Chamber News

Rachel Blackburn of Us2U Consulting gave a fun and energetic presentation at this morning’s Chamber Session. She spoke about how to apply the 4 step assertiveness process and about approaching different issues in the workplace relating to your staff. Sean Thompson of Arthur Jary & Sons Funeral Directors said that it was “fun and full of energy” and that it “made quite a serious subject engaging and interesting.” Rachel stated her highlight from the session was how “enthusiastic” her delegates were.

For full details on the work Us2U Consulting does, please visit www.us2uconsulting.com for more details. This session forms part of Series 3 of The Chamber Sessions. Full details of what remains of this series can be found here.

Do MPs help to make a positive difference?

At the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce event involving all the Norfolk MPs back in February 2014, Chamber member Rachel Blackburn, Director of US2U Consulting raised the issue that it was taking over 3 months for a new taxi driver to get their licence from Norwich City Council, on behalf of her client ABC Taxis Ltd. As ABC Taxis planned to recruit 20 new drivers this year to meet customer demand, this clearly was a concern to them and also to the individuals concerned who are keen to start their new career.

Chloe Smith MP and Simon Wright MP agreed to help to solve the problem. Working with Rachel Blackburn, who met with Norwich City Council to profile the process in more detail, it has been a team effort to resolve the issue. Norwich City Council has agreed that the process should take around 8 weeks and currently the experience when hiring the new drivers recently has been that it has been taking around 5 weeks. A significant difference.

US2U Consulting and ABC Taxis have also produced a film to make the recruitment and licencing process easier to understand from the new recruits point of view. This can be seen on the ABC Taxis website at https://www.abctaxisnorwich.co.uk/Recruitment.aspx . Chloe Smith also visited the ABC Taxis team as part of the process.”

Manufacturing Advisory Service offers consultancy improvement projects to help support business growth. To have an in-depth match funded project you’ll have had a free Manufacturing Review and your Advisor has provided an Action Plan and recommended a project to support your improvement. Your advisor will also confirm the offer in writing. Projects can vary in depth and address a wide range of opportunities and therefore the value can vary but will typically range between £300 and £3000. A standard MAS project will deliver a return of at least 66:1 against your initial investment.

Take a look at the areas that MAS can help provide consultancy support in:

• MAS STRATEGY – Planning your business
• MAS INNOVATES – Developing your new ideas
• MAS EFFICENCY – Improving your processes
• MAS CONNECTS – Growing your supply chain

Who delivers project support?

We engage specialist consultants to deliver projects, all consultants who deliver on behalf of MAS are registered on our Consultants Directory, the manufacturer selects the consultant to deliver the project. Overview of a typicalcustomer journey for consultancy project support

Just a few of the types of projects that would comply with the MAS scope are:

• Getting systems in place for ISO 9001, 14001 and other industry standards
• Patent search activities
• Bespoke staff training as part of addressing a wider business strategy
• Consultancy to improve product design
• Design for manufacture and assembly
• Product development consultancy
• Rapid prototyping to support advanced manufacturing
• Material selection
• Subcontract cad design and drafting
• Tooling costs

Eligibility

To find out more about how MAS defines manufacturing and eligibility visit the MASwho we can help page. For more information on how MAS can help call: 0845 658 9600 or email: [email protected]

Cllr George Nobbs has been re-elected as Leader of Norfolk County Council following a meeting of Full Council at County Hall today (Tuesday 27 May).

Cllr Nobbs, who represents the Crome division in Norwich for Labour, was elected by 43 votes to 40, with Liberal Democrat Cllr David Harrison of Aylsham division elected as Deputy Leader by the same margin.

Cllr Nobbs first became Leader of the Council in May 2013 following the County Council elections.

