Chamber News

Returning on Friday 10th February, 1pm-4.30pm, The Big Debate is back bringing together local MPs and business leaders to influence change and give voice to Norfolk businesses. The debate will be spilt into four main topics:

• People, Skills & Wellbeing
• Transport & Infrastructure 
• Net Zero & Sustainability
• Cost of Living Crisis in Norfolk

This is your chance to put your questions directly to key decision makers, network with other businesses in Norfolk and be part of Norfolk Chambers flagship policy event that lets the voice of the Norfolk business community be heard. Debate 1: Trasport and Infrastructure  Debate 2: People Skills & Wellbeing Debate 3: Cost of Living Crisis in Norfolk Debate 4: Net Zero & Sustainability How to submit your questions Whilst questions will be coming in live from attendees, there is also the opportunity to submit any burning questions in advance of the event. If you would like to submit a question on any of the four topics, you may do so here: click here to submit questions The Big Debate 2023 is sponsored by Greater Anglia and is open to members and non-members. To book your tickets click here. And don’t forget to get involved in the discussion on Twitter at #BigDebate23

Reacting to the Chancellor’s speech setting out his vision for economic growth, Nova Fairbank, Chief Executive of the Norfolk Chambers, said:  “The Chancellor is right to be optimistic for the future of Norfolk businesses which are desperate to grow and prosper. “Our Chamber Network is jam-packed with innovative and forward-looking firms. They are developing new products and services that can sustain our economy for years to come. “But beyond pledges to introduce Investment Zones and to use reform of Solvency II to unlock capital there was very little meat on the bones of the Chancellor’s vision. “Crucially he missed out two Es when he detailed his focus on ‘enterprise, education, employment and everywhere’. Without addressing the issues of energy and exports, our economic growth will continue to be stunted. “While wholesale energy charges might now be starting to fall, the reality is that thousands of businesses were locked into new contracts last year at prices that will remain far higher for months to come. This will be unsustainable for many and must be addressed. “It is also very disappointing that he did not mention exports at all. Government must help businesses to harness the opportunities provided by existing free trade agreements, and those coming on stream. “Vision is important, but the mechanics of delivery matter too. The Chancellor should make full use of our 53-strong Chamber Network, which is plugged into local economies across the UK, and 79 international affiliated members to help deliver growth through exports. “The four Es is a start, but we moved no further forward this morning. We urge the Chancellor to read the BCC’s business manifesto for realistic polices to help get back to growth.”   Does your business needs export support? Whatever you need to know about trading overseas, your first port of call should be the International Trade Team at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce. Email our expert team at [email protected] or call us on 01603 729706  

Have you ever wondered if your business could sustain itself without the right people? Considered outsourcing personnel to close the skills gaps within your company? Have your employees experienced a drop in morale due to gaps in your workforce? Skills shortages can have a major and wide-ranging influence on people and organisations. When you have a discrepancy between the skills present in the workforce and the skills needed for the job, then skills gaps arise. The consequences of this soon become apparent. It can impair an individual’s ability to advance in their job and result in lower productivity and competitiveness. Additionally, organisations may have trouble finding and keeping top employees, which could result in missed business opportunities and workload increase for existing employees. We’ve listed below the most common impacts businesses experience with skills gap.   #1 – Slow business growth Not having the right people or talent in place could slow the growth of your business, or see you struggle to deliver your service or product to the expected standards.  Which, in turn, impacts your revenue and expectations when it comes to your business ambition. This can create doubt within your workforce in the future of the company, leading to drop in motivation or need for a change in career.   #2 – Struggling to meet delivery expectations Maintaining your business’ services when there’s a skill gap can be a slippery slope to failure. Staff turnover or difficulties to keep up with the demand can also be factors in a skills shortage. Technology, demand, and processes evolve all the time, and it can be challenging to keep your staff up to date or evolve their positions to meet new demands.   #3 – Difficulty in competing If your business is in a competitive industry, you’ll find that skill shortage can put you in a difficult position against your competitors. While some companies can invest in internal training or in the right talents, this may not be true for all businesses.   #4 – Depending too much on outsourcing Outsourcing came be a great solution for your business, but if your operations depend heavily on this, it can lead to an unnecessary stress on both your team and your clients. There are cases where some businesses are nervous taking on new contracts or feel in a vulnerable position because they can’t rely on outsourcing or feel limited with costs and availability.   #5 – Workload and stress increase within the workplace When your resources are limited within your business, you may find yourself giving your existing employees more work. In turn, this can increase stress within the workplace with the potential to impact staff morale and increase dissatisfaction.   #6 – Can’t attract or retain the right talent Sometimes, skills gap can have a very different impact where the company doubts its capabilities of attracting the right talent. For example, if skilled people decline a company’s offer, that company may begin to question its offering, entering a vicious circle of low staff moral and slow business growth.   How your business can overcome these impacts There are various ways in which you can lift your business’ skills and staff morale whilst retaining the right talent. You can read our article here to find out more about what you can action near you. Or participate in LSIP to make a difference to the future of local skills for Norfolk & Suffolk. Learn more about Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) here.    

