Norwich Airport Passenger Action Group (NAPAG) are looking for feedback from passengers using Norwich International Airport, in particular those using the airport for business.
NAPAG are an independent group of passengers who regularly fly from Norwich International Airport and are committed to improving the experience of passengers using this Airport. NAPAG is recognised by and has full access to the airport’s management team.
As a result of previous passenger feedback the airport has installed a covered external waiting area; has reduced car parking fees with the ability to pre-book up to just two hours before arrival; and provided additional comfort seating in both the departure and arrivals areas.
The group also continue to lobby for new destinations and it is now possible to fly from Norwich to Malaga and Alicante year round and very shortly Norwich to Geneva.
George Nobbs, Leader of Norfolk County Council, has welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement of a draftdevolution agreement for East Anglia in his budget speech yesterday. The deal is worth more than one billion pounds for East Anglia.
Cllr Nobbs said: “This announcement of a draft agreement for East Anglia potentially sees the start of a profound transfer of powers from Whitehall to this region. I have always believedthat key decisions on public services are best made by locally elected politicians, answerable to the public, rather than distant bureaucrats in Whitehall.
“Each and every council in the region will now debate the draft document as details are worked up. I am personally delighted that this is a deal specifically for East Anglia. This is not a region created by central dictate, it is deeply rooted in English history and has possessed a distinct identity for more than a thousand years.”
The deal has been produced after months of negotiation with authorities across Norfolk and Suffolk, and latterly, Cambridge and Peterborough. The New Anglia LEP is also a signatory.
The draft agreement will now be debated in each of the councils in the region.
Including other local investments confirmed in yesterday’s Budget, the deal would bring over £1 billion to the area for transport, skills and housing as well as new local powers to give the area control over existing pots of Government money.
The current offer includes:
Over £1 billion of new money to support economic growth over the next 30 years
The region will take control of millions of pounds of multi-year consolidated and devolved transport budget
New powers over infrastructure, developing skills for employment, and improving our health and social care system
£175 million of capital grant for the East to deliver an ambitious target of new homes in line with national targets
The deal would also include the creation of a combined authority for East Anglia, chaired bya directlyelected Mayor supported by a cabinet made up from leaders from the partner authorities
The draft agreement suggests a combined authority be set up across the four authority areas in the East but councils would still keep their sovereignty and deliver local services. It would see the transfer of significant resources and powers from central government to the region but at this stage specifically for infrastructure, housing, economic development and jobs and skills.
Giving her reaction to the Budget, Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said:
“Business wanted a steady, workmanlike Budget, and that’s what we got. The Chancellor listened to our calls to avoid higher business taxes and costs – and indeed moved to lower them in a number of areas. He has finally taken real action to lessen the crushing burden of business rates, and sharpened incentives for entrepreneurship and investment.
“While his commitments to key business infrastructure projects are positive, the Chancellor must ensure that they move from the drawing board to speedy construction on the ground. In a softening economy, the combination of sustained infrastructure investment and lower business taxes is important to maintaining the confidence of firms across the country.”
On business rates:
“Businesses will cheer measures to cut the burden of business rates, which hundreds of thousands of firms have to pay before they even turn over a single pound.
“More frequent revaluations will be welcomed, too, but only if a simpler system with fewer valuation errors can be delivered. We would also have liked to see plant and machinery investments excluded from business rates calculations, so we will be pressing for further action on this and other aspects of the system that discourage investment.
“All in all, the rates reforms are a significant step in the right direction, and we will work closely with the government to ensure that they result in real improvements for long-suffering businesses on the ground.”
On the Business Tax Roadmap, Corporation Tax, and Capital Gains Tax:
“The Business Tax Roadmap will help provide a greater degree of certainty as businesses look to plan for the future. Ultimately, the acid test for the roadmap will be whether it makes it easier for businesses to navigate the UK’s complex tax system.
