New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership have now added a jobs page onto their website. The page compiles vacancies with organisations trying to recruit additional staff to continue to operate during the current Covid-19 situation across the East Anglia region.
Vacancies include those at supermarkets, such as Tescos, Morrisons, Aldi and East of England Co-op; food producers such as Bernard Matthews; various vacancies in the care sector, and fruit and crop picking and packing.
If you would like more information about adding your vacancies to this page, please contact Natasha Waller on: 07384 253 355 or email: [email protected]
Annual CPI inflation in May 2014 was 1.5%, down from 1.8% in April
The largest contributions to the fall in inflation came from a fall in airfares, food, non-alcoholic drinks and clothing
These were partly offset by upward contributions from motor fuels, recreation and culture
Goods price inflation in May 2014 was 0.9%, while services inflation was 2.2%
Commenting on the CPI inflation figures for May 2014, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
“The continued fall in inflation below the 2% target is good news for businesses and consumers, and supports our calls for the MPC to avoid jumping the gun on interest rate rises. Although the unstable situation in Iraq may put upward pressures on energy costs, all domestic influences point towards continued low inflation.
“While there may be a case for official interest rates to start edging up in early 2015, interest rates must remain on hold for the foreseeable future to reassure businesses. To secure a lasting recovery the government should continue to provide further measures in key areas such as improving access to finance for growing firms, and supporting UK exporters.”
Norfolk Chambers recently surveyed the local business community to understand what challenges they were facing and the kind of support that the Chambers could offer them. With well over 100 businesses responding from a cross-section of the community, the results highlighted that 77% of businesses in our region cited cashflow as their number one challenge at present.
With the recent heavy impact of the Corona Virus on our business community, many businesses have had to ask staff to either work from home, furlough them, or in some instances make them redundant. The results represented firms employing over 2,200 people between them. When asked where their staff currently where, as a result of Covid-19, they advised that 43% were still operating within the workplace – these being key workers and predominantly manufacturers. 23% were working from home, with a further 32% furloughed and just 2% had had to make staff redundant.
Other challenges being faced by the business community were:
Issues accessing the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) – with banks currently struggling to cope with high demand and long delays on lending decisions
Owner/Directors who are paid by dividend – do not currently qualify for any financial support
Staff employed after 28 February are ineligible for the Jobs Retention Scheme – firms are making redundancies and losing talented individuals
Lack of clarity and certainty around how to implement to various government support schemes
Delays in getting business rate grants from local authorities
Start-up businesses i.e. less than 2 years old are not currently eligible for any support due to lack of published accounts
Commenting on the current crisis being faced by Norfolk’s business community, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:
“We are working hard, in conjunction with the UK-wide Chamber network to ensure that the support mechanisms the government has put in place actually reach those on the ground who need it the most.
“We continue to lobby Westminster to better understand the challenges being faced by business on a daily basis and urge them to close the obvious gaps, such as parity for Owner/Directors.
“With regard to CIBLS, more needs to be done by our banks. Whilst we understand the logistical challenges they are facing, the financial need for many firms is urgent and not something that can wait to be delivered in many weeks or months time.”
Results from the second BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that most businesses have not yet successfully accessed the government’s Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the grants for small businesses.
Just 1% of firms had successfully accessed CBILS and 7% are receiving grants
57% of firms have three months cash in reserve or less, 6% of respondents have already run out of cash
37% of respondents said they were planning to furlough between 75% to 100% of their workforce over the next week
The leading business organisation’s weekly tracker poll, which serves as a barometer of pandemic’s impact on businesses and the effectiveness of government support measures, received more than 1,000 responses and is the largest independent survey of its kind in the UK.
The second set of polling was conducted from 1-3 April and follows further announcements made by the government to strengthen CBILS and expand support to mid-sized firms.
Access to government support schemes
Businesses continue to report a high level of awareness of the government’s support schemes:
59% of businesses knew details about CBILS and 19% planned to use it
42% knew details of the grants available for small businesses and 24% planned to use it
However, the Tracker suggests that awareness is not translating into firms successfully accessing these schemes.
