Chamber News

During the UK’s heatwave 30 delegates joined us at Chambers Cocktail Company for an informal evening of networking.  Based in the heart of Norwich, along Wensum Street, Chambers Cocktail Company opened its doors back in March with beautifully-crafted cocktails, including old favourites and a few flavours unique to them.  As delegates arrived for the evening we collected a fresh order of pizza from Brick Pizza, located next to Norwich Market. Brick has built up a reputation in Norwich for their delicious menu with most of their toppings coming from Norfolk suppliers.  Following some networking over pizza, our mocktail group were up to the bar first to learn how to make a non-alcoholic cocktail, using a secret ingredient known only by Chambers Cocktail Company. The mocktail group was then followed by smaller groups making the alcoholic cocktails.  Matt Saunders was our expert barman for the evening, showing delegates first how to make the drink, then helping them to make their own.  Our next evening networking event is Look the Business – an evening of fashion, beauty and networking! Find out more.

The European Commission has announced that it is planning to hold a major trade conference later this year.

EU Trade Policy Day will take place in Brussels on 27 November 2018 under the banner title of In Defence of Fair and Open Trade – Rising to the Challenges, Tackling the Threats.

While new technologies promise to transform trade, the Commission notes, the post-1945 multilateral trading system is being questioned as never before: protectionism is raising its head and the benefits of open trade are increasingly being called into question.

Setting out the details of the proposed conference (available at trade.ec.europa.eu), the Commission highlights that already this year the EU has agreed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan and its trade deal with Canada (CETA) became operational.

It has also reached a political agreement with Mexico on a modernised trade agreement while continuing to make progress on its negotiations with the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay).

In June, it also launched negotiations for trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand.

“Despite these and previous trade successes,” the Commission said, “the challenges continue to grow and the threats to the open-trading system to multiply. Policy makers and citizens ask themselves many questions, and seek answers and reassurances about the benefits of trade to all.”

Speakers at the conference will include EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström and the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo.

Allan Williams and Mike Spicer return for the latest podcast, discussing the latest from Brexit, following the amendments to the Customs Bill, and the impact on import VAT. In the second half, Jane Gratton interviews Andy Briggs, CEO of Aviva UK, to discuss how to manage, employ and support an older workforce.

The vast majority of UK businesses believe the cost of complying with the UK tax system has escalated over recent years, according to new research released today (Wednesday) by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in partnership with Avalara.

A survey by the BCC of over 1,100 firms from across the UK found that three in four (75%) believe the overall burden of tax administration and compliance – the HMRC equivalent of ‘red tape’ – has increased compared to five years ago.

The escalating time and resources necessary to comply with the UK’s tax system reflects the need for action from government ministers and HMRC to reverse the burden and complexity of administration, and for more support from HMRC for firms trying to stay compliant.

The results of the survey show that two-thirds (64%) of businesses say that VAT creates the biggest administration and compliance burden, a finding mirrored in the responses of firms of all sizes and sectors. Businesses continue to report confusion over the vast array of rules and rates, suggesting that ministers’ focus should be on reducing the complexity of VAT administration to help boost firms’ growth – rather than tinkering with the VAT threshold.

On top of that, businesses are facing further demands on their time and money to be ready for the introduction of the government’s Making Tax Digital project, which the BCC has called upon ministers to delay until the start of the 2020/21 financial year*. At the same time, companies remain unclear about how the VAT system will function when the UK leaves the EU.

According to the research, PAYE/National Insurance Contributions (54%) and Corporation Tax (41%) were identified as the next biggest sources of compliance burdens after VAT. For many businesses, calculating National Insurance Contributions remains overly complex, with firms facing significant confusion about the thresholds and rates they are required to pay.

While the BCC continues to support the government’s attempts to tackle the aggressive tax avoidance by a small minority of firms, our research shows that there is also a real need to lower compliance costs, transaction costs, and complexity of tax for business. The BCC therefore calls for investment in HMRC’s work on tax evasion to be matched by investment in support for businesses to make compliance easier and improving the processes for collecting tax. There should also be greater independent oversight of all new tax proposals to assess the potential administrative burdens on SMEs.