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with the Co-op and with support from Time to Change Wales, See Me and Change Your Mind/Inspire. Time to Talk Day is all about bringing people and communities together to talk and be more open about mental health. You can read more about Time to Talk Day here. Reasons why talking part in Time to Talk Day is important:

• 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem every year
• Talking helps to create supportive communities which can empower us to seek help when needed
• By opening up the conversation about Mental Health, we can support both ourselves and others.

Every conversation matters. There are several ways you can start a conversation on Time to Talk Day, you could check-in with a friend or colleague, put Time to Talk posters on your community notice board, take a friend or family member to coffee or simply send someone a text message. Talking and Listening can Change Lives. View some talking tips here to make sure you approach talking about mental health in a helpful way. If you want to help support Norfolk and Waveney Mind and fundraise for Time to Talk Day, there are two fundraising activities you can get involved in. You could sign up for ‘Get It Off Your Chest’ which is a sponsored chest was or host a Tea and Talk where you can get together with friends, colleagues and family to talk over a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Found out more here Time to Talk Day is about us all being open to the idea of talking. Whether you’re managing your own mental health problem, or supporting someone else, Norfolk and Waveney Mind are there for you. View their website here for further information including a list of their services.

Nova Fairbank, Chief Executive | Norfolk Chambers of Commerce

“We are so pleased to welcome such an experienced and knowledgeable group of business and education leaders to our LSIP Board. The LSIP is a fantastic opportunity to bring employers and providers closer together and, through greater collaboration, make a difference to the local skills agenda for Norfolk and Suffolk.”

John Dugmore, Chief Executive | Suffolk Chambers of Commerce

“Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has been involved in shaping the LSIP programme for nearly two years, so this first Norfolk & Suffolk LSIP board meeting represents an important milestone in embedding the business voice into future skills planning cross the two counties.”

Dean Pierpoint, Project Manager | Norfolk Chambers of Commerce

“After many weeks of planning and discussion it was great to get the first Board meeting in the diary. I am sure with the breadth of knowledge on skills from education providers and public sector organisations as well as input from the business community we will be able to shape the local skills improvement plan to have a positive effect on the skills landscape in the region. The team are now looking forward to engaging with the business community for their views on skills!”

Introduction

It’s no secret that there’s a severe skills gap in the UK. Trained people are in short supply across several industries, and businesses of all sizes are affected.

The result is that these businesses face a new challenge of locating the ideal candidates to fill critical tasks. In this article, we’ll explore different potential fixes that companies may utilise to address it

An underinvestment in education and training is one of the key factors contributing to the skills gap. There is a lack of suitable applicants for many occupations as a result of many young people not acquiring the education and training they require to thrive in the workforce.

The issue is exacerbated by the fact that many elderly workers do not update their skills, subsequently falling behind on the knowledge needed as industries grow.

Many factors can contribute to the skills gap:

• A lack of experience
• Outdated or inadequate training
• Failures in the broader educational system
• Change in roles or responsibilities
• External political changes (e.g. Brexit)

How it impacts businesses in the UK:

• Loss of productivity
• Higher staff turnover
• Lower quality of work and decreased morale
• Inability to expand your business
• Loss of revenue

Businesses need to be proactive in this situation and invest in training their own employees. This may involve providing training and development opportunities for current workers via online providers or one-to-one coaching in person.