Just 1% of respondents had successfully accessed the CBILS last week, with 8% of respondents unsuccessful. The complexity of the application process and a slow or lack of response from the relevant body were cited as reasons for those who were unsuccessful.
It is hoped that the government’s announcements made on 2 April intended to improve access to the scheme will see success rates increase in future weeks.
7% respondents were currently using grants for small businesses, but 14% had been unsuccessful. When asked about the reasons they were unsuccessful:
83% said they did not meet the criteria
14% said they had a slow or no response from the relevant body
8% said there was insufficient information or guidance available
Cash flow concerns
Business’ cash flow, an important indicator of overall economic health, remains an urgent concern. The percentage of firms reporting less than a month’s worth of cash in reserve (16%) and 1 to 3 months’ cash in reserve (41%) has remained broadly unchanged from the previous week.
Of most concern, the percentage of firms reporting no cash in reserve was 6%. B2C firms were more likely to report that they had no cash reserves (10%) compared to B2B firms and manufacturers (both 4%).
The proportion of respondents reporting over 12 months’ cash in reserve remains at 5% despite a significant increase in the number of respondents.
Businesses furloughing employees
37% of respondents said they were planning to furlough between 75% to 100% of their workforce over the next week, up from 32% last week.
The percentage of firms intending to furlough 100% of their staff increased from 17% in our first week’s results to 20% this week.
Commenting on the results, BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said:
“Our latest data shows that many businesses face a cliff-edge scenario, either at the end of this month or over the course of the next quarter.
“We’ve seen a big jump in the number of firms furloughing staff, and many are now starting to apply for access to government loan and grant schemes to keep themselves afloat. Yet our research suggests that support is only starting to reach firms on the ground.
“We are pleased that the Chancellor is listening and responding to our calls to strengthen the existing support. Improvements to the CBILS scheme should help more businesses get access to the cash they need over the coming days and weeks. This could be the difference between survival and insolvency for many firms.
“It’s vital that governments across the UK continue to work closely with business over the coming days. Every minute counts, and governments, local authorities and banks must do everything in their power to ensure support gets to firms on the front line more quickly.”
An appeal has been launched to urge businesses and communities across Norfolk to help secure supplies of Personal Protective Equipment for workers in vital services.
Councils and organisations across the county, including Norfolk Chambers, are backing the drive to ensure stocks of PPE are available in the coming weeks and months.
Whilst the Government has significantly increased deliveries of PPE into Norfolk – local businesses can still play an important role.
With many small businesses currently closed, any PPE equipment such as masks, disposable gloves, aprons, eye googles, overshoes and hand sanitising gel can be used for the front line staff who are caring for our most vulnerable residents and keeping our vital services operating.
A number of firms have already come forward to offer PPE stock, or to use their facilities and staff to produce the items which are required.
Trevor Holden, Head of the Tactical Coordination Group, that is overseeing the delivery of the multi-agency response across Norfolk, said:
“The Government has supplied a significant amount of PPE in recent days. While we welcome this, we must also take local action to ensure we continue to have stocks to cover the wide range of front line staff that require it to keep our essential services running in these unprecedented times.
“PPE comes in a variety of types, for different uses, so we would ask that any business that has PPE that it would like to offer to contact New Anglia LEP on the details below.”
Over recent weeks, technicians at the University of East Anglia have been making up to 170 litres of hand sanitiser gel a day and Norwich-based gin distillery Bullards is also producing sanitising gel. Loddon engineering company Panel Graphic has recently started using its production line which usually produces display enhancement windows to make face visors for front line workers.
Chris Starkie, Chief Executive of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“Our team has already spoken to dozens of companies, large and small, which have capacity and capability to produce equipment or stock which they no longer require. It has been great to see the business community come together in this way and I’ve no doubt that our local firms will continue to do all they can to support this appeal.
“We understand that this is a very challenging time for many businesses and their staff. The New Anglia Growth Hub can offer free business support, including information about the new Government grants and schemes, to any business in Norfolk or Suffolk as well as advice on how your business can help produce PPE.”
Results from the third BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that the majority of businesses responding to the survey have now furloughed a proportion of their workforce, and are awaiting funds from the Government’s Job Retention Scheme to enable them to pay staff.
