Chamber News

With sanctions very much in the news at the moment in the context of the Iran nuclear deal, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has produced a timely factsheet offering information and advice in relation to arms embargoes, trade sanctions and financial sanctions.

Having to comply with the various types of sanctions imposed by the UN, the EU, the UK and others can be difficult for both importers and exporters, OFSI agrees.

To help affected businesses, the 11-page question-and-answer style guide (which can be found at assets.publishing.service.gov.uk) aims to answer questions relevant to those involved in importing and exporting goods and services, especially in areas where financial sanctions are in force.

The publication addresses general questions about financial sanctions, such as “Should I consider financial sanctions when importing to or exporting from the UK?”.

Not surprisingly, the answer is “yes”, with the advice being to consider not only who and where the goods or services are coming from or going to, but also who is shipping them (is a sanctioned vessel being used?), and whether a designated person is subject to financial sanctions even though they are located outside the country in which your business is operating.

In relation to licensing, the guide considers whether an OFSI licence is required if a business already has an export or trade control licence (the short answer is “you may do”), and what OFSI licensing grounds might apply to importers and exporters.

Questions about financial sanctions along the export chain are also considered, including “Do financial sanctions apply to import and export agents?”. With agents such as couriers, express operators and freight forwarders being responsible for their own due diligence, the answer is again “yes”.

Finally, financial sanctions breaches and penalties are covered and there is also a section on sources of further information.

Find out more about sanctions, embargoes and restrictions here. 

The British Chambers of Commerce, together with the accredited Chamber Network, including Norfolk Chamber, run Britain’s largest and most influential private business survey – the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).  The next fieldwork period for the QES will start on Monday 21 May 2018 and will be open for 3 weeks. 

But why should your organisation take part?  Nova Fairbank, Norfolk Chamber’s Public Affairs Manager outlines why she wants more input from Norfolk businesses:

“The QES is Britain’s largest, and longest-running, private business survey and it’s a leading economic indicator – often picking up big changes in the economy long before other surveys or official statistics.  With the uncertainty of Brexit and the UK economy effectively treading water at present, it is more important than ever that as many businesses as possible take part. 

“By completing the QES you are helping to identify how strong our local economy is and how well it is performing against the national averages. Norfolk has many dynamic and innovative businesses, we need to have a strong voice and ensure our region gets the credit and investment that it deserves.”

Below are just a few more reasons why your organisation should take part in this important economic survey:

1. It’s provided consistent data since 1989, and regularly receives over 7,500 business responses. Compare that to the average business survey, which garners only a few hundred responses.

1. Norfolk responses represent over 34% of the responses from the East of England.  (East of England includes: Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire).

1. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee uses the QES as one of its key benchmarks when setting interest rates.

1. HM Treasury and the independent Office for Budget Responsibility use the QES to put together their forecasts for the UK’s economic performance.

1. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) use the QES when comparing the UK to competitors worldwide.

The more Norfolk businesses that take part – the louder the voice of the Norfolk business community will be. 

Details of the previous QES results from Q1 2018 can be found under Policy on the Chamber News section of the Chamber website. 

So what can your business do to contribute to the QES?  During the fieldwork period, the survey can be completed electronically.  There are several ways to access this online survey either:

• Use the link within the Chamber Policy news article or;
• Use the link that the Chamber can send direct to you

To be added to the Chamber’s QES email list, please contact Nova Fairbank or Jack Edwards.  Emails: [email protected] and [email protected].

The online survey takes less than 3 minutes and your input is vital to help ensure that Norfolk business has a strong collective ‘voice’.

Mental health awareness week (14th-20th May) has put employee wellbeing at the forefront of all organisations agendas. Norfolk Chamber are pleased to announce that we are continuing this focus at our next Great Yarmouth Business Breakfast on Thursday 21 June at Great Yarmouth Town Hall. The average person now sits for roughly 10 hours a day, this sedentary lifestyle plays a big part in contributing towards the UK’s obesity epidemic. We are being joined by Floyd Sayers, Flomotion and award winning interior designer Louise Ives-Wilkinson to discover how the environments we work in can have such a great impact on our health and wellbeing.   Floyd has been working at Flomotion for 3 years and believes that to do our best we need to feel good and that means focusing on the body and mind, leading to more productivity, engagement and improved health and wellbeing. He will share Flomotion’s knowledge and expertise around sit-stand desks, active seating and accessories. Alongside their health and wellbeing initiatives promoting movement, exercise, stretching, breathing and mindfulness. Louise, whilst taking time out from designing to raise her family, fell ill from post-natal depression and anxiety. During the time spent battling these illnesses Louise realised the huge impact your internal environment can have on your health and wellbeing. When starting to research deeper into the field, her studies led her to Biophilic design. Starting with her home, she set about creating a sanctuary which would help reduce her depression, lower her stress levels and increase her sense of wellbeing. After her recovery and realisation of the growing mental health crisis, Louise identified a way to help others through interior design. She changed the focus of her design business to incorporate proven design methodology to create a holistic approach to interior spaces. The breakfast event will give delegates the opportunity to learn, network, build relationships and enjoy a breakfast with fellow Chamber members. To find out more about the event, or to book a place: CLICK HERE.

