Chamber News

On Thursday 19th January, over 70 members joined us for a Business Breakfast at the Great Yarmouth Town Hall. The Assembly Room provided a grand and spacious setting where delegates could network over coffee upon arrival.

Neil Orford, president of the Great Yarmouth Chamber Council kicked off proceedings by welcoming guests and congratulating Caroline on her much deserved MBE. Guests then went straight into some Speed Networking which is designed to get guests talking to as many other people as possible. The Speed Networking meant that guests were able to meet up to 32 different people in the room.

When guests wrapped up their networking sessions, they were treated to a full English breakfast courtesy of T&K Banqueting Ltd.

Presentations then came from our event Sponsors, Norfolk County Council, supported by Great Yarmouth Borough Council. Tig Armstrong, Infrastructure and Economic Growth Manager, David Allfrey, Major Projects Manager, both from Norfolk County Council gave updates on infrastructure across Norfolk, looking at both the dualling of the A47 and the Third River Crossing project. Both government spending and timelines were discussed, Norfolk County Council advised that building work could begin on bridge as early as 2020.

David Glason, Group Manager for Growth, Great Yarmouth Borough Council then updated guests on investment within the Town Centre explaining that £2m is being put into regenerating Great Yarmouth.

If you missed it and want to know more, a copy of the slides can be found here

The event was rounded off with a Q+A session with our speakers where delegates asked for more information on the Town Centre – which can be found displayed in the Town Hall, or here. Businesses were also interested to see how they could support the projects, to which Tig explained that every ounce of vocal support helps them build a case for the infrastructure. To give feedback and help the Third River Crossing project, click here

To learn about any upcoming events, please visit: norfolkchamber.co.uk/events

Norfolk County Council will receive an additional £5.1 million from central government to spend on road and transport improvements in the 2017/18 financial year, it has been announced.

The money comes from the government’s National Productivity Investment Fund, which was announced in the Autumn Statement, however the detail of how the fund will be allocated has only been announced in the last week.

This is new funding for local highway and other local transport improvements which is designed to support local economic growth and improve access to employment and housing. This could include schemes that reduce congestion at key locations and upgrading or improving the maintenance of local routes.

Jonathan Cage, President of Norfolk Chamber said: “The state of Norfolk’s road infrastructure impacts on all members of the Norfolk business community and we welcome any improvements that will help reduce journey times and congestion.”

Martin Wilby, Chairman of the Environment, Development and Transport Committee, said: “We know good transport networks are vital to business growth and job creation, as well as simply making everyday life easier for everyone. Reducing journey times and congestion on our road network and continuing to improve safety for all on our roads is a priority for this council, so this is additional funding is very welcome.”

Members of the council’s Environment, Development and Transport Committee will receive a verbal update about this additional new funding at a meeting next Friday (27 January) as part of an agenda item about the council’s proposed highways capital programme, which is spent on major works such as structural road repairs and major surfacing schemes. Next year’s highways capital programme is anticipated to stand at £38.83m, with the £5.1m from the National Productivity Investment fund being additional to this figure.

Young Chamber and Santander joined forces to deliver an excellent programme called MoneyWise to help students at Cliff Park Junior School develop their financial capabilities and understand the banking industry and career opportunities.

Stephen Hart, Local Business Manager with Santander, gave an overview of what his role was, what Santander’s products are, and an introduction to MoneyWise. Pupils were asked to say what they understood about money and how to get it – their answers were very wide-ranging from: ‘the Bank of Mum & Dad, to ‘get a job’, to ‘trade goods until you get what you want’. There were definitely some future entrepreneurs in the classroom!

Young Chamber is designed to help bridge the gap between young people and business. We would encourage students to think about what jobs they might want to do, or to find out more about businesses and industries they do not know much about, so we can help them better understand these opportunities. They will have decisions to make about their academic choices sooner than ever, so the more they can understand what skills they need for the future, the more prepared they are to make that decision.

Santander will be delivering more Moneywise workshops to students at Cliff Park Junior School throughout January.

Commenting on the labour market statistics for January 2017 published this week by the Office for National Statistics, Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber said:

“With UK employment levels still close to record levels and unemployment continuing to fall, the latest indicators confirm that the UK jobs market remains a major bright spot for the UK economy. “The rise in employment levels could be seen in the latest Quarterly Economic Survey results for Q4, which showed the Norfolk manufacturing and service sectors both reporting increases in their staff recruitment.”

