The October edition of the Norfolk Infrastructure Update has arrived! Below are highlighted some of the key points from this edition.
Rail Improvements – Continue the high profile campaign to improve the Norwich-London route – working with Network Rail and the franchise holder, Greater Anglia – and push for improvements on Norwich-Cambridge and Cambridge-King’s Lynn services.
Broadband – By autumn 2015, the ‘Better Broadband for Norfolk’ project seeks to achieve: a minimum speed of 2 megabits per second (Mbps) for all premises and ‘Superfast’ broadband (24Mbps+) for as many premises as possible.
Abellio Greater Anglia has had its franchise extended to 2016. The process for the new, longer term franchise post-2016 is likely to be put underway soon by government.
A47– Promote the status of the A47 and secure funding for key junctions, a new river crossing in Great Yarmouth and other targeted improvements.
Fiveways to Thetford improvement – Ongoing speed restriction of 40mph, 24 hrs per day between Fiveways roundabout at Barton Mills and London roundabout in Thetford.
To read the full report on the Norfolk Infrastructure Update, click here.
Norfolk Chamber of Commerce has scooped another opportunity for the county’s businesses to connect with central government.
Following the success of last year’s Audience with George Osborne, the Chamber have secured an exclusive date with Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable.
The Chamber’s Chief Executive, Caroline Williams, said today ‘This is an exciting opportunity for Norfolk. Vince Cable is one of the country’s key decision makers and he will be at our business leaders’ breakfast to give us an insight into the Government’s Industrial Strategy and how it relates to Norfolk’.
Giving Norfolk’s business community a voice at the highest level of government is an essential part of The Chamber’s mission, and Caroline Williams is adamant that it’s essential. ‘We have an enormous amount of potential here in Norfolk. We have world class companies, outstanding products and services as well as a ‘can do’ attitude. It’s vital that we are not only kept informed of how Government policy affects Norfolk, but that we inform Whitehall of what’s needed here to maximise and realise that potential’ she said. ‘This audience with the Secretary of State will allow us to connect with Government and make our needs and aspirations known’.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Industrial Strategy is about government working in partnership with businesses to give them the confidence to invest. Together we are delivering the skills, infrastructure and research funding we need to create long-term prosperity. East Anglia has much to offer as a centre of manufacturing, agriculture and clean energy, and the Government wants to support the local companies that are creating jobs and driving growth.
“I look forward to hearing from Norfolk-based enterprises to learn more about their priorities. I hope many will benefit from a closer working relationship with the Government as we rebalance the economy.”
The Audience with Vince Cable will take place over breakfast in Norwich on Friday 28th November. Demand for places is high and Chamber members are urged to make a reservation now.
Caroline Williams added, ‘We’re thrilled to have secured an audience with Vince Cable. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with the highest level of policy making, and it’s another demonstration of The Chamber’s commitment to Norfolk and its commercial community’.
Norfolk businesses planning to watch the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement live on TV or a computer in the workplace are being reminded to ensure they are correctly licensed.
With more and more management teams clicking through or tuning in to view live broadcasts of George Osborne’s Autumn Statement and Budget speeches, TV Licensing is reminding businesses in Norfolk that it is essential they are aware of their licensing responsibilities.
The Autumn Statement, which will be shown on December 3 on a number of channels and online, is likely to prove popular amongst businesses seeking to get ahead as the economic recovery gathers pace.
A TV Licence is required if staff or customers at a business premises watch or record TV programmes at the same time they’re shown on the telly – whether on a TV, tablet, computer or any other type of equipment. And TV Licensing has been working with Norfolk Chamber of Commerce to ensure companies get the message – last year TV Licensing enquiry officers visited more than 33,000 business premises across the UK.
Mr Osborne’s statement is sure to be highly anticipated by business people. Mark Whitehouse, regional spokesman for TV Licensing in East Anglia, said: “With live streaming to events such as the Chancellor’s statement so readily accessible, we know that a host of businesses in Norfolk are going to be tuning in to get the very latest news. But our message to employers and employees is that they need to be aware of the licensing requirements if they’re watching live in the workplace.
