We at the Norfolk Chambers are excited to announce and kick-off our Christmas Countdown of Charities. Throughout December we shall be sharing stories and updates from a variety of Norfolk charities. This is a great opportunity to see and hear about the amazing work that is happening across our county!
We have a whole range of charities involved this year; from Break whose stories we are sharing today, The Matthew Project and Leeway coming up in the next few days and many more! So be sure to keep an eye on our social media to find out what is going on with these fantastic charities.
With only a few weeks to go until the United Kingdom transitions out of the EU, time is of the essence for businesses to prepare.
The government has put in place new rules that organisations must adhere to by the 1st of January 2021. This year has already been an incredible challenge for the majority of businesses due to the COVID pandemic, so it is understandable that strategising for Brexit may not have been your top priority.
However, with time running out, now is the time to act in order to prevent any further disruption to your operations. And the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce are on hand to help.
How we can support your Norfolk business through Brexit and beyond
The complexity of Brexit, from the regulation changes to the shifting EU exit dates, has made it a daunting concept. To alleviate any concerns, the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce have moved swiftly to implement a Brexit Hub on our website.
Countdown to Change online webinar series hosted by Customers expert, Liam Smyth. Covering import and export processes, systems and controls, these webinars are designed to guide your business through the complexity of change.
Chamber webinar recordings from throughout the year that cover a range of topics from COVID and mindset resilience, to staff motivation and strategies.
International documentation including ATA Carnets, International Import Certificates, Arab Certificates of Origin, A.TR Movement Certificates, EUR1 Movement Certificates and European Certificates of Origin. We can also arrange for the legalisation of these documents through the Chamber Network.
Information on other topics that could impact your business including people, trade, borders, digital, regulations and standards, tax, finance and banking as well as funding.
Links to other useful sources of information to keep you updated including the British Chambers of Commerce, New Anglia LEP and the GOV.UK website (who also provide an email service for updates).
Going further to help ease the pressure on your business
In addition to the hub, we are delighted to announce that we have specialist Brexit advisers available to talk to. These advisers are qualified to manage Customs Declarations, making them a fantastic, easy to reach, point of contact for your business.
We do recommend phoning in sooner, rather than later, as this service has been incredibly popular. You can contact an adviser by calling 01603 625977.
By covering all angles, we hope to make this a stress-free process for your business. Especially as 2020 has been one of the most difficult years in the last few decades. Together we can be Brexit-ready.
You can see friends and family you do not live with (or do not have a support bubble with) outdoors, in a group of no more than 6. This limit of 6 includes children of any age.
‘Outdoors’ means in a private garden or other outdoor space.
You can continue to meet in a group larger than 6 if you are all from the same household or support bubble or another legal exemption applies.
Restrictions on Business
All businesses and venues should follow COVID-secure guidelines to protect customers, visitors and workers.
nightclubs and adult entertainment venues must remain closed
pubs and bars may not provide alcohol for consumption on the premises, unless with a substantial meal, so they are operating as a restaurant. They may remain open for take-away services
other hospitality businesses – including cafes, restaurants and social clubs – can only serve alcohol with substantial meals. If they are a business which serves alcohol for consumption on the premises, they must be table service only. In cinemas, theatres, concert halls and sports stadia, alcohol can be ordered at a bar to be consumed when seated in the auditorium or area where the screening/performance is taking place. This should be limited to only those with tickets. When it is to be consumed in the bar area itself, it must be part of a substantial meal and full table service must be provided
hospitality venues that do not serve alcohol may allow someone to order from the counter, but they must still consume their meal from a seat if eating in
hospitality venues must stop taking orders after 10pm and must close between 11pm and 5am (with exceptions for airports, ports, the Folkestone international rail terminal, on public transport services and in motorway service areas, although these places cannot sell alcohol after 11pm)
hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm, such as by take-away. After 11pm, this must only be through delivery service or click-and-collect or drive-through.
businesses must not provide shared smoking equipment for use on the premises.