“Overall, the Norfolk unemployment trend followed that of the rest of the UK, however, the number of Norfolk Job Seeker Allowance (JSA) claimants rose from 6,985 in November to 7,265 claimants in December. This difference could be accounted for in two ways: firstly, there is always a seasonal swing in the unemployment figures during the winter, which will pick up again once the tourism season gets underway again in Spring. And secondly, Great Yarmouth was one of the first areas in the UK to roll out ‘full service’ Universal Credit, which has had some impact on how the ONS processes the statistics.”

Also commenting on the UK labour market statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce said:

“Whilst the labour market conditions could soften over the next year as economic growth slows, the high degree of flexibility in the jobs market will help limit the extent of any uptick in unemployment. Although there was a welcome pick-up in average earnings growth, the gap between wage and price growth is narrowing. If this continues as we expect, real household incomes will be squeezed further, stifling consumer spending, which is a key driver of UK economic growth.

“More must be done to safeguard the long-term health of the UK jobs market by supporting firms looking to recruit and invest in their workforce, and ensuring companies have access to the workers they need.”

It is a key mission for Norfolk Chamberto provide a voice for our local business communities.Together with the British Chambers of Commerce we are working to understand business priorities and concerns around digital infrastructure and skills.

We are undertaking a survey which is designed to understand the reliability of your business’s broadband connectivity and how this impacts on your growth and productivity; whether your business has access to the digital skills it requires; and how cyber security impacts on your business and industry.

The results of this survey will be used in Chamber engagement with stakeholders at the highest levels of Government, as well as with parliamentarians and regulators. Your input will help us to ensure that Norfolk business concerns and priorities are reflected in government policy.

The survey closes at midnight on 3 February 2017. It is open to all businesses and should take around 5 minutes to complete. All data collected is anonymised.

(Please note that some of the questions in this survey relate to the set-up of your business’s broadband connection).

Complete the online survey now

Thank you in advance for your support.

Ward Trade Marks, one of the UK’s leading trade mark lawyers or attorneys is proud to announce that it has joined Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.

Built on founder Rachael Ward’s quarter century of trade mark expertise, since 2014 Ward Trade Marks has established itself as a market-leading specialist law firm among both major corporates and small and medium sized enterprises, based in both UK and overseas.

The company was jointly founded by Rachael and her husband Bill, who has decades of senior executive experience – including in the highly competitive airline market.

Ward Trade Marks represents dozens of businesses across many sectors, including property, animation, soft drinks and leisure.

Trade marks comprise logos, strap lines, words and other visual ways of representing a brand. They are a key part of a company’s identity, a symbol of their relationship with customers and a key asset on their balance sheets.

Failure to register trade marks correctly in different countries may mean they can be used by competitor companies.

Rachael explained that “Ward Trade Marks is centred both on our expertise – we are one of only a tiny handful of specialist trade mark attorneys – and our values. These values have been shaped by both our beliefs that hardworking company owners deserve a return for their risk-taking and that could be endangered by competitors ‘owning’ your trade marks and picking up business that is rightfully yours.”

To provide this service, Ward Trade Marks has expanded and now employs five staff. We operate across every time zone and will meet all reasonable deadlines to protect your brand and ensure that your trade marks are registered and protected.

In addition to our UK and international trade mark registration service, we also ensure that our clients’ brand is protected by monitoring and reviewing efforts by other companies to acquire this part of your intellectual property portfolio.

Client comment:

TukTuk Creative Marketing brings together some of the best copywriters, photographers, developers and marketing brains to offer clients a full creative service.

Vicky Stanaway for TukTuk Creative Marketing explained why they opted for Ward Trade Marks:

“I love our company name, and it brings to life what I wanted to do when I started the company – taking brands on an inspiring journey, and what better way than on a TukTuk. To lose the name now or in the future would be crushing.

Bill and Rachael have been amazing from the start, and I whole heartily trust them to set up the Trademark and follow up with any issues that occur along the way.”

Bill explained the company’s reasons for joining Norfolk Chamber of Commerce: “as a specialist but growing trade mark practice with a strong presence in East Anglia and with both a local and an international client base and credentials, joining this Chamber was a logical and necessary next step.

“In becoming members of Norfolk Chamber, Ward Trade Marks can access the organisation’s great networking events and be part of its high-profiled lobbying campaigns.”

We are Ward. We are a brand emergency and protection service.

For further information about Ward Trade Marks, please go to:https://www.wardtrademarks.com/or call Bill Ward on 01223 421779.