Commenting on the tax burden for Norfolk businesses, Chris Sargisson, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said:

“Norfolk has a diverse and innovative business community, the majority of whom are SMEs, the burden of administering and complying with red tape impacts heavily on their ability to grow and create more jobs.  The UK tax system is overly complex and this provides both a challenge and a headache to many small businesses.  Norfolk businesses would welcome the Government tackling the huge costs involved in businesses administering the tax system and any opportunities to simplify it.”

Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“Companies now routinely cite tax administration and compliance, rather than regulation, as their biggest single source of administrative headaches.

“If the government wants its ‘Global Britain’ vision to become a reality, it is time to tackle the huge costs and complexities of the UK tax system, which sap away time and resources that could be better spent raising business productivity and growth.

“HMRC must be given both resources and a clear remit to focus more on supporting, rather than pursuing and punishing, small and medium-sized firms, as they work to get tax right. We want to see more investment in frontline HMRC support that’s geared towards making compliance easier for SMEs. There should also be greater independent scrutiny of new tax proposals with the aim of minimising the administrative burden on business. Making tax administration simpler would provide businesses with more time and headroom to focus on investment and growth.”

Richard Asquith, VP of Global Indirect Tax at Avalara, said:

“The UK’s VAT Gap, the amount of VAT collected annually versus expected, has remained stubbornly high at £12 billion. As a result, HMRC is stepping up investigations and pushing forward VAT as the first tax in the Making Tax Digital initiative. This new requirement, to record and report digitally, will affect the smallest businesses most – approximately 500,000 still use non-compliant spreadsheets or manual recording. These enterprises will have to invest in compliant software, and become familiar with its processes. HMRC’s MTD is being replicated across Europe, with countries like Spain, Italy and Hungary one step ahead of the UK, requiring live sales invoice submissions to tax authorities.”

Welcome Nicole (pictured left) and Jordan (pictured right) who have started working at Norfolk Chamber of Commerce this month. They are both joining the newly created Customer Experience Team, with the aim of finding out about our 950+ members and how we can best support them. 

Find out more about them below and why they are excited about working for Norfolk’s largest business membership organisation. 

Nicole Risby 

Nicole spent most of her young adult years working for the family business, Turners and Moore. Her father purchased this company when she moved to England in 2005 from Puerto Rico. When her father retired he promoted Nicole and her brother to Directors, and they worked alongside one other for four years. Nicole decided she wanted to move on from the family business to experience more opportunities, from there she worked for Youngs Doors, part of the RG Carter Group, as admin/transport co-ordinator. She then worked at Anglian Home Improvements in 2017 in the Quality Assurance Team ensuring calls were compliant and coaching agents on improving call quality and customer satisfaction.

On starting her role today, Nicole said: “I have always been interested in the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, the support that is provided for new businesses to grow, develop and seize an opportunity is aid we need in today’s society where there are so many barriers and obstacles. I am a people person, so meeting customers and helping them excel their business is going to be so rewarding. It’s important that we all come together and help each other succeed, that is what excites me about this opportunity. I am grateful to have found not just ‘a job´ but what I hope to be a long career here within the Chamber.”

Jordan Domin

Jordan has spent the last two years working as a recruitment consultant for one of the largest agencies in East Anglia. She really enjoyed her time with them as it gave her the opportunity to meet and speak to so many different people but when the opportunity to work for the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce came up she jumped at the chance. Before working in recruitment Jordan was a trainee manager for a national wine merchants and has a qualification in wine, although she admits her skills are now somewhat rusty, she stills enjoy the odd glass or two. Jordan also has a small dog that she enjoys exploring the wilds of Norfolk with and drags along with her most places she goes.

Jordan started her new role last week and said: “I’m really excited to be joining a team that’s building a new experience for both members and non-members and looking forward to getting involved in the numerous events they hold throughout the year. In my first few days it’s been interesting learning about their current way of doing things and the chance to build on this and increase engagement with both member and non-members is really exciting for me.”