This is the fourth in an annual series of ground breaking Tech Nation reports that give deep insight into the UK tech ecosystem to further the understanding of the sector’s key challenges, opportunities and trends for the year ahead and beyond.

It highlights the unique strengths of clusters and considers how to support their growth in an evolving political climate. The Norwich Tech cluster features continued growth and highlights the growing number of digital/tech jobs, as well as the strengths and challenges faced by digital and tech companies in our region.

Overall the UK has cemented its position as a global tech leader. 

Its digital tech sector is a shining light not only in Europe but also on a global scale. In London, 33% of tech company customers are based outside the UK, compared to 30% in Silicon Valley and 7% in Beijing.  The report shows that the UK’s global connections are key to domestic success.  With 25% of the world’s entrepreneurs reporting a significant relationship with two or more others based in London, a figure beaten only by Silicon Valley.

Jobs in digital tech are on the rise. 

From 2014 to 2017 digital tech sector employment rose 13.2%. In Norwich the digital tech jobs rose to a total 13,411 in 2017.  UK workers are more productive, on average, by £10,000 per worker. Jobs requiring digital tech skills command higher salaries, at £42,578 compared to £32,477 for those that do not.  Only 19% of the digital tech workforce is female. Despite the stereotype that digital tech jobs are for millennials, 72% of workers are aged over 35.

In survey, the Norwich cluster identified the top strengths as:

1          Appealing area

2          A helpful tech community

3          Proximity to a university

Whilst the top three challenges were identified as:

1          Limited infrastructure

2          Access to talent

3          Bad transport links

There’s still time to book your early bird stand at B2B 2018. You can save £50 on the cost of your stand if you book online by Friday 25 May.

Celebrating its 20th year in 2018, the B2B Exhibtion brings together the finest business minds in Norfolk and beyond, giving you access to hundreds of businesses contacts that are looking for bright ideas and are keen to explore new opportunities.

B2B 2018 is the region’s premier business to business exhibition, offering your business a unique opportunity to maximise visibility of their brand, raise your profile and show Norfolk what you can offer.

Booking early not only saves you money, but offers you priority booking to reserve your preferred stand location.

Find out who’s booked their stand here

To book you stand click here

Any questions? Email [email protected] or call 01603 729 708

Our commitment to your privacy

Here at Norfolk Chamber of Commerce we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting it. As you know there are changes in data protection law, so we wanted you to know we’ve updated our privacy policy.

Your trust and protection of your data is important to us, and we want to make sure you understand what these changes mean for you. This Privacy Policy is designed to inform you of our policy and practices and to tell you of the way your information is collected and used.

Norfolk Chamber ensures that any data received will be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.

As result of GDPR we have recently sent a number of emails to our contacts to opt-in to continue receiving our email marketing. If haven’t yet responded and want to keep receiving email communications from us, you can sign up here. 

If you have any questions about how we manage your data please call 01603 625977 or email [email protected]

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

“With unemployment declining and employment levels continuing to rise, the latest data confirms that the labour market remains a bright spot for the UK economy. However, while the latest figures are likely to reinforce the MPC’s hawkish rhetoric, labour market data tends to lag behind the wider economy, so any broader weakening in economic conditions wouldn’t be expected to appear in the figures for some time.

“While regular earnings growth continues to marginally outpace inflation, the decline in UK productivity in the first quarter is a clear warning sign that positive real wage growth should not be taken for granted. While businesses are reporting some upward pressure on pay, sluggish productivity and high upfront business costs are restricting the extent to which wages are able to rise.

“More needs to be done to support firms looking to recruit and grow their business, including tackling the high input costs faced by businesses and addressing the chronic labour shortages that continue to undermine the UK growth prospects.”

Commenting on the labour productivity statistics, Suren added:

“The fall in the first quarter is disappointing and shows that the recent pick-up in productivity was relatively short lived. The decline in the quarter was driven by weaker than expected GDP growth outturn in Q1 and the recent pick-up in hours worked.  