visitor attractions, entertainment businesses and venues may open but early closure (11pm) applies to the following:
casinos
theatres
museums
bowling alleys
adult gaming centres and amusement arcades
funfairs, theme parks and adventure parks and activities
bingo halls
cinemas, theatres, concert halls and sports stadia
cinemas, theatres, concert halls and sports stadia can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances and events that start before 10pm
tour groups must operate in line with social contact rules. This means that larger tours where different households or support bubbles (or groups of more than 6 if outdoors) interact will not be feasible
accommodation, such as hotels, holiday lets and guesthouses, may open but businesses must take reasonable steps to ensure that social contact rules are followed within their venues
retail businesses and premises may open but must ensure that they operate in a COVID-19-secure manner
theatres, concert halls, music venues and sports stadia are open, but capacity will be restricted to whichever is lower: 50% capacity or 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
conference centres and exhibition halls are open. Business events are permitted, but capacity should be restricted to whichever is lower: 50% capacity of 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors
certain businesses and venues are required to collect customer, visitor and staff data to support NHS Test and Trace
With negotiations between the UK and EU once again at a decision point – and with just 24 days to go until the end of the Brexit transition period – the latest analysis by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that businesses still have insufficient official information available in 24 critical areas, undermining their ability to prepare for change on 1st January.
The leading business organisation’s Brexit Guidance Dashboard – long used by both business and government to evaluate the quality of official UK government guidance – still has 24 of 35 key questions flashing ‘Amber’ or ‘Red’.
The leading business group last evaluated the quality of official HM Government guidance to assess whether it provides sufficient, clear and actionable information that businesses can use to prepare for the coming changes in September and has now provided its latest assessment.
The BCC’s December dashboard finds:
24 unanswered questions reflect fundamental aspects of business operations, including UK/EU customs checks and rules of origin
Government guidance has only been upgraded to a ‘Green’ RAG rating in two areas (duty deferment accounts and the paperwork needed to import under a Generalised System of Preferences programme) since its last update in September
Little movement on unanswered questions
The BCC’s updated Brexit guidance dashboard compiles 35 questions most frequently raised by businesses, which apply in both ‘deal’ or ‘no deal’ scenarios. The BCC has assessed the information available to firms and rated it Green (information is sufficient), Amber (some information is available) and Red (information is wholly inadequate).
The BCC gives just 11 areas a ‘Green’ status (up from 9 in September). 19 are Amber (no change from September) and five are Red (down from seven in September). Many of the unanswered questions reflect fundamental aspects of how companies operate.
Among other things:
firms still do not know what rules of origin will apply after the transition period, preventing them and their customers from planning and potentially creating unprecedented new administration and costs;
there remains very limited guidance on procedures for the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland;
10-digit tariff codes have still not been published and there is still doubt about the final WTO MFN tariff rates; and
there is no information on how UK tariff rate quotas will be administered or how businesses can access them beyond the transition period
The lack of information with which to plan and potential deadline fatigue presents further challenges to firms up and down the UK, who have already faced reduced demand, ongoing government restrictions and sustained cashflow challenges due to the Coronavirus crisis.
Easements/temporary waivers needed to help firms adjust
In addition to clarity on the new arrangements in any deal, it is crucial that the UK and the EU governments agree to implement changes in a way that helps businesses to adjust to the new procedures and systems that will come in to force from January 1.
Example UK easements could include:
A temporary waiver of the £300 fine for hauliers arriving at Channel ports not border ready due to genuine errors in the preparation of their documentation
Flexibility in the requirements for EU companies to be registered in the UK for paperwork purposes
A mandatory grace period for all companies who have inadvertently shared personal data unlawfully between the UK and the EU (whether with third parties or subsidiaries) without adequate legal authority – unless there has been a substantive breach of data subject rights
On areas such as the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, H.M. Government should be prepared to act unilaterally to maintain the provision of services within the UK whilst also working with the EU and Member States on reciprocal provision.
If no agreement can be reached, BCC urges both the UK and EU to take steps to help keep trade flowing – in the interests of businesses on both sides.
BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:
“With just weeks to go, businesses need answers, and they need them now. Posters and television adverts are no substitute for the clear, detailed and actionable information businesses require to prepare for the end of transition.
“None of the issues businesses are grappling with are new. They have all been raised repeatedly over the past four years, from tariff codes and rules of origin through to the movement of goods from GB to NI.
“The detail and precision of UK government guidance matters, and will make all the difference as the trading relationship between the UK and EU changes on January 1st. With the clock ticking down, the government must do everything in its power to provide businesses with answers as they prepare to navigate a New Year like no other.