“We want businesses to enjoy live television without having to worry about being correctly licensed, so it’s important that business owners understand when they do and don’t need a licence. We visit unlicensed address as part of our work to check that people are on the right side of the law.”
Nova Fairbank, from Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, said: “We know that Norfolk businesses want to stay within the law, so this provides a timely reminder for business owners to make sure they’re covered by an up-to-date TV Licence. Programmes like the Autumn Statement are of great interest and are useful to business leaders across Norfolk, but it’s important people are aware of the law and how it relates to the wide range of TV viewing platforms available today. We would advise firms where staff are tuning in to programmes like this not to assume that they’re covered. It’s always best to check that your business has a TV Licence if employees are watching TV via PC or laptop at work stations, in boardrooms or staff restaurant areas. We would always encourage businesses to make sure they’re correctly licensed, and never to assume that it’s been dealt with.”
A TV Licence is a legal requirement and is needed if you’re watching or recording programmes at the same time as they’re shown on TV, costs £145.50 and can be bought online in minutes at tvlicensing.co.uk. In addition to the usual ways to pay, businesses can also pay using BACS electronic transfer. Anyone caught watching or recording live television without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
This briefing is intended to be an easy-to-use commentary on key global economic indicators relevant to UK businesses. The report will also aim to provide a regular update on UK’s trade position in comparison to its key trading partners.
This month’s headlines:
Slowdown in Germany, weak recovery in France and a triple-dip recession in Italy weighs on EU growth
China, Japan and Thailand show further signs of weakness
Weak demand and US shale gas boom indicates recent falls in oil prices are not over
Taking place during National Oil and Gas week, the Norfolk Chamber held an Oil and Gas Debate: Great Yarmouth Business Breakfast sponsored by Ashton KCJ on 13 November at the Race Course.
John Morse, President of the Great Yarmouth Chamber Council & Commercial Director of Gardline hosted the breakfast and led a discussion on the skills gap in the oil and gas industry. ‘A fantastic, insightful, concise briefing which highlighted the skills gap and discussed potential ways to move forward.’ Ian McInally, Ormiston Venture Academy said.
John Morse discussed the need for local businesses to create worthwhile work experience opportunities for students. He provided tips to help local businesses ensure they are offering valuable work experience placements and provided insight in engaging women in the industry.
Petans, Opito and EEEGR joined the debate, contributing with perspective and knowledge to the issues facing skills in the oil and gas industy. Simon Gray, EEEGR discussed how there was a lack of engineers in the nation and how students interested in pursuing a career as an engineer were encouraged to take GCSE Maths and Science. Eric Burgess, Canham Consulting attended and said: ‘This was a useful event in terms of networking and making new contacts. It was good to see young people promoted in the discussions.’
Over 75 local businesses were represented, including a mixture of businesses who are and who are not directly involved in the oil and gas industry. Delegates found the breakfast to be a helpful update and great opportunity to network with a variety of the local businesses.
The Government’s rollout of superfast broadband has passed more than 1.5 million premises and is now reaching more than 40,000 additional homes and businesses every week.
In the East of England more than 227,580 premises can now access a faster and reliable service as a result of the work carried out to date.
26% of all UK connections now superfast, up from just 6% two years ago. Every day more and more people are opting to make the most of all a superfast connection has to offer – be it entire households using multiple devices at the same time with no drop in quality of service, the ability to work from home, staying in touch with friends and relatives using video calls or uploading digital content to websites.
Delivering world class connectivity is a key component of the Government’s long term economic plan, and the rollout has been steadily accelerating since it began in 2012. It has now entered the fastest stage of deployment, with many of the 44 projects across the UK that comprise the scheme ahead of schedule.
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said:
“I’m delighted that the project has now reached more than 1.5 million homes and businesses, giving people much faster and reliable connections. We know how important superfast broadband is to everyone, which is exactly why we are investing £1.7bn in this remarkable project. Our transformation of the UK’s digital landscape is progressing at an incredible rate and delivering a tremendous boost to the nation’s economy.”