66% of survey respondents have furloughed staff in anticipation of scheme going live
More than half of firms (59%) have three months cash in reserve or less
2% of firms surveyed had successfully accessed CBILS and 15% of those surveyed are now receiving grants
The leading business organisation’s weekly tracker poll, which serves as a barometer of the pandemic’s impact on businesses and the effectiveness of government support measures, received 701 responses, including those from Norfolk, and is the largest independent survey of its kind in the UK. The third tranche of polling was conducted from 8-10 April.
Businesses furloughing employees
Last week’s tracker found that 71% of respondents said they intended to furlough staff at some point. This week, the tracker confirms that 66 per cent of firms had now furloughed a proportion of their staff in anticipation of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme going live and making payments. 31% said they have furloughed between 75% to 100% of their workforce.
Last week HMRC confirmed the scheme would be open to applications during the week of 20 April, leaving only a short time for funds to start to reach cash-strapped businesses before April’s payroll is processed.
Cash flow concerns
Business’ cash flow, an important indicator of overall economic health, remains an urgent concern with more than half of firms reporting cash in reserve of three months or less. The percentage of firms reporting less than a month’s worth of cash in reserve (17%) and 1 to 3 months’ cash in reserve (36%) has remained broadly unchanged week-to-week, but remains concerningly high.
The percentage of firms reporting no cash in reserve remained at 6% compared to last week, as did the proportion of firms with 12 months’ cash in reserve (also 6%).
Access to government support schemes
The slow start in firms successfully accessing government support schemes has continued. 2% of respondents reported they had successfully accessed the CBILS this week (double last week’s 1% figure),with 9% of respondents unsuccessful. Of those who were unsuccessful, slow or no response from lenders was cited as the main reason. This suggests firms could still be having difficulty accessing the support through banks, despite the announcements on 2nd April designed to simplify and speed up the CBILS process.
15% of respondents said they had successfully accessed grants for small businesses, a rise of 7% on the previous week. 12% of respondents said they were unsuccessful in accessing these grants. The overwhelming majority of those who were unsuccessful reported they did not meet the criteria.
Commenting on the results, BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said:
“Businesses on the frontline need cash to start flowing from support schemes fast. With April’s payday coming up, we are fast approaching a crunch point, and both the furlough scheme and CBILS facilities need to be accelerated.
“While we’ve seen a high number of firms furloughing staff in anticipation of the Job Retention Scheme coming online, it is still unclear whether they will start receiving funds before their payroll date, which could exacerbate the cash crisis many businesses are facing.
“It is essential that the Job Retention Scheme makes payments to businesses as soon as possible. Any delay could mean more livelihoods under threat, more business failures, and more hardship in our communities.”
Virgin Atlantic Little Red and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have launched an exciting partnership offering members of the Accredited Chamber Network the opportunity to join a high profile trade mission to Mumbai, India.
Virgin Atlantic are running a mission to Mumbai, India between 7th – 10th October 2014 and are offering free return flights for five competition winners to join them. The BCC has agreed to partner with Virgin Atlantic on this initiative and as such the competition is only open to members of the Accredited Chamber Network.
The competition is free to enter and simply involves answering a few short questions about your export activity and why you would want to join a trade mission to Mumbai.
For full details and to enter the competition please go the Export Britain website
As part of the Norfolk Chamber’s theme for 2014, ‘Look at Norfolk, See Success’, we are assisting the EDP in West Norfolk to collate positive news stories about thriving businesses in West Norfolk and need West Norfolk Chamber members’ help to provide the best news stories.
The EDP will shortly be commencing a weekly business supplement for West Norfolk based businesses and will be looking to launch the first edition of the supplement within the next few weeks.
They are looking for news stories involving local West Norfolk businesses, particularly positive ones highlighting businesses who are looking to expand and grow; who have new orders or new contracts; who are recruiting new staff; or are launching new products. They will also be looking to feature business events, such as networking breakfasts, lunches or dinners, and any community based projects, with business involvement etc.
The business supplement will be issued each Wednesday and articles must be submitted no later than the Friday beforehand to be included.
How do I submit my article?
The article should be no more than 300 to 400 words (the editor may contact you if he needs more detail).