“We welcome the fact that UK and EU leaders are still talking, as the overwhelming majority of businesses want the two sides to reach an agreement. If a breakthrough happens over the coming hours and days, the two sides must immediately set to work on pragmatic steps to smooth the introduction of the new arrangements from January, including easements for genuine administrative errors, clear procedures at ports, and fast help from customs authorities.”
International trade and investment are vital for this country’s prosperity and is a key generator of local economic growth. Facilitating access to new markets and stimulating overseas trade opportunities for local companies is a top priority for the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
This is why the Borough Council has joined forces with UK Trade & Investment and Business HANSE Ltd to organise the Hanse Business Convention 2015, an event designed to promote export opportunities and business support for West Norfolk companies and facilitate business to business cooperation across Hanse Economic Area, which covers a market with a combined population of over 300 million and combined GDP of over $10,000 billion.
This is your opportunity to join other local businesses at the Hanse Business Convention for free. It will take place on 15th May 2015 at the Hanse House, South Quay in King’s Lynn PE30 5GN.
Two internationally renowned speakers will address the convention in May 2015: Dr Herman Hauser CBE, science-based innovator and serial entrepreneur and UK Business Ambassador and Simon Anholt, an independent policy advisor who helps national, regional and city governments worldwide to develop and implement strategies for enhanced economic, political and cultural engagement with other countries.
Also, Dr Andreas Prothmann, Minister and Head of Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in London will speak about business opportunities in Germany for UK exporters.
As well as these keynote speakers there will be interactive workshop sessions and the opportunity to arrange one-to-one sessions with UKTI representatives.
Places for this free not-to-be-missed event can be booked by going to www.eventbrite.co.uk and searching for Hanse Business Convention.
The convention will be followed by the Hanse Festival Weekend on 16th and 17th May. More details can be foundwww.kingslynnhansefestival.co.uk.
Abellio Greater Anglia is advising rail passengers that there will now be far fewer alterations to weekend train travel over the coming weeks and months, now that Network Rail has completed essential track and overhead line upgrades on the Great Eastern Main Line (between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London) which took place over eight weekends between 31 January / 1 February and 21 / 22 March.
Saturday services
There are now no further significant engineering works affecting Saturday services on the Norwich / Ipswich / Colchester to London Liverpool Street route this Spring or Summer, including the three upcoming Bank Holiday weekends of May Day Holiday Saturday (2 May ) and Spring Bank Holiday Saturday (23 May).
The exception being a small number of early morning and late evening services on 25 April which will involve a bus replacement service for part of the journey.
Sunday services
On Sundays over the coming weeks, other than Bank Holiday weekends, most services are also operating free of engineering works, although rail passengers are advised to check before they travel as some early morning and late evening services will include a bus replacement for part of the journey.
Looking ahead
Looking further ahead, the good news for passengers on the Great Eastern Main Line is that with the exception of the works on 3/4 May and 24/25 May, weekend/bank holiday travel is now largely free of significant disruptive engineering work for the rest of the year, other than some late night Saturday and early morning Sunday services.
Andrew Goodrum, Customer Service Director, Abellio Greater Anglia said: “There are now many more opportunities for rail passengers to travel without any planned service alterations at weekends this Spring, including on Good Friday and Easter Saturday. Customers can obtain full details of train times and great ideas for a day-out in London from our website or by enquiring at our stations.”
On Tuesday 3rd March City Academy are holding an employer “hot seat” activity and would love for you to be involved.
This is a great exercise where Year 9 students chat to employers for 5 mins at a time about their role, industry, skills, and career journey. We’re looking for employer volunteers from various industries and backgrounds to come along and take to the hot seat!
If you’d like to be involved please contact Madeleine Matthews – [email protected]
There has been a positive response to the updated UK Border Operating Model from the International Meat Trade Association (IMTA). However they have stressed that clarification is needed on important details such as the certification for imports, check frequency from July next year and the locations of the Border Control Points where these checks will take place.