The project has already made superfast broadband available to more than 1.5 million UK homes and businesses
To date, project partner BT has rolled out more than 25,000 km of fibre-optic cabling, about 25 times the distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Around 8,500 street cabinets are now up and serving customers in hundreds of rural towns and villages throughout the UK who were previously stuck with slow speeds and unreliable connections
Together with commercial rollouts, we have seen average broadband speed in the UK almost quadruple since 2010 (from 5.2Mbps in May 2010 to 18.7Mbps in May 2014)
The rollout is firmly on track to take superfast broadband coverage to 95% of the UK by 2017. It currently stands at around 80%, up from 45% in 2009 and the UK is already ahead of the top 5 European economies for broadband coverage, speed, choice and price.
Bill Murphy, Managing Director of Next Generation Access for BT, said:
“Reaching one and a half million premises ahead of schedule is a fantastic achievement, but there’s still more to do.
“The fibre broadband rollout is bringing really positive social and economic benefits to people all over the UK, and this programme is a great example of successful partnership between the private sector, local and national government.
“BT is investing more than £3 billion of our shareholders money to plan, design and build a national network that reaches as many homes and businesses as possible. We have already reached 21 million premises and our engineers will continue working flat-out to get this technology to some of Britain’s hardest to reach communities.”
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:
“Many of our members remain discontent with the speed of broadband available to them, despite the fact they are meant to have ‘superfast broadband’. It may have been ‘superfast’ once but the world has moved on. Our digital companies within Norwich are particularly being penalised as they try to compete on the world stage. Technology is what enables our businesses to be competitive and although we welcome the improvements that have been made relating to Broadband there is still a lot more to do to bring Norfolk up to the standard required by the business community”
Official statistics show that in the four years to 2009/10 around 82,730, people began an apprenticeship programme in the East of England region compared to 177,080 over the past four years.
As part of the Government’s review into 16-24 provision, it became clear that it’s not always easy for young people to find full and detailed information about their post-16 options in one place, at the right time, to help them get advice and make decisions on their future. The aim is therefore to create a similar system to UCAS that can help all young students access information on the college courses, apprenticeships, traineeships and other work-based training programmes happening in their area.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “Gone are the days when a vocational education is seen as the poor relation when it comes to choosing a career path. I’m delighted to be able to celebrate such a phenomenal rise in young people being given the opportunity to work as they learn across the East of England region.
“In fact we are just days away from being able to celebrate the two millionth apprentice starting work in England since 2010. Good quality apprenticeships give hard-working young people the chance to aim high for their dream job whilst playing their part in building a stronger economy for Britain.
“Whilst it is truly exciting to be able to celebrate the tide turning with wider-ranging opportunities for our school leavers aside from university, more is needed to show young people that all the doors open to them. By creating a one-stop shop for the growing choices 16-year-olds have, more young people will be able to access the options available to them and make better informed choices about their career paths.”
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber said: “Apprenticeships remain a very important option for Norfolk’s young people. An increasing number of businesses are planning to offer apprenticeship as finding skilled workers becomes increasingly difficult. At Norfolk Chamber we have two staff who have recently completed their apprenticeship and are now full time staff members and have two more currently on apprenticeships.
All four are very valuable members of the team and bring new energy and enthusiasm. We are concerned however that the schools are not taking apprenticeships as seriously as the business community. Apprenticeships are now a very real option which need to be considered by our young people and we would encourage our schools to ensure that this option is given equal weight to alternative routes”
The BCC’s Workforce Survey highlights that 92% of businesses have identified a skills shortage among their workforce in at least one key area
Most common skills shortages are leadership and management, planning and organisation, languages, computer literacy and creativity
80% of businesses surveyed have plans to invest in training. 39% plan to invest more than £500 per staff member
Cost, staff availability and a lack of suitable courses remain key barriers for businesses looking to invest in training
Overview
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on businesses of all sizes and in all sectors in the UK to invest in workforce training as a key driver for economic success and improved productivity performance.
