“The Government must ensure its engagement with business over the coronavirus recovery is not just a “box-ticking exercise.”
That’s the message from Norfolk Chambers of Commerce as business secretary Alok Sharma prepares to launch five new business-focused groups as part of the plans to kickstart the economy.
- The future of industry: How to accelerate business innovation and leverage private sector investment in research and development
- Green recovery: How to capture economic growth opportunities from the shift to net zero carbon emissions
- Backing new businesses: How to make the UK the best place in the world to start and scale a business
- Increasing opportunity: How to level up economic performance across the UK, including through skills and apprenticeships
- The UK open for business: How to win and retain more high value investment for the UK
The groups will form part of the Government’s plans for restarting the economy, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly set to unveil them with a major speech next month.
Mr Sharma will this week chair the first meetings of new ‘recovery roundtables’, bringing together businesses, business representative groups and leading academics.
Norfolk Chambers is also encouraging our members to let us know about the measures that would best support them to restart, recover and grow.
Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said: “It is critical that the Government works in genuine partnership with businesses in order to support a return to economic growth.
“Engagement cannot be a tick box exercise. We welcome the announcement of these new groups and look forward to learning more about their composition, remit and measures that are taken forwards from them in due course.
“There is no denying the significant impact that this pandemic has had on the Norfolk business community. What this period of disruption and change does give us is an opportunity to do things differently and radically rethink the way in which the Government engages with and enables good business growth in the UK.
“We will continue to deliver a strong Norfolk business voice for our members both locally and nationally through the British Chambers of Commerce, who will be actively involved in these groups. Please send all feedback to [email protected]
