lots of energy into ‘levelling up’ the UK – it is more important than ever to hear from businesses based in Norfolk on how they see the local economy.
Without this vital local and regional knowledge the decision makers cannot make informed choices and put in the right support mechanisms that ultimately may impact on you and your company.
The QES is anonymous, open to anyone and only takes a couple of minutes to complete online.
We need your input, if you only take one survey, then please make it the QES
Transport for Norwich is looking for feedback on plans to improve the area and the consultation for the All Saints Green and Brazengate proposals for are now open. Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council are looking to provide better infrastructure for cyclists along the yellow pedalway, and to make it easier for pedestrians to move freely, thereby enhancing this part of the city centre for everyone. It builds on the recently completed changes around Westlegate, which have significantly reduced traffic levels in All Saints Green and now mean the next proposed design changes can be put forward. Features of the scheme include a continuous footway on Surrey Street across its junction with All Saints Green; removal of traffic signals on all arms of the same junction and conversion of existing advisory cycle lanes on Brazengate to wider, mandatory lanes. Councillor Mike Stonard, Norwich City Council’s cabinet member for transport and vice-chair of Norwich Highways Agency Committee, says: “Changes around Westlegate have already transformed the way people are using this part of the city so we’re looking to extend these benefits further. We’d like to hear from anyone who uses the area regularly to help shape the final details of the project.” Funding for the project is from the Department for Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Grant. For more information on the details of the scheme, along with plans and how to respond to the consultation, please visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/brazengate.
There are a number of ways to submit your feedback:
Brazengate/Grove Road and All Saints Green Area Consultation Transport for Norwich – Floor 2 Norfolk County Council County Hall Martineau Lane Norwich, NR1 2DH
The deadline for comment is Friday 7 July 2017.
Feedback on the project is due to be reported to the Norwich Highways Agency Committee in September. If approved for construction, work is expected to start early next year.
Commenting on the government’s net zero plan to tackle climate change, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:
“As business communities restart and rebuild after the pandemic, Chambers are clear that the transition to net zero must be measurable, credible and fair.
“The Prime Minister’s announcement is a step forward on this journey, but more detail and even higher levels of both public and private investment will be needed to ensure that we are able to meet the shared ambition of government and our business communities.
“Business communities in our coastal regions will benefit significantly from a greater emphasis on offshore wind. Integrating local firms into supply chains will be vital in supporting investment and jobs of the future.
“Decarbonisation remains crucial to our future economic recovery, but businesses will need to see more detail in the long-awaited Energy White Paper if we are to boost investor confidence. And if we are to build the supply chains needed to meet these ambitions here in the UK, clarity on the future of industrial strategy is also required.
“While the impact of the pandemic has not diminished business communities’ desire to become greener, the pace of change will mean many firms will need support in the transition to cleaner technologies. Government should consider incentives to help businesses make the change without losing out, including business rates exemptions for green investments and compensation schemes for phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles.”
Providing an initial response to the Prime Minister’s plan for Coronavirus restrictions after the second lockdown ends in England, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:
“It is helpful that the Prime Minister has heeded our call to give businesses at least a week’s notice of the rule changes that will affect firms across England from December 2nd.
“Businesses across England now need to see the detail – and will judge the latest set of Covid rules on whether they are easy to understand and based on clear, transparently-presented evidence.
“They need to know that the new rules will be accompanied by commensurate support, by a significant expansion of mass testing, particularly to workplaces across the country, and by a plan to get the economy fully open again.
“The reduction of time in quarantine for international passengers will help to re-establish connections to key markets and trade partners across the world, helping businesses that depend on the UK’s connectivity and preserving industries and livelihoods.
“Ministers can’t simply keep switching businesses on and off like a light switch without expecting severe consequences. Covid-secure businesses will be looking to the government for a plan that keeps them, and the economy, open throughout winter and beyond.”
There has been an update to the UK Governments Border Operating Model, this contains all details on how our border with the European Union will work and will be introduced on 01 January 2021.
Explaining the importance of the new model, Liam Smyth, Director of Trade Facilitation at the British Chamber of Commerce, said that the “announcement of a revised Border Operating Model provides some more of the detail that was missing from the version published less than 12 weeks ago. Duty deferment accounts and postponed VAT accounting will both help firms’ cash flow as we enter a period of huge change at our borders. However, as highlighted in our recent unanswered questions document, businesses still have many areas where they urgently need more certainty, such as how the border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain will operate, clear guidance on rules of origin, which will only be done by ramping up government engagement with business.”
Elizabeth de Jong, Policy Director at Logistics UK, commented: “Clarification on the arrangements for the UK’s borders with the EU at the end of the Transition Period is welcomed by our members, the organisations charged with moving goods and services to and from our nation’s largest trading partner. It is imperative that businesses seeking to sell their goods to companies in the EU make the most of this guidance to speed up their preparations and ensure that their paperwork is in order on 01 January 2021. Logistics organisations need their customers to prepare if they are to maintain the smooth flow of goods to and from the EU” She also called for greater clarity over the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, describing detail as necessary so that “businesses can plan and logistics operators avoid delays”.