Today (Wednesday) the business group is publishing further findings from its 2014 Workforce Survey:Training and Skills, which show that an overwhelming majority of firms (92%) have identified a skills shortage among their workforce in at least one key competency. Results from the survey of nearly 3,000 businesses from across the UK suggest the most common skills shortages are leadership and management, planning and organisation, languages, computer literacy and creativity.
In order to address these skills gaps, most respondents (80%) have indicated plans to invest in training their workforce over the next 12 months. The majority of businesses strongly agree (78%) that training is worthy of investment as a driver for growth and improving productivity performance, with large businesses most likely to strongly agree (90%). Four in ten firms (39%) plan to invest more than £500 per employee in external training over the next year. However, the major barriers to training investment are: cost (50%), freeing up staff to participate in training (31%), and a lack of suitable courses (19%).
Companies looking for guidance on appropriate training courses are turning to private training providers, (71%) sector based bodies (38%) and further education colleges (35%) to source and deliver training, frequently brokered by local Chambers of Commerce.
Key findings from the survey:
Companies report that communication skills (83%), teamwork (82%) and customer service (72%) are important skills they look for when recruiting. Encouragingly, less than one in five firms report a shortage in these areas.
Around a third (33%) of businesses say they have a skills shortage in leadership and management and planning and organisation (26%), which businesses recognise as core skills relating to commercial development. Firms also report a skills shortage in languages (35%), computer literacy (23%) and creativity (20%).
In terms of future investment plans, more than a third of companies (41%) plan to invest up to £500 per employee in external training, while a similar proportion (39%) plan to invest a higher amount.
Businesses within the energy, mining and utilities (59%), education (50%), IT and telecoms (48%) sectors are most likely to invest more than £500 per employee in training.
Micro firms (those with nine or less staff) intend to invest in training over the next 12 months. 35% have earmarked more than £500 for each employee.
The type of training being invested in varies, but for the majority it is on-the-job training (78%).More than half of companies have invested in health and safety (59%), first aid (56%) and technical / job specific training (56%).
Within a firm, the overall workforce tends to receive one to five days training per annum, with 65% offering that amount. Newer members of staff (under one year) often receive more training – 34% receive one to five days, 26% receive five to 10 days and 16% receive 11 to 20 days.
Commenting, Nora Senior, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Businesses recognise that investing in training can drive higher productivity and increased profits. In addition to specialised training, however, our findings make it clear that investment in leadership and management skills are crucial to enhance strategic thinking, foster innovation and motivate a firm’s employees.
“It is good to see that most businesses are taking a proactive approach by investing in their existing workforce. Four in ten tell us they are planning to invest £500 or more per member of staff to address skills shortages. Yet we need far more companies to reach this level, which will only happen if we break down the barriers to investing in training.
“Long-standing complaints around the cost of training, a lack of suitable courses, and staff availability – since people are needed at the front line – remain important issues. To ensure that even more businesses can invest in training, which in turn will drive higher wages, we need to improve dialogue between firms and the organisations that offer training – so that companies find training that is relevant, cost-effective and a good fit with staff working hours.
“Accredited Chambers of Commerce provide objective advice to employers on appropriate local training providers, and help negotiate lower costs through group purchasing. Many also offer direct, business-to-business training themselves. Governments seeking to promote investment in the UK’s workforce should work with Chambers to ensure that investment in training continues to grow.”
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said: “Over the years, many of our members have reported skills shortages, particularly in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, where the existing skilled workforce is now starting to age and finding new talent is a challenge. The latest Workforce Survey highlights this case and shows why Norfolk employers are investing more in up-skilling their existing staff and turning towards apprenticeships to help fill the skills gaps.
Apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly popular route for many young people and this will also benefit employers seeking to ‘grow their own talent’. However more work needs to be down to ensure that employers’ links to schools are strengthened and young people are aware of the alternative routes to employment.”