You may well see Nicole or Jordan at an event very soon. If you would like to get in touch about membership please call 01603 625977 or email [email protected]

The Government has announced today its intention to fit full-fibre broadband as standard in all new homes. 

But did you know there is already voucher scheme available, where small businesses can claim up to £3,000 against the cost of connection?

Full fibre broadband connections offer the fastest and most reliable speeds available, and the Department of Digital, Culture Media and Sport has recently announced a UK-wide £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which is open to Norfolk businesses and residents.

Gigabit vouchers can be used by small businesses and the local communities surrounding them to contribute to the installation cost of a gigabit capable connection. Businesses can claim up to £3,000 against the cost of connection, either individually or as part of a group project. 

It is also possible for multiple businesses to pool their vouchers i.e. if there are 10 businesses on a business park and they all apply, that’s £30,000 towards the connection costs (for installation and other year 1 costs).

For more information and how to apply click here

Norfolk Chamber and our partners are calling on all businesses in Norfolk to give their support for our Just Dual It! Campaign, which aims to get the A47 fully dualled.

Since March this year, Norfolk Chamber, the EDP, and Norfolk County Council have been campaigning to convince the Government to commit to dualling the A47 trunk road from Lowestoft in the east, right across Norfolk and through to Peterborough in the west. 

Currently just 47% of this major route is dual carriageway and while Highways England have committed to making £300m of improvements to the road, including dualling some stretches, this will still leave substantial sections of the A47 as single carriageway, with no current plans to dual them.

Whilst we have received significant support for the campaign from across the east of England, we have been advised by central Government that evidencing support from key businesses along the A47 route will be crucial to our chances of success – which is where you come in.

If you agree with us that the A47 is vital to the region’s economy and believe getting the road fully dualled will benefit your business, please help us to make the case to the Government as strongly as we can by completing the enclosed outline template and returning it to us by either email: [email protected]

Or by post:

Nova Fairbank

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

9 Norwich Business Park, Whiting Road, Norwich, NR4 6DJ

We have tried to make it as easy as possible for you to support the campaign, we hope it will take you no more than a few minutes. Your combined support will be vital in helping us to secure the much needed funding to dual the A47.

We need your responses back by Friday 31 August 2018, ahead of going down to Westminster in Autmn to present our case to Department for Transport ministers. Please help us make it impossible for the Government to ignore us.

Complete and send your response now.

With the Government’s recent decision to approve expansion of Heathrow Airport having been welcomed as offering a post-Brexit boost for exporters, it is easy to forget that more than £7 million worth of goods are traded through nearby Gatwick Airport.

Now a new report aims to highlight the role of Gatwick in supporting international trade.

Published by Oxford Economics, Gatwick’s Economic Contribution Through Trade and Investment examines the contribution that the airport makes to the British economy through its role in facilitating international trade and investment, both directly and indirectly.

Air cargo operations saw some 97,000t move through the airport in 2017, with an estimated value of £7.5 billion in international goods transported between the UK and overseas markets.

Exports from the UK accounted for 70% of that trade value, imports making up the other 30%.

Oxford Economics calculates that, once multiplier impacts are taken into account, the trade activity centred on Gatwick Airport added £7.2 billion to the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year.

Those multiplier activities also helped, claims the report, to sustain 113,800 jobs across the UK.

Much of the region’s economic activity is centred around the airport, which is why there is a greater concentration of company headquarters clustered in the region around Gatwick than in London noted former Transport Minister Steve Norris, who is now Chair of the Gatwick Growth Board.

Those high-value industries attract significant foreign investment and trade activity, he added, with access to international markets being a key reason why they invest and locate in the region.

Commenting for Gatwick Diamond Business, which represents businesses across the region, Chief Executive Jeremy Taylor said that, while the report highlights Gatwick’s important role supporting regional exporters, it also shows that much more can be done to promote the airport to other businesses and cargo companies.

Following the re-launch of the Norfolk Chamber in West Norfolk, we are now seeking to appoint new members to become part of the West Norfolk Chamber Council.