“Cuts to corporation tax and capital gains tax show that the UK is very much open for business. The reduction in capital gains tax in particular will help to encourage entrepreneurial risk-taking in some of our most dynamic young firms.”
On additional investment in HMRC services:
“While businesses continue to express serious reservations about the quality of service provided by HMRC, the additional investment to make it quicker and easier for business people to deal with the Revenue is welcome. We will press for this investment to be geared towards supporting small and medium-sized businesses and making compliance easier.”
On fuel duty:
“We were expecting an increase in fuel duty, so the freeze is good news for businesses, particularly those at the smaller end of the spectrum. The freeze will help keep transport and distribution costs competitive.”
On infrastructure:
“Businesses will be pleased that the Chancellor is moving forward on key infrastructure projects. However, these projects remain at a very preliminary stage, and businesses won’t celebrate exploratory studies and plans that are never realized. Here in Norfolk we want to see our critical infrastructure projects, such as the improvements on the A47 and the Great Yarmouth third river crossing come to fruition are soon as possible.
Vattenfall, the Swedish energy firm, said today it has started development of Norfolk’s largest offshore wind farm.
Recently the wind farm developer agreed with The Crown Estate to take forward Norfolk Vanguard into the planning process with a target capacity of 1.8GW, 47km off the coast. This would generate enough power to meet the annual needs of more than 1.3 million UK households delivering a significant boost to future home grown, low cost, low carbon energy generation.
Recently the UK Government has said it sees the offshore wind sector making an increasing contribution to the UK generation mix with capacity doubling to 20GW by 2030, as costs reduce. Late last year, Vattenfall said it was targeting a tripling of wind power capacity to 7GW across northern Europe by 2025 as it moves to a more sustainable energy business.
Ruari Lean, Vattenfall’s Project Manager for Norfolk Vanguard, said: “Vattenfall wants to work with Norfolk to capture the benefits of offshore wind. There is an opportunity for Norfolk business and securing Norfolk jobs. There is also an opportunity to make a telling impact in the UK’s contribution to tackling climate change.”
Andy Paine, Vattenfall’s Project Director for Norfolk Vanguard and head of UK offshore wind, said: “As the industry grows costs will fall; that’s why offshore wind has a great future in the UK. An industry is emerging in Norfolk and we are convinced that the region is well placed to secure an even bigger role in the sector.”
Vattenfall has also agreed with The Crown Estate to develop Norfolk Boreas, also with a target capacity of 1.8GW. The development of Norfolk Boreas will start in 2017.
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said: “We welcome the exciting news that Vattenfall have started the development of Norfolk’s largest offshore wind farm. The Norfolk Vanguard project will provide further opportunities and jobs for our region and Norfolk Chamber looks forward to working closely with Vattenfall to achieve their objectives.”
From 8 April HMRC is going to introduce an exporter details facility on uktradeinfo.com.
Exporters can opt out of the searchable facility, but details cannot be removed retrospectively. Once the data has been made available, it cannot be removed. Exporters who apply immediately will not have their details shown. Otherwise, export data from 1 January 2016 will be made available.
The opt-out rules for Importers Details are also changing from 8 April to bring them into line with the exporter details rules. Anyone who applies for opt-out from Importer Details immediately will have their details excluded from 1 February 2016.
Chambers of Commerce across the country, including Norfolk Chamber, are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with a range of events, having already supported over 15,000 young people so far through Your Future Careers Fairs.
Norfolk Chamber has been involved with delivering Your Future events, which are designed to raise awareness of the career options available to young people, including apprenticeships, and more than 16,500 14-24 year olds have participated nationally so far.
Across the country, an extra 21 events are planned during National Apprenticeship Week, which are expected to attract around 8,000 students.
