After successful events around the county, this week saw our series of Focus Engagement Groups arrive in South Norfolk. Despite the snow, we met at the Park Hotel, Diss, for another opportunity to hear what we can be doing to better support and give voice to every business in Norfolk. Our thanks go to our event sponsors, Upp, for their help and insight into the day’s discussions, as well as to the Park Hotel for hosting us. Thanks also to Nova Fairbank (AKA The Guru), Norfolk Chambers’ CEO, and Will Norris (AKA The Advocator), Account Manager. Impacts of ageing infrastructure To start the discussion, the question of how ageing broadband infrastructure can impact business was raised by our sponsors, Upp. The consensus was that while technology can allow greater connectivity, more rural locations such as market towns and smaller villages can suffer from lack of availability, and where newer infrastructure is available, from high prices due to lack of competition. There is an expectation of connectivity in most places today, so that to not have that connectivity leaves businesses at a disadvantage. Access to fast and reliable internet is now akin to water and power – it is a necessity for modern life. As more resources are moved online, the importance of a stable connection increases – many companies use cloud-based systems for their phones which adds to the load already put on older infrastructure. The point was also made that connectivity not only increases the pool of potential talent, but it also allows those people who might otherwise feel the need to move to a large town or city the option of staying in and supporting their community. Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) The Norfolk and the Suffolk Chambers of Commerce are working with the Department for Education (DfE) to put employers at the heart of the skills agenda with the launch of the Norfolk and Suffolk Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP.) Norfolk Chambers’ CEO Nova Fairbank asked what skills gaps those present had found in the business community. Soft skills are a major gap, from the very basics such as word and excel, through to more complicated issues like interpersonal skills. Resilience, especially in the face of failure, was another area where people felt there was a gap, meaning people are less willing to try and learn from mistakes. General Discussion Finally, all attendees were invited to discuss any challenges they had faced; there was a desire for a focus on local networks which would attract talent to the area, and creating a more accessible and inviting environment for business. Another point was the difficulty in getting to more rural areas such as Diss, despite its proximity to Norwich and other larger urban areas it can be difficult to find reliable public transport – this can also affect the skills gap as younger people are unable to attend the education or training they would like to. If you would like to join us at another Focus Group in the future, the next upcoming event is Thursday 20th April in Great Yarmouth – find out more at the link below: https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/chamber-events/engagement-focus-group-great-yarmouth-2/