IMTAs CEO Katie Doherty made the following statement regarding veterinary checks, with particular focus on short shelf life products:
“Many have referred to the EU-New Zealand veterinary equivalence agreement which reduces physical checks to just 1% as a potential model for the UK-EU arrangement, but that still has significant potential implications for businesses and consumers. The 1% is random and the fact that you might be picked for the 1% checks itself makes supply chains trickier to manage. Even with the 1% physical checks, the EU-NZ vet equivalence agreement still requires 100% ID checks”
She added, “We have deep concern about the government’s UK Global Tariff which lays down the tariffs that will apply to goods not covered by a quota or free trade agreement. For meat, we need at least the same volume access to the product from the EU at the end of the transition period. It is imperative that a deal is achieved by the UK and EU that secures tariff and quota free access for meat as it is in the interests of importers, users of imported inputs such as manufacturers and consumers. We are not self-sufficient and we need imports to complement UK domestic production to ensure food security, consumer choice and availability of product year-round whatever the outcome of negotiations.”
As we head into the final month of 2020, the time until the transition date decreases, and the probability of a no-deal increases. Whilst this hangs in the balance, some businesses may feel inclined to wait until the last minute to see what deal comes through. However, this strategy can be incredibly damaging to your organisation and the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce recommends preparing for any scenario, deal or no-deal. No matter the outcome, significant changes to your organisation will be required. To help you prepare, we are offering businesses free support through our online Brexit Hub and if you haven’t capitalised on this opportunity, then we urge you to do so at your earliest convenience – our business advice lines are becoming busier as we hurtle towards the deadline.
We are all hoping for a deal to come to the table, but what is the potential impact of a no-deal Brexit on your business?
Limited access to European markets – It’s possible that without a deal, there may be restrictions when bidding for contracts in the EU. This could also apply to delivering contracts that are already in place.
Disruption to supply chains – One of the big concerns is the potential disruption to supply chains through changes in tariffs, other costs and changes with import and export controls.
Higher tariffs – A result of a no-deal Brexit is the increase of tariffs on products imported from and through the European Union. Depending on the product, costs could rise drastically, and this may impact on your customers.
Tax changes – If your business uses European Union tax structures, then this will most likely be affected. It could take time to implement and develop alternative UK tax structures, slowing down business operations.
Changes to data protection – At present, the UK adheres to the EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) when processing data. If this changes, then existing databases may need to be reviewed and adjusted to fit with new regulations.
Although this may all seem daunting, you’re not up the creek without a paddle. the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce are to help, no matter what happens on January 1st. You can access our comprehensive and easy-to-use Brexit Hub full of free resources by clicking here. You can also phone our expert trade advisors on 01603 625977.
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.”
The March edition of the Norwich Economic Barometer has now been published. It highlighted that Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that over 2014 industrial productions and manufacturing rose by 1.3% and 1.9% respectively. This was helped by the oil and gas production in the North Sea, which showed a rise of 2.4% in January 2015.
The Pound climbed against the Euro by 2.7% and 6.1% against the US Dollar – this has weakened overseas sales for some companies. UK consumer confidence in their spending power had grown to its highest point in the last four years, as the living costs continue to fall and the mood around employment is more upbeat.
Locally, Norwich Castle have secured £1m of government funding to redesign the Keep. It is hoped this will attract an extra 100,000 visitors per year once completed. The Norfolk Car Club will add a further 6 locations across the city in the next 2 months; and the Government also approved the £2bn East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm, which is expected to create up to 3,000 new jobs. The contract winners, Scottish Power plan to start construction in 2017 and are holding a Supply Chain Presentation at Norfolk Chamber’s offices on Wednesday 25 March 2015. On Wednesday 01 April, a grant scheme of up to £3,000 will be available to businesses in Norwich to boost their broadband connection.
To find out more about the grant and to read the full economic report click here.
Commenting on the Liberal Democrat Party manifesto and the policies proposed, Dr Adam Marshall, Executive Director of the British Chambers of Commerce said:
“It is good to see that the Liberal Democrats’ policy proposals include a commitment to investing in infrastructure, improving access to finance by expanding the Business Bank, and greater support for firms to grow apprenticeship numbers.Companies also badly want to see the promised ‘broad and well considered business rates review’ materialise.
“Continued Liberal Democrat opposition to expansion of airport capacity is short-sighted when the need is so critical.
“Businesses will also be concerned by a number of Lib Dem tax proposals. Restricting entrepreneurs’ relief, hiking dividend taxes and slashing annual allowances for Capital Gains Tax, could have a chilling effect on growth. The last thing the UK needs is tax changes that discourage entrepreneurial risk-taking by startup and growth companies.”