Businesses can also collaborate with nearby colleges and universities to provide young people with internship and apprenticeship opportunities, bridging the gap between education and the workforce.

Working in collaboration with the government and similar groups will help develop training and education programmes that are specifically designed to meet the requirements.

Giving older workers the chance to refresh their skills within the organisation might increase loyalty to their employer as well as boosting their productivity. It also gives them a chance to practice these new skills within a known environment rather than starting from scratch, which could result in higher anxiety in the workplace.

This involvement from businesses may ensure that young people are obtaining the training they need to thrive in the workforce from the start of their careers.

Give access to online training

Online training is the most popular and easy way to help upskill your employees. This method is readily available, and can target  a variety of skills or knowledge you might need for your business.

There’s a lot of soft skills eCourses that many industries may find useful to solve the most common skills gaps.

The drawback of this method is that not all skills are available to be taught online or might require someone on-site to educate your employees. Depending on the industry you are in, online training may not be suitable. Plus, you could be looking for an advanced training that might be hard to find or require a certificate.

Allow working time aside for self-development and learning

Some businesses may have the skills needed in-house with the right people to teach employees, but time may be limited.

However, try to allow some time for the relevant workers to learn from the skilled employees. Even though time may be tight, your business could benefit in the long-term from this “unpaid” route.

Some businesses make the mistake of ignore internal training due to lack of personnel or time constraints. If you already have the right people with the right skills, you’ll do your business a favour by prioritising internal training.

The biggest benefit? Uninterrupted business trading with the right knowledge and the right workforce.

Conclusion

The UK is experiencing a serious skills deficit that is affecting companies of all industries.

Businesses can contribute to resolving this issue by providing internal training or taking time to hire the right candidates, or by sharing their skills needs to a Local Skills Improvements Plan organisation.

The best scenario is to help both young and established workers to learn the future skills soon-to-be in demand, so businesses do not experience interruptions to their delivery.

Share your business’ pain point with skill gaps: get involved with your LSIP

The UK Department for Education (DfE) will help to unlock skills gap for many different industries. All it takes is for businesses to share their pain points with the relevant chamber of commerce. This will help your county to make a case and allocate the necessary investments to close the skills gap.

To put it simply, your chamber of commerce will ask for businesses to share their experience about skills gap or how difficult it is to find the right candidates.

This information will help inform the DfE about potential to invest in your local region and help fund the relevant area to bring that knowledge in to close the skills gap.

Learn more about Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) here.

Or make your business’ voice heard today and share your impact with skills gap here: LSIP employer survey.

Impact of industrial action on 1 February 2023 at UK ports and airports You may have seen reports that up to 100,000 civil service members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) Union will be going on strike on Wednesday 1 February 2023. HMRC members will not be taking part, but the industrial action will include UK-based Home Office members, including Border Force staff. The industrial action is likely to impact the movement of goods through UK ports and airports on 1 February 2023, as well as those travelling to the UK from UK Border controls in Calais, Dunkirk and Coquelles in Northern France. There may also be some disruption on the morning of 2 February 2023 as business returns to normal. What you can do If you are able to move goods outside of this period, then we would advise that you do so. If you cannot delay your movements then please be aware that the industrial action could lead to disruption and delays at ports and Inland Border Facilities (IBF). You should be prepared for these delays and check with your operator before starting your movement. You can also check IBF site availability online. If you are planning to carry merchandise in baggage or more than £10,000 in cash and need to make a declaration For merchandise in baggage under £1,500/1,000kg which does not contain licensed items, the simplest way to declare your goods is though the simplified online declaration form. The simplest way to declare large amounts of cash is also online, following this guidance. If you cannot use the online service, the red point service at the port or airport will be operational during this period but it is possible you will experience some delays.