The West Norfolk Chamber Council will consist of a cross-section of the local business community and aims to represent the main business sectors within the local area, particularly key sectors such as manufacturing, professional services and IT/Digital companies.

One of the roles of the West Norfolk Chamber Council is to promote the views of the local businesses in the area, both to the Norfolk Chamber Main Board and to other local stakeholders, such as the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Norfolk County Council and both LEPs. Regular meetings are also held with the local MPs, to ensure the West Norfolk business voice is carried to Westminster.

As a member of the West Norfolk Chamber Council, you would have the opportunity to make a difference to West Norfolk and ensure your views and those of your counterparts are heard.

For more information please click here.

As Norfolk Day approaches we launch details of our #15SecBiz video premier, to be held at Norwich Cathedral on Friday 27 July.

Join us as we screen all of the #15SecBiz videos we’ve been recieving over the last few weeks. We’ll also be giving out our special ‘Norfolk Day Oscar’ to the best #15SecBiz video that really gives the ‘wow’ factor and shows how great Norfolk really is for businesses.

Network with fellow Norfolk businesses and hear from our CEO Chris Sargisson about why Norfolk is such a great place to do business, whilst enjoying a light buffet from Norwich Cathedral. See the full agenda below:

Agenda: 12:00 Arrival for light refreshments  12:15 Presentation from our CEO, Chris Sargisson           #15SecBiz video showreel           Light lunch  13:30 Oscar voting closes & prize giving 14:00 Event close Don’t worry if you haven’t made your #15secbiz video yet, there is still time to get your video to us and be in with the chance of winning the award. Visit our webpage for more information. Click here! Find out more about the event: click here!

Commenting on the labour market figures for July 2018, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“Robust jobs growth, together with another drop-in unemployment, is further evidence of the continued strength of the UK labour market.

“The second successive slowdown in regular pay growth is disappointing. This means that earnings growth in real terms remains in positive territory by just a small margin and so is unlikely to provide much of a boost to consumer spending power. UK wage growth continues to be undermined by poor productivity and the marked impact of underemployment. The failure to tackle the escalating burden of upfront business costs is also weighing on the extent to which pay is able to rise.

“The increase in the number of job vacancies to a new record high is further evidence of chronic skills shortages, a key business concern. Firms continue to report that they are facing an uphill struggle to find staff with the right skills, which is stifling business activity and productivity.

“While we expect that interest rates will rise sooner rather than later, with earnings growth underwhelming there remains sufficient scope for the MPC to keep a rates hike on hold for longer, particularly given the current economic and political uncertainty. Instead, more must be done to support firms looking to recruit and upskill their workforce, including reforming the Apprenticeship Levy to ensure its fit for purpose, easing upfront business costs and delivering a future migration system that helps, rather than hinders UK productivity and growth.”

The Department for International Trade (DIT) is looking for sponsors and partners to help deliver the UK Pavilion at World Expo 2020 Dubai. This major event will run from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021.

DIT explains: “Working with us to establish a presence at the largest business, economic and cultural event in the world will give you a global platform to gain significant commercial exposure and help the UK create a truly spectacular presence at the Expo.”

The theme of Expo 2020 Dubai is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future.

According to DIT, it signals the global need to work together to inspire future generations and to develop partnerships across sectors, organisations and geographies to address the many needs of a fast-changing world.

The UK’s theme for the Expo is “The UK – innovating for a shared future”. It will have a self-build pavilion located in the Opportunity district of the Dubai site. The three sub-themes of the Expo are opportunity, mobility and sustainability.

Aiming to drive significant trade and inward investment for the UK, DIT will use the Expo to highlight a number of key sectors, including infrastructure and finance, technology, healthcare, consumer goods, catering and food and drink.

Any company wanting to register an expression of interest, in either cash or value in kind sponsorship, should contact the Sponsorship and Partnerships team at DIT by 31 July 2018.

Contacts include Fay Wiltshire ([email protected]) and Rebekah O’Connor ([email protected]).