The County Council is now moving to a new committee based decision making system, with the following Committee Chairs also appointed at today’s meeting:

• Adult Social Care Committee – Cllr Sue Whitaker (Labour) as Chair; Cllr Elizabeth Morgan (Green) as Vice Chair
• Children’s Services Committee – Cllr James Joyce (Liberal Democrat) as Chairman; Cllr Richard Bearman (Green) as Vice Chair
• Communities Committee – Cllr Paul Smyth (UKIP) as Chairman; Cllr Margaret Wilkinson (Labour) as Vice Chair
• Environment, Development and Transport Committee – Cllr Toby Coke (UKIP) as Chairman; Cllr John Timewell (Liberal Democrat) as Vice Chair
• Cllr Nobbs and Cllr Harrison take the Chair and Vice Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee

All five committees will be meeting for the first time in June, with the Adult Social Care Committee the first to take place under the new system on Monday 16 June.

The leadership of the Economic Development Sub-Committee will be chosen when that committee first meets on Thursday 26 June.

Liberal Democrat councillor Brian Hannah, who represents Sheringham ward, was elected as the new Norfolk County Council Chairman at the meeting with no opposition, with Cllr Rex Parkinson-Hare, of the UKIP group for Yarmouth Nelson and Southtown ward, elected Vice Chairman.

At the meeting councillors also discussed a report on the remaining deficit facing the County Council following the termination of the Willows contract.

The Council agreed that just over £1m be found from highways maintenance (£900,000) with a further £140,000 coming from the libraries book fund.

They agreed that if savings options which have a less direct impact on services emerge during 2014, substitution of these would be an acceptable policy option.

Grants4 Growth

OverviewGrants4Growth is an £11m project delivered through the Local Enterprise Partnerships. It provides: capital grants for SMEs to purchase/install efficient new processes, production facilities and clean tech, helping them to invest-to-grow; revenue grants (East of England only) and other direct technical asistance to support SMEs to promote products/services such clean technology and renewable energy. Its function is to administer simple, straightforward grants and quantifiable action to improve efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and help your business invest to grow.

Is your organisation eligible?

Grants4Growth is targeted at Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) within the East of England – Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire plus Lincolnshire. In determining an organisation’s eligibility for support, there are five main factors, as follows. If you are in any doubt, just ask us and we’ll help you if we can.

1. Is it an enterprise? This is the ‘E’ in ‘SME’. An enterprise is ‘any entity engaged in an economic activity, irrespective of its legal form’. It is the economic activity that is the determining factor, not the legal form. Companies, partnerships, sole traders, charities, not-for-profits and community interest companies could all, therefore, be eligible provided they meet the other criteria.

2. Ownership structure SMEs need to be ‘autonomous’ and not subsidiaries of multinational conglomerates etc. In general, most SMEs are ‘autonomous’ since they are either completely independent or have one or more minority partnerships (each less than 25%) with other enterprises. If that holding rises to no more than 50%, the relationship is deemed to be between partner enterprises. Above that ceiling, the enterprises are deemed ‘linked’ or subsidiary. In other words, companies can be up to 50% owned by a third party and still be deemed ‘autonomous’. If in doubt, just ask us.

3. Other eligibility issues The EU defines SMEs by the size of their workforce, their turnover and their balance sheet. The current thresholds for SMEs as follows:

• Headcount (annual work unit): less than 250
• Annual turnover: no more than €50 million
• Annual balance sheet: no more than €43 million

SMEs don’t actually have to hit all eligibility criteria/thresholds. Whilst it is compulsory to respect the staff headcount thresholds, an SME may choose to meet either the turnover or balance sheet ceiling. It does not need to satisfy both and may exceed one of them without losing its status as an SME.

4. State aids Grants4Growth couldn’t give your organisation a grant (state aid) if if this would take the total state aid you’ve received during the preceding 3 years over around £150K. Under the EC regulation 1998/2006 (de minimis aid regulation) any de minimis aid (for example, our grant) awarded to a organisation will be relevant if they wish to apply, or have applied, for any other grant aid.

5. Specific sectoral exclusions A number of specific sectors – those which enjoy other non-ERDF subsidies are ineligible for support through Grants4Growth, such as agriculture, healthcare, education, fisheries, forestry etc. – if in doubt, just ask us.

Is your project eligible?