Our newly launched Focus Groups are enabling us to have groups in many cities, towns, market towns, and villages across Norfolk, to connect, support, and give voice to every business in Norfolk. This week saw our first ‘towns’ Focus Group on Tuesday at the beautiful, but chilly Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Aylsham with Andrea Wilson, AKA The Connector. With thanks to Upp, for being event sponsors and for their valuable contributions to the mornings discussions. To Redwings for hosting our attendees, and to our Vice President, Lizzy Dring from Huxley Events for representing the Norfolk Chambers board. Ageing infrastructure The first topic discussed was on ageing infrastructure and the current needs for technology in the workplace. Key points raised were on the impact of data management, and the importance of data transfer. From slow working connections impacting productivity to tech not keeping up with larger file sizes. The pandemic highlighted the success of zoom and the potential of being able to utilise elements of this tech into in-person events. There was a discussion around GDPR and security and that perhaps businesses and individuals working from home were not considering the impact of this. Recruitment Key points on recruitment were on the difficulty of employing people particularly in the visitor and tourism industry, and that many candidates lost confidence during the pandemic. With hybrid working patterns. Employees within the visitor attraction sector can’t be offered working from home options. LSIP (Local Skills Improvement Plan) Our next topic covered LSIP – a new initiative from the Department for Education (DfE) that will set out the key priorities needed to make technical education and skills provision more responsive to the changing needs of employers and the local economy One particular member described an issue with only having training facilities in Chelmsford for his profession meaning the added cost of getting a student to and from the training facility was both expensive and not helping with carbon footprint. There was an overall feeling that there was a real need for practical skills training and the real need for investing time into employees to see the benefits for retention. It was felt communication skills were lacking and needed to be part of the curriculum in schools and colleges, and bringing back work experience for students was needed. Training is needed to combat the shortage of plumbers, builders and trades people. A feeling that students were very driven by YouTube influencers – could we create some influencers who are in the trades to make this look more appealing? A lot of conversations came back to the effects of the pandemic which are affecting many areas of business particularly with skills, wellbeing and recruitment. It was felt that if we can encourage a workforce back into offices and places of work, this would help with seclusion and anxiety.   If you would like to join us at another Focus Group in the future, the next upcoming event is Thursday 26^th January in Fleggburgh – you can register via the link below: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/engagement-focus-group-fleggburgh-tickets-474154929157  

As we continue the countdown to The Big Debate 2023 here are four things to learn covering our four Big Debate topics. Infrastructure and transport Passengers are being advised to avoid travelling with Greater Anglia, and to check before they do travel, if they do need to make a rail journey on 1 and 3 February, when strike action will affect train services. Members of the train drivers’ union ASLEF and train drivers who are members of the RMT union, who work for Greater Anglia are striking on Wednesday 1 and Friday 3 February. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/member-news/industrial-action-affecting-greater-anglia-train-services-on-1-and-3-february/ People, skills and Wellbeing Do you want to bring the best energy to your workplace, enhance creativity, fuel purpose and develop communication skills? With colleague turnover at an all-time high isn’t it imperative that you attract the best, and retain all those brilliant people? https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/new-corporate-boost-you-programme-wellbeing-international/ Net zero & sustainability I feel lucky because my job is helping businesses become more sustainable and encouraging everyone to live more sustainably – and it’s also my passion. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/dont-just-think-about-going-greener-start-doing-it/ Cost of Living Crisis Times are tough at the moment for many businesses, to say the least. The current UK inflation rate is sitting at 11.1%, so employers are under a lot of pressure to increase salaries and keep up with the rising cost of materials and products they require. https://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/cutting-your-training-budget-in-tough-times-could-be-a-costly-mistake/

• Most Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) exporters report no improvement to exports, with 27% reporting decreased export sales in the quarter and 47% reporting no change. 

• Only 26% of SME exporters saw increased export sales 

• The picture for future orders is even weaker with 28% reporting a decrease against 24% an increase 

• Three biggest cost pressures for SME exporters are energy (72%), labour (67%) and raw materials (61%). 