“The persistent weakness in UK productivity reflects the longstanding structural problems in our economy from a chronic skills shortage, to our creaking infrastructure and the escalating cost of doing business in the UK. Delivering solutions to these key business concerns would help boost investment and drive the productivity gains we need to boost the UK’s long-term growth potential.”

The holy month of Ramadan will begin on the 16th May 2018 and end on or around 14th – 15th June 2018

During this period the Arab British Chamber of Commerce will adopt, as in previous years, shorter working hours, Monday to Friday (10.00am – 3.00pm).

Equally, all Arab Embassies will also have shorter working hours, therefore, delays in documentation turnaround may be experience.

Furthermore, please note that at the end of the holy month of Ramadan the Embassies will close for several days. 

Please do ensure that documents are presented in good time, so as to avoid disappointments.

Great news, the new edition of Norfolk Voice is out! This edition May/June focuses on GDPR. In our main feature, you will find an eight-page GDPR pull out with all you need to know, to get really for the 25 May 2018.  Read about Dr Adam Marshall in our big interview, who is driving forward the British Chamber of Commerce, he gives us an insight into his vision, and challenges ahead for businesses.

Don’t miss out on how you can apply for the BCC Awards, and Norfolk Business Awards. We want to celebrate your great work in this region, so get that application filled in! In addition, we talk to Michael Baldwin from Bank House about his role as General Manager and President of the West Norfolk Chamber Council.

You can access the Norfolk Voice in several forms, digitally and of course print. For the digital version click on the link below. https://issuu.com/distinctivepublishing/docs/nv46

Don’t forget we love to hear from you and your businesses, your successes, your awards and creative journeys. You can get directly with Dominique on the email below.

If you would like to receive a hardcopy of the Norfolk Voice magazine please do let me know. [email protected]

In Spring 2017 Highways England held a number of consultation events giving the public and businesses the opportunity to hear about and share their views on the A47 corridor improvement schemes. In August 2017, the preferred route announcement was made.

However Highways England have continued to develop more detailed designs and are pleased to advise they plan to hold further statutory consultation for the A47/A11 Thickthorn Junction Improvement starting on Monday 11 June 2018 and running until Friday 20 July 2018. 

There will be four public information events for local communities and interested parties on the following dates and locations:

• Saturday 23 June 2018 11am to 5pm The Forum, Norwich
• Tuesday 3 July 2018 1pm to 8pm North Wymondham Community Centre
• Friday 6 July 2018 1pm to 8pm Ketteringham Village Hall
• Saturday 7th July 2018 11am to 5pm St Peters Church Hall, Cringleford

Should you have any questions or need further information about these events you can contact the project team at: [email protected]

Eleven government departments have each appointed a Head of International Trade Profession to champion trade negotiation skills and help ensure that the UK develops appropriate expertise.

The International Trade Profession aims to raise the skills and ambitions of those working, or aspiring to work, in international trade by opening up new roles and career opportunities in the UK Government, supporting talented people to develop careers in trade and providing a training programme for them.

Announcing the initiative, the Chief Trade Negotiation Advisor, Crawford Falconer, said: “We are ensuring government attracts the best and brightest talent by not only offering trade professionals a clear route into working on trade policy, exports and investment at the centre of government but also nurturing their ability for the future through access to world-class training.”

The need for the UK to develop its own trade negotiation capacity has been highlighted by Brexit, with the possibility of the country having to take on responsibility for something that for many years has been the responsibility of the EU.

Commenting on the announcement, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said that, by establishing the International Trade Profession, the Government has embedded the development of trade negotiation capability at the heart of its agenda and taken another important step in getting UK trade policy Brexit-ready.

That view was echoed by CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn who commented: “Business will warmly welcome the appointment of Heads of International Trade Profession across Whitehall, demonstrating that the Government is building expertise and capability in a crucial area for post-Brexit Britain.”

Chief Operating Officer at Tech East, Tim Robinson will provide an update on the organiation’s mission to establish the East of England as the next global tech cluster and promote digital excellence across the region. Businesses will hear about the accelerated growth of exciting tech companies throughout Norfolk and the positive impact this has on the Eastern region. Tim will also examine the increasing availability of tech and digital skills throughout Norfolk and beyond. The event will be hosted by the Chamber’s Chief Executive, Chris Sargisson, who will facilitate an interactive Q+A session to close the event. The networking event at Barnham Broom Hotel will provide Norfolk Chambers with a chance to meet likeminded businesses, form valuable new connections and raise their profile in the Norfolk business community. Book your place at the event here.