Grants4Growth distributes capital and revenue grants to eligible SMEs to catalyse growth and efficiency. The kinds of projects we can support are as follows.

1. Capital grants of up to 28% Capital grant support is available up to a maximum of 28% of total eligible expenditure. Applications are assessed on merit by a Grants Panel; the actual amounts offered are typically determined by the total eligible expenditure, the outcomes of the initiative and grant funding available. What kinds of things could our capital grant support?

a) investment in technologies or processes that lead to quantifiable growth, improve resilience or create/safeguard jobs b) efficiency initiatives in the form of waste, water or energy efficiency, recovery or reduction c) investment in technologies or processes that reduce the environmental impact of your operations

2. Revenue grants of up to 30% Revenue grant support is available up (except in Lincolnshire) up to a maximum of 30% of total eligible expenditure. Applications are assessed on merit by a Grants Panel; the actual amounts offered tend to be smaller than capital grants and are likewise determined by the total eligible expenditure, the outcomes of the initiative and grant funding available.

The kinds of things that our revenue grant could support include specialist consultancy and/or support and studies related to the promotion, marketing or mainstreaming of low carbon and environmental goods and services (LCEGS) sector products and services – clean tech and/or green tech.

How to Register

To find out if you could get grant support for your growth or efficiency projects, please complete the simple registration form. They will be able check your eligibility and appoint a dedicated business broker to quickly guide your idea through the grant application process.

Website:

https://www.grants4growth.org.uk

Any business person who has spent time this week queuing on the A47 due the work being carried out on the new Postwick roundabout, will have seen the completion date of April 2015 with a heavy heart. We know there is no gain without pain and to ensure the safety to the construction workers is essential, but the thought of our visitors as well as regular commuters dealing with the significant queues especially over the holiday periods is not a great prospect.

The Norfolk Chamber is pleased to see that Norfolk County Council and the Highways Agency have taken on board that changes to the traffic management arrangement needed to be reviewed and that these changes will happen on 29th May. We are advised that under the new arrangements, both lanes will be open on the approach to the safe working area, however the inside lane will be used only for traffic taking the slip road off the A47. All other Gt Yarmouth-bound traffic will have to move into the outside lane, and the inside lane will be closed from the slip road. The system will work by requiring drivers to ‘get in lane’ on their approach to the junction which should reduce delays.

To make this change, the A47 will be closed overnight on Thursday 29 May from 8pm. The maximum period of closure allowed is to 6am the following morning, but the road will reopen as soon as work allows.

• GDP figures for 21 2014 unrevised: 0.8% on the quarter, 3.1% year on year
• Full-year GDP growth in 2013 over 2012 is also unrevised, at 1.7%
• In Q1 2014 business investment rose by 2.7%, after 2.4% in Q4 2013
• The trade balance narrowed slightly from 4.2bn in Q4 2013 to 4.1bn in Q1 2014

Commenting on the revised GDP figures for Q1 2014 published today by the ONS, David Kern Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The unrevised growth figure of 0.8% for Q1 was expected, although the additional detail provided by the ONS was particularly positive and will boost business confidence further. It is pleasing to see strong growth in business investment for the second consecutive quarter, and a welcome improvement in the trade balance. It is a shame however that exports declined in the quarter and the improvement in the trade balance was the result of an even bigger fall in imports.

“Some rebalancing towards investment and exports is taking place, but the pace is inadequate and efforts in these areas must be strengthened. Meanwhile, we are concerned that the MPC is not providing enough clarity to allow businesses to plan ahead and invest. After the welcome comments made by Governor Carney last week, Wednesday’s MPC minutes have produced an element of uncertainty. To maintain business confidence, it is important that the MPC makes a greater effort to communicate clearly and avoid potential contradictions.”

Norfolk Chamber members met for lunch today with Chuka Umunna, the Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, to highlight the needs of business ahead of the May 2015 elections.

The lunch was hosted by Knowles Syfer Technology and a range of local businesses attended from sectors such as: energy; construction; manufacturing; engineering; and the professional services.