  A survey of more than 2,300 UK SME exporters has revealed UK overseas trade continues to languish as the global economy heads into another difficult year.  More SME exporters are continuing to report falling export sales (27%) than are reporting an increase (26%)  Just over a third of SME exporters (36%) expect to see increased profitability in the next 12 months, while an almost equal number (35%) expect a decrease. The BCC’s quarterly Trade Confidence Outlook for Q4 2022 also showed the squeeze on SMEs exporters operating margins remains, with 64% expecting to raise their prices. Three main cost pressures continue to dominate as utilities, labour costs and raw materials are again the biggest concerns cited by exporters. Responding to the findings, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, William Bain said: “Last autumn the World Trade Organisation forecast global trade growth of just 1% in 2023, down from 3% in 2022. This is creating huge headwinds for smaller UK firms battered by the pandemic, Brexit and energy price shocks. “China’s sudden full reopening may also create additional supply chain turbulence this year, should the Covid pandemic continue to impact health and economic output. “Against this background it could be sometime before the global shipping and trading systems returns to anything approaching normality. “The UK government cannot afford to sit idly by as we head into such uncertain trading conditions. “It must throw a lifeline to our struggling exporters who are desperately trying to keep their heads above water. “Despite recent very welcome progress on data sharing, the unresolved Northern Ireland protocol situation is still influencing the UK’s relationship with the EU and the US. “Resolving the remaining protocol issues unlocks the potential for benefits for UK businesses in both east and west directions, as well as for Northern Ireland. “Outside of the EU, the US is our biggest trading partner, and the one that BCC members are most interested in, yet progress on free trade talks are stalled. “As the Good Friday Agreement anniversary looms the UK has a golden opportunity to transform our trading relationship with our two biggest export markets in one fell swoop. “Other measures Government should consider include providing effective end-to-end trade finance and setting up a trade accelerator – by working alongside our global network to help firms enter new markets and maximise sales.”

Since the 1st of January 2022, traders have been asked to pre-notify all plants and plant products arriving to the UK either on IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animal, Food and Feed System) or on PEACH (Procedure for Electronic Application for Certificates from the Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate). The PEACH system is due to be phased out at the end of the year – this is due to be confirmed by DEFRA – and all pre-notification will need to be done in IPAFFS. To register to use the IPAFFS system, you will need to set-up a DEFRA account on your Government Gateway. The pre-notification must be made at least four hours before it arrives into the UK. When bringing the shipment into the UK, the number provided will need to be declared on your Customs Declarations for the goods to be able to clear the border. The codes to be used on the Customs Declarations will vary depending on which system you are using but your customs broker/agent should be able to advise and do it on your behalf and you should always provide it as part of your instructions to them. We will provide more information as and when we receive it. Norfolk Chambers can do import and export customs clearance on your behalf and we work with traders to ensure they are compliant with all customs requirements. For more information, please contact [email protected] Image – Chamber Canva Pro 2023  

Reacting to the latest ONS Labour Market figures, Nova Fairbank, CEO of Norfolk Chambers, said:      “Today’s figures will come as no surprise to businesses across Norfolk and the rest of the UK who are desperately trying to fill record numbers of vacant roles. “With over 1.16 million UK job vacancies, businesses are still experiencing a relentlessly tight labour market. If firms can’t hire the staff to fulfil their order books, any room for growth is extremely limited. “Government is heading in the right direction with its plans to help bring economically inactive workers back into the labour force, especially older workers who left in their droves when lockdown ended. “But we need to see more action. There must be carefully tailored careers advice, job seeker support and rapid re-training opportunities to help employers harness the skills and experience of older workers. “Businesses also need to play their part, by engaging with local skills and employment opportunities, adopting flexible working policies where possible and helping older workers develop their skills for the changing workforce. “Finally, Government must hear our calls to urgently reform the Shortage Occupation List to help businesses fill urgent job vacancies when they cannot recruit locally. The List should include job roles below RQF Level 3 for sectors where there is clear evidence of a national shortage. “The UK’s tight labour market is one of the top challenges preventing our businesses and economy from growing. It’s no use simply talking about growth if we are not prepared to take action on it. “With an anaemic economy and low productivity, Government must take immediate steps to ease the considerable labour pressures on businesses – we can’t afford to wait any longer.”