Chambers involved in the Your Future events include Black Country, Birmingham, Business West, Barnsley & Rotherham, Cornwall, Coventry & Warwickshire, Cumbria, Devon, Doncaster, East Midlands, East Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Hereford & Worcester, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Hull & Humber, Isle of Wight, Kent Invicta, Lincolnshire, Liverpool and Sefton, North & Western Lancashire, Norfolk, St Helens Chamber, Sheffield, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, South Cheshire, Sussex, Suffolk, West and North Yorkshire and Wirral.
The scheme works with local businesses to help bridge the gap between the worlds of education and work, to highlight the options available to students, as well as the skills needed to enter the workplace. So far, around 500 national businesses have participated in the scheme through Chambers of Commerce.
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said:
“The Your Future events help raise the profile of apprenticeships, which are of benefit to businesses, individuals and the whole UK economy.
“The recently highlighted challenge of promoting apprenticeships in schools is an issue that the Noroflk Chamber and other Chambers within the UK network are tackling, through the Your Future events and by working closely with the Skills Funding Agency, to highlight the breadth of career options available through apprenticeships.
“Through Chambers, local firms can link up with schools, highlight career opportunities, and dispel the myth that the only route to success is a university degree.
“We will continue to help local businesses connect with education and training providers, to raise the visibility of apprenticeships and address the skills gap across the country.”
Ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget on March 16, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the government to avoid introducing new taxes, costs and obligations that could dent business confidence in a softening economic environment.
The business group urges the Chancellor to use his fourth fiscal event in 12 months to opt for a steady approach that gives businesses, individuals, and government itself the time needed to work through existing commitments and reforms. BCC seeks three commitments from the Chancellor at the Budget:
No new taxes on businesses or entrepreneurs for the remainder of this parliament. Pensions auto-enrolment, the National Living Wage, the apprenticeship levy, higher dividend taxes and other measures have significantly increased up-front burdens for business;
Deliver the long-overdue business rates reform by April 2017, and focus on resetting the valuation, collection, and setting of the rates, as opposed to changing who gets to keep and spend the revenue;
Address shortcomings at HMRC to support, not undermine, business growth. BCC wants HMRC focused on supporting businesses, particularly SMEs, and making compliance easier – rather than heavy – handed enforcement campaigns.
Dr Adam Marshall, BCC Acting Director General, said:
“In an increasingly uncertain economic environment, the Chancellor should avoid any and all moves that could damage business confidence. At a time when many businesses already face sharply higher costs and taxes, the Chancellor must avoid adding any new obligations on our firms.
“Ministers must also finally take action to ease the burden of business rates. Reform of the rates system is long overdue, and a source of uncertainty for companies everywhere.”
Westlegate is set to be closed as part of next phase of Transport for Norwich city centre improvement work. The second phase of the Transport for Norwich city centre improvement work is set to start on Monday 21 March 2016. The biggest change for motorists will be the permanent closure of Westlegate to all through traffic with Golden Ball Street opening as a two-way street.
The aim of the current proposal is to build upon other TfN projects, especially the changes implemented in St Stephens Street, Chapel Field North, and Rampant Horse Street in 2014, and to make the most of the benefits of the Norwich Northern Distributor Road, which should be completed in late 2017.
The £3.05m scheme is being carried out in phases to minimise disruption and will once complete:
Give motorists easier access to car parks, including John Lewis, both Castle Mall car parks and the multi-storey under construction off Rose Lane
Restore All Saints Green as an attractive traffic-free open space.
Improve pedestrian and cycle connection with the rest of the city centre by removing traffic from Westlegate
Simplify north-south vehicle access by making Golden Ball Street two-way
Thanks to the work already completed during phase 1 motorists already have easier access to the John Lewis car park, being able to turn in from either direction along Ber Street and on exiting with both left and right turns now allowed. And as Golden Ball Street becomes two way drivers approaching from the south will be able to take a simpler route to the Castle Mall car parks cutting out the former one way loop along Westlegate and Red Lion Street.