In the three months to September 2014, employment rose by 112,000 compared with the previous three months
Unemployment fell by 115,000 compared with the previous three months
The unemployment rate was 6.0%, down from 6.3% in the previous three months, and the lowest since late 2008
Youth unemployment was 16.2%, down from 16.9% in the previous three months
Pay including bonuses was 1.0% higher than a year earlier, while pay excluding bonuses was 1.3% higher than a year earlier
Commenting on the latest labour market statistics for November 2014, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
“These figures highlight once again that the UK labour market remains strong, and that the pace of economic growth continues at a steady pace. Pay rises have increased but remain weak, and living standards are still under pressure. Despite this, these figures suggest that there is considerable scope for the economy to continue expanding steadily. Both the MPC and the government must make every attempt to counter signs of a slowdown – and next month’s Autumn Statement will be an opportunity for the government to take bold action and support growth and enterprise.”
Employment Minister Esther McVey said: “Record numbers of people in work means more people with the security of a regular wage who are better able to support themselves and their families. “With the vast majority of the rise in employment over the last year being full-time, it’s clear that thanks to the Government’s long-term economic plan, we are helping businesses to create the jobs that people need.
“The East of England has the joint highest employment rate of all the UK regions at 76.5% with 49,000 more people in work compared to this time last year, so as the economy continues to grow, more and more people are having their lives transformed by moving into work.”
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said: “These figures confirm what our members are telling us is that they are quietly confident about the future. They are starting to take on new staff to provide them with additional resource to be able to take advantage of the new opportunities which are available to them. It is however still a tough economic climate and the Chancellor needs to give this region a boost by listening to the Norfolk business voice and investing in our infrastructure road, rail and broadband”
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ABP’s Port of King’s Lynn has teamed up with the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce to offer port companies a year’s guest membership in one of the biggest business networks in the country. As well as a thank you for their business, the scheme aims to give the port business community a bigger voice. The ABP Ports in East Anglia contribute £340 million to the UK economy each year and support over 5,000 jobs nationally. With a Chamber of Commerce membership, businesses will be able to expand their reach and influence in professional networks and grow their business support services. James Cooper, ABP Chief Executive, said: “We take our responsibility to contribute to the economic wellbeing of the region seriously. One of the best ways to do that is to support our customers to make the connections they need to become even more successful. “By making their voice heard and taking part in the business life of the region, they will also have the chance to play a part in making our region a better place to do business. And that’s something we can all benefit from.” The Norfolk Chamber of Commerce offers members a multitude of services including: lobbying at local and national levels, support for key business functions at a discounted rate and connection and networking opportunities for their business. Each local Chamber of Commerce is run by and for their members offering a dedicated focus on improving conditions for local business members. Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said: “It has never been a more important time for the business community to work together to do better business and to ensure their collective voice is heard by local and national government. We very much look forward to working closely with ABP and their customers through this very innovative scheme.” To request a brochure or to find out more information please call 01292 670144 or email [email protected] and quote ‘ABP Guest Membership Offer’.
Today (Wednesday) the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published its Autumn Statement submission, calling on the government to introduce new measures to accelerate the progress of infrastructure projects that are critical to businesses, both locally and nationally.
Ahead of the Chancellor’s announcement on 3 December, the BCC is urging the government to enhance the compensation and incentives available to those affected by nearby infrastructure projects such as rail and housing, and commit funding to repair deteriorating roads over the next five years.
THE BCC’S SUBMISSION TO THE CHANCELLOR PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING:
Boost incentives for local communities to help accelerate the delivery of urgent housing developments. Under the proposal, neighbourhoods would be allowed to claim a share of the revenue generated by the New Homes Bonus, and the proportion of Community Infrastructure Levy revenues currently earmarked for local communities would be doubled. This additional funding could be placed in a local development fund to improve neighbourhood services and amenities.
