Chamber News

As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.

Andrew Sherwood is Human Resources Director at Bernard Matthews who are not only one of the Norfolk Chamber’s Gold Patrons but is one of Norfolk’s biggest known brands.

Andrew’s question to the Chancellor was:

“The Prime Minister has recently announced a review of ‘Green Energy Taxes’ following the recent increases in energy prices by the major energy companies. This will bring a significant level of uncertainty to investors and developers alike, supporting the green energy agenda. Green Energy taxes make up a 9% of the average dual fuel bill and support the government’s commitment to carbon reduction and renewable energy.

Can the government give the commitment to provide certainty with green energy taxes moving forward to provide the confidence to allow investments to continue to be made in this sector?”

Find on the attached document the written response from the HM Treasury.

As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.

Saul Humphrey is current Managing Director at one of the Norfolk Chamber’s longest standing members: RG Carter Ltd.

Saul’s question to the Chancellor was:

“The industry I work in is construction and as you know construction makes up 8% of GDP and accounts for about 10% of all employment. The benefit of investment in construction is however not only immediate, but also much long-term with economic and social benefits for all.

In truth my industry’s embryonic economic recovery is largely quite London centric and dominated by the house building sector following the Governments introduction of the “Help to Buy” mortgage guarantee Scheme.

Unfortunately proposal infrastructure investment in High Speed 2 is also not expected to have any benefit to the Norfolk population. It also appears the Green Deal has also not yet really caught the public imagination and even proposed capital investment for Sizewell ‘C’ will be controversial to say the least.

I am delighted that we are seeing improvements to the A11 and hopefully future investment in the NDR. Proposed improvements to the train line from Norwich to London and support for the growing science and research community at NRP is also very welcome.

What more can we all do together for the benefit of Norfolk and indeed the East of England to help accelerate the economic recovery, help achieve our carbon reduction commitment and, in doing so, help our country to grow its economy in a sustainable manner?”

Find on the attached document the written response from George Osborne.

Members of the Great Yarmouth Chamber Council recently met with Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth, to highlight issues affecting local businesses. Among the topics discussed was the need to highlight the many and varied opportunities available to local businesses from the offshore and renewable industry; Assisted Area Status and the benefits this could bring to Great Yarmouth; skills and careers advice; and infrastructure.

Brandon outlined that Great Yarmouth’s Assisted Area Status case was being well supported and that he was cautiously optimistic that Great Yarmouth stood a good chance of being awarded Assisted Area Status, which would bring our region into line with the offerings that other Centres for Renewable Engineering (CORE) areas already benefit from.

Members of the Great Yarmouth Chamber Council highlighted the need for more Government support on the education establishments to ensure that the young people of today understand what opportunities are available to them locally. At present the schools do not have sufficient time or funding within the existing curriculum to cover careers advice in any great detail. Brandon advised that he was organising a Jobs Fair in conjunction with the Borough Council which would be held on 7 March 2014 at Great Yarmouth Racecourse.

Improvements to the A47, including extending the A47 to Lowestoft were also discussed. Brandon advised that the Norfolk Nine MPs were campaigning hard at Westminster and called for the business community to keep raising the profile of the A47 campaign locally. Brandon advised that the business case for the improvements was expected to be finalised by the Norfolk County Council in the next few weeks.

Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP West Norfolk Skills Survey

As we head into 2014, the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP (GCGP) is busy making plans for the future and they need your help. Looking ahead, the Government has determined that the GCGP LEP will have strategic influence over public funded training, as well as the ability to direct European Funds to where they are needed most for the West Norfolk local area and for our local businesses. This is where they need your help.

With increased influence and the ability to help shape the training available to local people the GCGP want to find out what you, as a local business in West Norfolk, need to help your company succeed in the future. Your views are also vital to help secure future funding for the GCGP LEP area. They have launched an online survey to find out more about your current and future skills and training needs to help them ensure that what is delivered locally meets your requirements.

The survey should take no more than ten minutes to complete and they would really appreciate your input. Complete the online survey here.

The GCGP would appreciate your support by completing the Skills Survey and also letting your contacts know about both of these projects where appropriate.

Commenting on statement by Chancellor George Osborne on the minimum wage, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

“Although it is clear that there is an increased disparity between the highest and lowest earners, arbitrarily raising the floor isn’t necessarily the solution and could in fact make the UK economy uncompetitive in the long term. The adverse effects of an unaffordable minimum wage hike would also be predominantly concentrated among SMEs, young people and graduates. If we want to spread the wealth around as the economy recovers, we need a long-term plan to create a high-skill, high-wage economy, including action on infrastructure and access to finance.”

Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“Increasing the minimum wage by more than inflation rate could have a detrimental effect on the Norfolk business community, the majority of whom fall into the SME bracket. Economic recovery is fragile and many employers are working hard in challenging markets and increased wage bills would slow their progress to growth.

The Living Wage campaign has been gathering momentum across the the public sector and larger employers and this looks to be a compromise, increasing the minimum wage but keeping it lower than the Living Wage rate.”

China-Britain Business Council and UK Trade & Investment have identified the latest business opportunities for UK companies across various sectors.

This is a fairly long list so make sure you don’t miss out and see if there are any of interest to you and your specific sector.

Please click here for the full listing.

The UK India Business Council has a series of FREE webinars planned which should be particularly valuable to Norfolk businesses.