With Westlegate closed to general traffic work will start on the new pedestrian zone with a number of trees set to be planted over the next few months, and access for pedestrians and businesses will be retained at all times. And the section of Farmers Avenue from its junction with Red Lion Street to the entrance to the smaller Castle Mall car park will also be pedestrianised, this will be made possible by the rest of Farmers Avenue becoming two way. Red Lion Street will become available for buses, taxis and cycles only as is the case with St Stephens Street currently.
Cllr Steve Morphew, Chair of the Norwich Highways Agency Committee, said: “I’m really grateful for the help and patience of everyone during the current works. Thankfully there have been even fewer problems than anticipated. However the next phase could cause more delays so I ask everyone to bear with us while we carry out this work to build simpler faster routes for drivers and attractive spaces for everyone however they travel to the city.
“We are starting this next phase just before the Easter break which we know can be a busy time in the city so hopefully this will give people a few days to get used to the new road layouts before the bank holiday and plenty of time for the new system to settle down before schools go back after Easter. I ask people to please plan your journeys and allow extra time while the work is underway as everyone is having to adjust.”
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today (Friday) downgraded its UK GDP growth forecast, from 2.5% to 2.2% in 2016, and from 2.5% to 2.3% in 2017; for 2018, included for the first time in the forecast, GDP growth of 2.4% is predicted.
The downgrade is due to weaker than expected growth across most areas of the economy, reflecting a general global slowdown. Despite these issues, UK GDP is expected to expand at a moderate and relatively steady pace over the next three years.
Key points in the forecast:
UK GDP growth forecasts downgraded: to 2.2% for 2016 and to 2.3% for 2017
For 2018 – included for the first time – GDP growth of 2.4% is forecast
Downgrade due to weaker than expected growth across most areas of the economy, mainly reflecting a general global slowdown.
Lower than predicted actual growth in Q4 2015, and downward revisions of earlier ONS figures for the first three quarters of 2015, also contributed to the downgrade
Services and consumer spending will remain the key growth drivers of the UK economy
Quarterly UK GDP expected to grow by 0.5% in Q1 2016; thereafter, quarterly GDP growth is forecast to average slightly less than 0.6% per quarter from Q2 2016 onwards
First expected increase in official interest rates, to 0.75% in Q4 2016 – one quarter later than predicted in the previous quarter
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:
“In the face of a slowing economy which can be seen in both Norfolk and nationally, and with further potential risks on the horizon, there is a case for sustained Government action to improve prospects for Norfolk business.
“Wherever possible, given very real fiscal constraints, the Chancellor must use his forthcoming Budget to bring forward road, rail, and digital infrastructure projects that would help Norfolk companies do more business. He must also avoid adding further to the long list of new business costs and taxes introduced over recent months, which impact on firms before they turn over a single pound and undermine investment.”
Dr Adam Marshall, Acting Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“Our forecast should stand as a wake-up call. The UK’s economic performance is reasonably good when measured against our main competitors, but it’s only mediocre when compared against long-term trends. Our trade deficit remains too high, and is not forecast to improve substantially over the next three years. In turbulent times, a consistent focus on improving infrastructure, sweeping away barriers to business investment, and supporting exporters would be a real recipe for success.”
David Kern, Chief Economist at the BCC, said: “Though we have downgraded our growth forecast, UK GDP is expected to expand at a stronger pace than in most other G7 economies, and broadly in line with our long term trend. Growth will benefit from higher disposable incomes, low inflation and a strong labour market. Though services and consumer spending will remain the key growth drivers of the UK economy, our forecast envisages slower growth in these areas than we predicted previously.
“Weaker growth than previously expected in most UK sectors reflects a general global slowdown, which is due to lower productivity, adverse demographic trends and geo-political uncertainties. The worse net UK trade position that we are now predicting is mostly due to weaker global growth, but we do need to do more to boost exports.
“Worsening global trends will present the main dangers for the UK economy over the next few years. Given the unacceptable size of the current account deficit, failure to achieve a meaningful improvement in net exports will make the UK vulnerable to speculative attacks, and our credit rating could be at risk.”