Abellio has sold a 40% share in Greater Anglia to Mitsui. The Japanese company was identified as the best partner to support Abellio in delivering ambitious programme of improvements.

Abellio UK (“Abellio”) has signed an agreement to sell 40% of the Greater Anglia rail franchise to Mitsui & Co., Ltd. pending final regulatory approvals. This fulfils Abellio’s long-standing objective of finding a suitable partner to run Greater Anglia in a 60:40 joint venture.

Abellio and Mitsui have a proven track record of working together, having first entered into a joint venture to bid for the West Midlands rail franchise in 2016. Following this process, Abellio felt that Mitsui would be the best partner to help it deliver its ambitious programme to transform the Greater Anglia franchise.

Mitsui is a global conglomerate with business interests in numerous different sectors, including infrastructure, integrated transportation systems, energy, and IT and communications. The deal is also notable for marking the first time a Japanese company has become a shareholder of a British train operating company.

Abellio re-won the Greater Anglia franchise in August 2016, having first operated it from February 2012. It will continue to have a majority stake in the business and be in overall control. The franchise agreement will see £1.4bn in investment over the next nine years, with the introduction of a completely new fleet and a commitment to cut average journey times by 10%.

Dominic Booth, Managing Director of Abellio said:

“We are delighted to have reached agreement with Mitsui, fulfilling our long standing objective of running the franchise as a 60:40 joint venture. With the introduction of Mitsui’s knowledge and experience, we look forward to delivering significant improvements for Greater Anglia’s customers, including through the introduction of a brand new fleet.”

Commenting on the share sale, Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“Greater Anglia have committed to a hugely transformational programme of upgrades to our region’s rail service. They have outlined major investment and improvements, which will see the total replacement of all rolling stock, increased seating and a faster, more efficient services. Mitsui will bring complimentary skills and expertise to help support the delivery of greater customer service for businesses across our region.”

Norfolk County Council and Balfour Beatty today (Mon) confirmed that the closure of Plumstead Road for the bridge beam lift will now begin on Wednesday 18 January.

The lift and 2-3 day road closure was originally scheduled to begin tomorrow (Tues 17th), but was postponed on Friday after heavy snow, sleet and wind prevented essential preparations, including scaffolding work which is now underway.

Plumstead Road will therefore remain open tomorrow (Tues 17th) and willclose in the early hours (between 4am and 5am) of Wednesday 18 January,staying closed on Thursday 19th and the following night.Plumstead Road will reopen when work is complete onFriday 20 January. The exact timing of reopening will depend upon progress, but will be as soon as it is safe to do so.

During the closure of Plumstead Road, at peak hours a shuttle bus will operate from the Green, Thorpe End, to the temporary stop near the junction with Green Lane North.

Please note that asa further contingency, the on-site signage will also include Saturday 21st as a potential closure date for Plumstead Road. This is so that if for any reason the works over-run , they can continue on Saturday morning. Without this notification, work would have to stop and be completed under a fresh closure, causing further disruption.

Norfolk County Council and Balfour Beatty apologise for the inconvenience caused by this closure of Plumstead Road.

A revised version of the Harmonized System (HS) Nomenclature entered into force on 1 January 2017.

This introduces 233 sets of amendments compared to the previous version with most of the changes concerning the agricultural sector (85) and with the chemical (45) and machinery (25) sectors also heavily revised.

The transport, textiles and wood sectors are others highlighted by the World Customs Organization (WCO) as being particularly affected by the changes.

Developed by the WCO, the HS Nomenclature was first adopted in 1983 and is now used by over 200 countries and economic or customs unions for classifying goods in international trade.

It is also used by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and individual countries as a common language of trade for the purposes of trade negotiations, and as a basis for determination of the origin of goods.

The 2017 edition includes more than 5300 six-digit subheadings compared to just over 5200 in the previous version released in 2012. Most of the changes were, according to the WCO, prompted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), including amendments for fish and fishery products.

There is also a focus on forestry products, intended to enhance the coverage of wood species in order to obtain a better picture of trade patterns, including trade in endangered species.

HS 2017 includes provisions to help monitor trade in products, such as substances controlled under the Chemical Weapons Convention, hazardouschemicals controlled under the Rotterdam Convention and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) controlled under the Stockholm Convention.

WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya has called on authorities to implement the new version of the Nomenclature as soon as possible.

Further information about the HS is available atwww.wcoomd.org. You can also find more information on the Gov.UK website, or by contacting us at the Chamber.