Mr Umunna outlined Labour’s 4 step strategy plan that will form their long term perspective through to 2030:

1. De-Centralisation – giving the necessary tools to each local region to best benefit each area. 2. Develop solutions to tomorrow’s problems today 3. Active Government – working in partnership to create a sustainable economy and strategic growth 4. Maintain an open outward approach to the world, with continued links to the European Union.

Local businesses raised issues such as the Living Wage, employment law, EU regulations, how to improve exports, Local Enterprise Partnerships and the planning system.

Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said: “It was a great opportunity for the Norfolk business community to highlight the needs of business to the Opposition. The local business community and Norfolk Chamber members are working hard to drive economic growth in our County and need stability and focus from central Government to help them to achieve this.

Following on from a successful Regional Growth Funding bid, Norfolk benefits from £3.2 million of funding to support the development of the agri-tech industry in Norfolk and Suffolk, Peterborough and Cambridgeshire.

Both Local Enterprise Partnerships, New Anglia LEP and The Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, are working in partnership to operate an Agri-Tech Grants scheme to support the development of new and innovative ideas within the sector. The LEPs are also receiving additional input from NIAB-TAG, Sainsbury Laboratories, John Innes Centre, University of East Anglia and Cambridge, the Norwich Research Park and Hethel Innovation.

There are two main funds that business located within Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, or Rutland, can apply for.

• The first is the £2 million Agri-Tech Growth Fund, which will provide grants of between £25,000 and £150,000 to support product development and improve agricultural productivity.

• The second is a £540,000 Research, Development and Prototyping Fund, which will help support the research and development of new product or processes with grants of between £10,000 and £60,000.

What projects would be considered for funding? You can find out more about two funds by downloading an overview of categories considered for funding here.

Are you eligible?For the eligibility criteria for both funds click here

Want to Apply?You can download the pre-qualification questionnaire here.

Need more information? If you would like to know more about the Agri-Tech grants you can also contact Martin Lutman via [email protected] or by calling 01480 277180.

It is great news that the Government has given its strongest indication yet that they are likely to provide funding to improve more sections of the A47 and Norfolk Chamber looks forward with interest to the Autumn Statement announcements.

The Roads Minister, Robert Goodwill, gave strong hints at a meeting with Norfolk MPs who raised the needs of the Norfolk business community for improved road infrastructure to ease congestion and access across the County.

Norfolk businesses have been working hard to compete in the current economic climate and business confidence is starting to grow. An improved A47 will make the east/west journey across our County easier and will particularly give exporters, based in West Norfolk, better access to all the ports on the East coast.

However proof is in the pudding and we need to see the hard evidence of the Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure in Norfolk.

In Norfolk, the borough of Great Yarmouth lead the way again with a fall of 13.7% in the unemployment figures. Norwich also saw a modest fall of 2.4% and King’s Lynn & West Norfolk saw a fall of 9.1%.

Great Yarmouth saw the number of 16-18 year olds claiming Job Seekers Allowance fall sharply, dropping by 16% over the last month. However some of this may be as a result of the approach of summer and the start of seasonal work, but the drop is still significant. For full details of the report click here.

The A47 eastbound carriageway will be closed for at least two nights this week at the junction with the A146 at Trowse, and it will not be possible to join the A47 eastbound at Postwick.

The closure will be in place from 8pm to 6am on Tuesday night, 13 May, and Wednesday night, 14 May. If work is not complete, two further nights will be used (Thursday 15 May and Friday 16 May).

Traffic will be diverted via the A146, A143, A12 to rejoin the A47 at Vauxhall roundabout. Traffic attempting to join the eastbound A47 at Postwick will be diverted across the A47 and via the westbound A47 to join the A146 diversion route at Trowse.

The closure is to allow barriers to be installed at Postwick to protect the workforce and the travelling public during the junction improvement work that began today (Mon).

Norfolk County Council apologises for the inconvenience caused by these overnight closures.

Further information on the Postwick scheme can be found here: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/news/NCC147854 .