Other elements from within the forecast:
Main components of demand
Annual average growth in household consumption is forecast to slow: from 3.0% in 2015 to 2.7% in 2016, 2.5% in 2017 and 2.4% in 2018.
In calendar-year terms, UK business investment growth of 4.5% is predicted in 2016, 7.4% in 2017, and 7.4% in 2018
In full-year terms, growth in real exports accelerated to 5.0% in 2015, but real exports fell in Q3 & Q4 2015. The new forecast is that real exports, in full-year terms, will grow by 2.3% in 2016, 3.0% in 2017, and 3.0% in 2018.
The real net trade deficit, having risen to 3.3% of GDP in 2015, is forecast to rise further to 3.7% of GDP in 2016; it will then edge down marginally to 3.6% of GDP in both 2017 & 2018.
Main sectors of the economy
Service sector output is forecast to grow by 2.6% in 2016, 2.7% in 2017 and 2.7% in 2018. The share of services in UK output is likely to rise further in the next few years and the sector will remain the biggest contributor to GDP growth.
Manufacturing output is expected to grow more slowly than services, by 0.5% in 2016, 1.4% in 2017 and 1.4% in 2018.
Total industrial output growth is forecast at 0.5% in 2016, 1.0% in 2017 and 1.0% in 2018.
Construction output growth is forecast at 0.5% in 2016, 2.6% in 2016 & 2.6% in 2018.
Official interest rates
The first increase in UK official interest rates to 0.75% is expected to occur in Q4 2016, one quarter later than previously predicted
Further modest increases in official interest rates can then be expected, in small 0.25% steps, with official interest rates reaching 1.50% in Q4 2017
Unemployment and productivity
The UK unemployment rate is forecast to fall from 5.1% in Q4 2015, to 4.9% in Q4 2016, 4.8% in Q4 2017 and 4.7% in Q7 2018.
Net fall in total unemployment of 101,000 forecast over the next 3 years.
Total youth unemployment (people aged 16 to 24) is expected to fall from 622,000 (a jobless rate of 13.6%) in Q4 2015, to 564,000 (a jobless rate of 12.1%) in Q4 2018, a net fall of 58,000.
Public finances
UK public sector net borrowing is forecast to fall steadily over the next few years.
But the official timetable for moving into budgetary surplus in 2019/20, outlined in the November 2015 Autumn Statement, is slightly too ambitious.
The UK is likely to return to balance in 2019/20, but a move into surplus is only likely in 2020/21.
Inflation and earnings
In annual average terms, annual CPI inflation is forecast at 0.9% in 2016, 1.8% in 2017 and 2.2% in 2018. In Q4 we predicted 1.1% in 2016 and 2.0% in 2017.
Total earnings growth (total pay including bonuses) is predicted to average 2.6% in 2016, 3.5% in 2017 and 4.0% in 2018.
The new forecasts for earnings growth are lower than those we made in Q4.
Norwich City Council have released their latest economic barometer. The report highlighted:
Nationally
Bank of England unanimously vote to leave interest rates on hold
ONS figures highlighted that the UK trade gap with the rest of the world widened by £1.9bn
UK economy grew at its slowest rate since mid 2013
The Markit/REC report highlighted a slight acceleration in growth of permanent staff placements
East of England
Confidence in the region’s commercial property market remained strong and rents are expected to rise across all sectors
UEA’s Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF) invested more than £70m during the first round of funding. It has supported 45 SMEs across sectors including renewable energy, automotive, technology and creative industries
The Association of Business Recovery Professionals R3 warned that delayed invoice payments were impacting on the region’s manufacturers. 27% suffered from late payment in 2015
Norwich
NUA’s Ideas Factory Incubation Centre for digital creative businesses has now been officially opened. It offers specialist incubation environment which is designed for digital creative businesses.