Where possible, a photo should accompany your article. It should be submitted as a high resolution JPEG (of at least 1MB in file size).
If you are not sure whether your news story would be considered, you could email an outline to the above email addresses, and should it be of interest, the EDP will call you back to follow it up (don’t forget to include your contact details).
Want maximum coverage?
For maximum coverage, as well as sending your news article for inclusion in the EDP business supplement, you can also upload news articles and events to the Chamber website. We will then use our social media channels to highlight your news and raise your profile still further.
Our Norwich Christmas Breakfast has annually been a highlight of the Norfolk Chambers events calendar; finishing the year with a morning of fun and festive networking. On the morning of 5 December, Norfolk Chambers members arrived during sunrise to be greeted by Holiday Inn Norwich North’s fantastic Christmas trees and a room filled with twinkling lights. Getting into the spirit of things, attendees pulled out their best Christmas attire with everything from flashing jumpers, Santa earrings and even a full elf onesie! Morning cuppas were served and networking went into full flow. This year we chose to support Break Charity at the breakfast event. Break support children, young people, and families in four key areas: young people in care and moving on, children and young people with disabilities, families in need of support, and children at risk. We were pleased to be joined by Michael Rooney, Relationship Development Manager for Break as our host for the morning. Michael kicked off the morning by talking about all the amazing things Break do, and how businesses can get involved in such simple ways. For example, simply dropping off items you clear out over Christmas to one of their charity shops helps to make a positive difference. The first networking activity was then introduced which was Christmas anagrams. Each table had to work together to unscramble the anagrams and find the festive words. Breakfast was served shortly after to allow attendees to continue their conversations. Following breakfast it was time to bring back our classic safari move. Each attendee had to pull a card out of an envelope and move to a new table. This was an opportunity to mix up our attendees and get them to make new connections. To break the ice we then had our final networking activity which was a Christmas quiz. We asked attendees on their tables to name the 12 days of Christmas and Santa’s eight reindeer. One table almost had it but ended up getting days 11 and 12 mixed up – which meant another table ended up being crowned the winners. To round the morning off, Michael was tasked with choosing the best Christmas outfit at the breakfast. Despite the tough competition and multiple light up jumpers, our overall winner was David Tuthill of Coleman Opticians in his elf onesie. It was a great morning and a wonderful way to finish off a year of great networking with Norfolk Chambers.
Want to know more about furloughed employees? Watch HMRC’s recorded webinar which provides guidance on the Scheme including information and advice on furloughed workers; scheme eligibility and how to calculate a claim and much more…
More than 70 businesses have offered their support to a campaign help secure supplies of Personal Protective Equipment for workers in vital services.
The appeal, which was launched by councils and organisations across Norfolk last week (Wednesday 8th), encourages businesses to provide details of PPE which they have available in stock or their capacity or capability to produce equipment.
Seventy four responses have already been logged through the central database since the launch. That adds to many firms who had already contacted New Anglia LEP and other partners to offer support, taking the total number of active leads for PPE to over 200.
A bulk delivery of PPE has been received from Government, but this appeal to businesses should ensure additional stocks to make sure front line workers have the right PPE available for a sustained period.
Trevor Holden, Head of the Tactical Coordination Group, that is overseeing the delivery of the multi-agency response across Norfolk, said:
“The response from our business community has been great and on behalf of all local agencies, I would like to thank everyone who has contacted us and offered support. It really shows people coming together to help protect our front line workers and save lives.
“Producing additional PPE locally, and using stock which is unused in businesses which might currently be closed, will mean we can continue to have stocks available for the range of front line staff who are keeping out essential services running.”
“This campaign will continue to run, so if you have stock of PPE – no matter how small – or can produce equipment, please make sure you get in touch.”
The products being offered and produced include hand sanitiser, face visors, face masks, coveralls, aprons and protective suits.
Chris Starkie, Chief Executive of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“It is great that so many companies have come forward to support this appeal already, and we’re sure there are many more who will get involved.
“We understand that this is a very challenging time for many businesses and their staff. The New Anglia Growth Hub can offer free business support, including information about the new Government grants and schemes, to any business in Norfolk or Suffolk as well as advice on how your business can help produce PPE.”