A one-off investment to bring the UK’s local road network back to a ‘reasonable condition’. Although a recent survey1estimated the cost of returning the roads of England and Wales to a ‘reasonable condition’ at £12bn, just £6bn is currently expected to be invested during the next parliament. Under the BCC’s proposal, an additional £1.2bn in annual current expenditure over the life of the next parliament would be allocated to close this road maintenance funding gap.
Increase the compensation for people required to sell their home to make way for infrastructure projects. The current compensation (100% of the property’s open market value) offered to people subject to a compulsory purchase order is inadequate by international standards, and leads to unacceptable delays in the infrastructure planning process. The BCC therefore proposes to increase compensation to 150% of the open market value of the property. This will better distribute the benefits of the development to those directly impacted and match international best practice.
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said:
It is the business community that will deliver jobs and economic prosperity in Norfolk, we all need to continue to work together to ensure that the Government understands how vital the infrastructure improvements are to Norfolk’s economic wellbeing. Norfolk Chamber, the business community and our MPs have been very successful so far in highlighting the business case for improvements to the road and rail infrastructure in Norfolk.
In particular Norfolk Chamber has been lobbying hard for road improvements to the A11/A47 Thickthorn junction; dualling between Blofield and Burlingham; and the Vauxhall junction at the end of the Acle Strait. We have also been actively involved in highlighting the business case of investment in the rail service from Norwich to London via the Great Eastern Rail Campaign. And are working hard to get broadband and mobile coverage improved.
Greater accessibility is key to ensuring that the Norfolk business community can compete on a national level and infrastructure improvements in Norfolk will open up opportunities for local businesses to deliver more economic growth, housing and jobs for our County.
The case for accelerating the delivery of infrastructure projects:
The UK is trailing the rest of the world in infrastructure development. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2014-15 Global Competitiveness report, the UK is ranked 27th for overall quality of infrastructure – the second worst in the G7.
The current pace of infrastructure delivery is unlikely to meet the demands of consumers and businesses in the future. The UK’s National Infrastructure Plan has identified approximately 650 projects required by 2030, costing £375bn, but many of these remain on the drawing board or are progressing at a glacial speed.
Businesses are dismayed by the lack of urgency in delivering infrastructure projects that are critical to future economic growth. Successive governments have failed to introduce measures to improve the UK’s international connectivity through new aviation capacity, deliver promised investments in road and rail schemes, and help to secure long-term energy security.
Current delays in the planning process of infrastructure projects are costing taxpayers. Delays to the construction of the A12 Hackney to M11 link road are estimated to have increased the cost of the project by 100%. In 1994, the cost of building Crossrail was expected to be £1.55bn, but it was subject to delays as opponents questioned the business case. When construction finally commenced in 2009, the cost had increased to £14.8bn.
AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON:
France – has long used a compulsory purchase order compensation scheme similar to the BCC’s proposal for the Autumn Statement, and delivered the TGV Sud Est in 10 years, from initial studies to the first part of the line opening. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2014-15 Global Competitiveness report, France is ranked 10th for overall quality of infrastructure, compared to the UK in 27th position.
Spain – the high speed rail lines between Madrid-Barcelona and Madrid-Sevilla took 10 years from conception to operation.
UK – the first section of the UK’s HS2 rail project will open in 2026, if there are no delays to legislation or construction.
Commenting, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:
“Infrastructure is at the core of British business – underpinning confidence, orders, jobs and competitiveness – but faces an alarming challenge in the coming years. A failure to invest in capacity and maintenance is hampering business growth and costing jobs. Too often, decisions on infrastructure are taken in the short-term interests of political parties rather than in the country’s long-term economic interest.
“Businesses across the country want to see more urgency in delivering infrastructure projects, and in turn they will deliver growth. The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement is a great opportunity to introduce targeted measures that unlock the roads, housing, rail links and energy developments businesses want.
“A world-class economy needs world-class infrastructure, and businesses need certainty that crucial improvements will actually be delivered and in a timely manner. Our proposals will help the UK become better at delivering the kind of infrastructure that will be an economic game-changer in the long term.”