The current lack of connectivity severely inhibits movement in Great Yarmouth resulting in congestion and ultimately limiting the economic potential of the town. Particular areas that could be affected include: the Great Yarmouth Enterprise Zone, the Energy Park, the South Denes Business Park and the deep water outer harbour.

Neil Orford, President of Great Yarmouth Chamber Council said:

“The new crossing would provide much needed connections between the strategic road network and the fat growing energy related Enterprise Zone. It provides linkages across the River Yare to the economic growth hub on the South Denes peninsula. The additional crossing would also support tourism, which is worth £577m per annum to Great Yarmouth and create jobs for 30% of the local workforce.”

Full details of the proposal can be found in the Prospectus.

Norfolk County Council is holding public consultations to find out about transport issues in Great Yarmouth and how its proposal for a third river crossing might affect people living, working and visiting the area.

They will be presenting the details of the Third River Crossing proposal at the Chamber’s Great Yarmouth Breakfast on Thursday 19 January.

You can have your say on the Third River Crossing online or Norfolk County Council have more consultation events throughout January in the town, where people can drop in to talk to representatives from the County Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council about its proposal to build a third bridge across the River Yare, as well as the town’s wider transport needs.

• Saturday 21 January, 10am – 2pm, Gorleston Library
• Thursday 26 January, 10am – 4pm, Great Yarmouth Town Hall
• Saturday 28 January, 10am – 3pm, Great Yarmouth Library

Norfolk County Council previously carried out a public consultation on a third river crossing in 2009, in which 92% of people supported a new crossing. The government have now given them the opportunity to bid for funding to move the bridge into the planning and detailed design phase.

If successful they could be looking at construction in 2021. As part of this they want to give you another opportunity to give your views on the Third River Crossing and transport in Great Yarmouth. Your views will form part of an outline business case to government in March 2017.

Commenting on the trade statistics for November 2016, published by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The widening of the UK’s trade deficit in November is disappointing, and signifies a considerably weaker trading position than the average for the year. While exports increased slightly in the month, this was more than offset by a record rise in imports, confirming that there is little evidence that the fall in the value of the pound is boosting the UK’s overall trade balance.

“Trade is likely to make a greater contribution to UK GDP in the next few years, as the persistent currency weakness feeds through into improved price competitiveness for some exporters, and diminishes demand for imports. However, the extent of any improvement is likely to be curbed by subdued global trade growth, and the higher cost of imported raw materials.

“In order to achieve a meaningful improvement in our export performance, the government must do more to provide businesses with direct support to access new markets.”

Construction of Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR) is on course to pass another significant milestone next week when the bridge that will carry the dual carriageway over Plumstead Road becomes the first to have its main beams lifted into place.

There are eight bridges on the 20km route of the NDR, six going over the dual carriageway, and two carrying the NDR where it goes over Plumstead Road and the Norwich to Sheringham railway.

Plumstead Road closure Plumstead Road will be closed for up to three days from early (between 4 and 5am) on Tuesday 17 January, reopening as soon as possible on Thursday 19 January. The duration of the closure will depend upon progress – the crane cannot lift if the wind is much stronger than a moderate breeze.

Altogether 26 concrete beams will be lifted into place after being brought by road from Ireland. The lifts will mainly be carried out during daylight hours, but work will continue overnight to fit GRP* deck panels ready for the bridge deck concrete to be poured.

Chris Sedman, Project Director for main contractor Balfour Beatty, said: “Getting the first bridge beams in place is another important milestone – especially since it is at Plumstead Road. Along with the adjoining railway bridge, it’s one of the key structures on the route. We aim to have the steel beams over the railway in place in April, and once we are able to bring bulk material across the railway we will be able to focus on the Middle Road bridge.”

Ian Taylor, Project Manager for Norfolk County Council, said the support of the local community was greatly appreciated. “We know that sometimes we cannot avoid making life difficult for people, but we have been heartened that so many share our view that completing construction as soon as possible is best for us all.

“Sharp frosts early in December stopped us getting these beams on before Christmas and unfortunately the road closure now coincides with the longer-term Anglian Water closure on Plumstead Road East close to Aerodrome Road. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. For anyone affected by both closures, using Salhouse Road and Norwich Ring Road will be worth considering.”

Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber said:“We welcome every milestone which gets us closer to the completion of the NDR. We do not want to see any further delays which could cause the motorist aggravation and hold up the benefits of this new road.”