Norse Group has been shortlisted for one of the European Business Awards’ top accolades – Ruban d’Honneur status.
A drug development business, Inspiralis, has expanded from the John Innes Centre to the Innovation Centre
The Egyptian-British Chamber of Commerce has issued a summary of the latest changes taking place in Egypt regarding new regulations to export goods.
In December 2015, the Customs Law has been amended by the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the following are now mandatory:
All shipments should be presented with a legalised Certificate of Origin and a certified commercial Invoice (we do recommend full legalisation by the Egyptian Consulate in London) ;
The invoice should comply with Article 8 of the Customs Law – name, address and phone of the producer are required.
This was followed by the Decrees No. 991 & 992/2015 where registration of 24 products that are exported to Egypt for the retail market only have to be registered at the General Organisation for Export & Import Control. Full list of products and necessary documents is attached. The application can be submitted online MailGate warning: numerical links are often malicious: https://41.128.145.154/
Central Bank of Egypt issued instructions to regulate the handling of export documentation in an attempt to reduce fraudulent valuation of invoices. Therefore the importation process whereby payment is via cash against documents can only be conducted by delivering the documents directly to the foreign bank (UK based), then the foreign bank delivers it directly to the local Egyptian bank. It is prohibited for any customer to him/herself directly receive delivered documents.
Also, Central Bank of Egypt issued instructions that banks shall obtain a security deposit at the rate of 100% instead of 50% under the documentary credits opened for financing the import of commodities for account of the trading companies or governmental bodies. All exemptions from this practice can be found in the full version attached.
On the 22nd of February Central Bank of Egypt amended the initial instructions (paragraphs C&D) to further exempt some companies and items related to Bank-to-Bank documents handling.
CBE’s instructions are not interfering in any way with the Ministry of Trade’s requirements of documents legalisation. Export documentation should still be submitted for certification and legalisation as in paragraph A.
For more information please see attached documents and hope these and the above clarify the current situation.
Plumstead Road, which is closed between Thorpe End and Little Plumstead, will reopen as soon as possible on Friday, 11 March, but this may not be until the evening.
The road has been closed to all traffic since 22 February for cable diversion and other preparatory work ahead of construction of the double bridge carrying Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR) over Plumstead Road and the Norwich to Sheringham railway. Recent difficult conditions mean that the work may not be finished until Friday evening, although every effort will be made to bring forward the reopening of Plumstead Road so that it is available for the evening journey home.
The reopening of Plumstead Road will be followed on Monday 14 March by the closure of the nearby Middle Roaduntilthe 25March. It will then reopen to allow the closure in turn ofSmee Lane, for up to two weeks from 28March, andLow Road, for up to two weeks from 11April. When Middle Road closes again in late April, this will be the start of the long-term closure for construction of the Middle Road bridge over the NDR.
On the western half of the NDR, the long-term closure of Drayton Lane begins on Monday 14 March. Holly Lane will provide the diversion route.Drayton Lane,which is a popular cut-through between Reepham Road and the B1149 Holt Road in spite of some sharp bends, is being completely realigned to provide a new route for Holt Roadtraffic to the NDR.
The current round of staffed exhibitions is now well underway. Over 500 people have attended the first three, at Postwick, Spixworth and Hellesdon, to view the plans, and to find out about the construction programme, traffic management and road closures, and environmental protection measures.
Over the next two weeks there are exhibitions (all 3pm to 7pm) at:
Thursday 10 March – Sprowston Diamond Centre, School Lane.
Friday 11 March – Drayton Bob Carter Centre, School Road.
Tuesday 15 March – Great Plumstead Village Hall, Church Road.
Wednesday 16 March – Rackheath Holy Trinity Church and Centre, Salhouse Road.
Friday 18 March – Thorpe St Andrew Dussindale Community Centre, Pound Lane.
Monday 21 March – Taverham Village Hall, Sandy Lane