Their Indian-based sector specialists in Gurgaon are going to be presenting information on recent developments and opportunities for UK companies in the following sectors:

• Healthcare
• Skills and Education
• Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing

This is an exciting opportunity for the India-based Sector specialists to be available to directly answer questions from the webinar attendees.

The short (45 minutes) webinars will be taking place this week. Please follow the above links to book your free place.

As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.

David Dukes is the Business Development Manager at the Norfolk County Council who are one of our longest standing members at the Chamber having joined well over 20 years ago.

David’s question to the Chancellor was:

“We are delighted that the A11 is finally being fully duelled. A major milestone. However, we have a 2nd key road that is just as vital. The A47 is our main and really, the only link to the West and North. Yet it presents a major hurdle to business in the county and those serving it, plus the millions of visitors every year. Can you give any indication of improvements in the future?

We are delighted that Norfolk’s superfast broadband is being substantially upgraded. It would be excellent if more funds were to be made available to increase coverage further. However, it is our chronically poor mobile coverage that we really need to address. Far too much of Norfolk – which presents few topographical issues compared to many – are no go areas. That affects business. What comfort can you offer us?

Could the Chancellor offer businesses in Norfolk any advice on accessing Government funding? I am aware of a number of extremely good businesses that have applied for various grants towards projects that will deliver significant growth in jobs, yet they are invariably unsuccessful. We need better knowledge and acceptance of the capability of many of Norfolk’s businesses.”

Find on the attached document the written response from the HM Treasury.

As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.

Clarke Willis is Chief Executive of Anglia Farmers Limited. The Agricultural company that is based in Horningham Thorpe, Colton have been members of the Chamber for over 8 years.

Clarke’s question to the Chancellor was:

“In East Anglia we now have vast tracks of prime land now being used to grow maize to feed AD (Anaerobic Digester) plants to produce gas which in turn producers electricity.

We have a number of large scale (50 acres plus) PV (photovoltaic panels) which again are being constructed on prime agricultural land and finally we have a straw pellet plant in the county which takes up to 50,000 tonnes of straw, uses energy to grind and then pellet the straw to be loaded on trucks to go to Drax power station to produce “green electricity”.

These projects would not be viable except with massive financial support through FiT’s which we all pay for in our utility bills.

On the other hand we are seeing global demand for food increasing which is leading to higher prices and shortages. We are net importers of most of the staple foods we eat and the continued growth of the global population will put massive strains on the supply chain.

We could produce more food. In Norwich we have world class crop and food research facilities but they cannot bring to market the innovative and sustainable developments they have because of the government / EU view on GM technology.”

Find on the attached document the written response from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

As a follow up to the Norfolk Chamber’s ‘Audience with George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer’ event on the 7 November, we submitted a number of questions from our members to the Chancellor. Responses to those questions are now starting to be received from the relevant Ministers within Westminster.

Richard Ross is Director at Chadwicks Ltd who have recently reached their one year anniversary as members of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce.

Richard’s question to the Chancellor was:

“While the recent improvements in employment prospects are to be welcomed I am sure the Minister will join me in agreeing that the persistency of high levels of unemployment in younger people are a source of national shame for which we all – government, businesses, educators, parents – must take our share of responsibility. Those least responsible are the young people, many of whom have worked hard to prepare for a productive life only to have those dreams cruelly snatched away from them.

Can you reassure us that suggestions made by Mr Cameron, and detailed by Mr Gove, to restrict benefits to under-25s were no more than Party Conference over-exuberance and that there is no intention to further ostracise this important future resource by implicitly laying the blame for high youth unemployment at their feet rather than where it should truly sit?”

Find on the attached document the written response from the HM Treasury.

• The UK deficit on trade in goods and services was £3.2bn in November 2013, compared with a deficit of £3.5bn in October 2013, but the October deficit was revised up sharply from the £2.6bn initially estimated
• There was a deficit of £9.4bn on goods in November, partly offset by a surplus of £6.2bn on services
• Imports from the EU increased to £19.2bn in November, a record high
• In the three months to November 2013, exports of goods were 1.5% higher than in the same three months of 2012, but imports of goods were 2.2% higher

Commenting on the UK trade figures for November 2013, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

“Although there was a small fall in the trade deficit, these figures are disappointing, and indicate a large deficit in the fourth quarter. However, it is not entirely surprising – our economy is growing at a faster pace than those of our major trading partners in Western Europe, and imports tend to increase in such circumstances. Longer term comparisons show that exports are increasing, but this is at a slower pace than is needed.

“Boosting exports must be a national economic priority, particularly when it comes to diversifying our exports towards faster-growing economies outside the EU. Even within Europe, there is scope to do this, as central and eastern European economies such as Poland are growing faster than our traditional trading partners. More support for SMEs looking to trade internationally is needed, and this means giving UK businesses more resources in areas such as trade finance, insurance and promotion.”

Tracey Howard, International Trade Director at Norfolk Chamber commented:

“Norfolk exports definitely increased during 2013. It was the busiest year on record for Norfolk Chamber’s International Department. Of the documents that are stamped at our Norwich office, 14% more EC Certificates of Origin were processed during 2013, and just under 50% more Arab Certificates.

Our members are very busy trading overseas and we expect this trend will continue through 2014. With such a varied range of sectors in our region, there are opportunities galore for everyone to tap into. We will be concentrating this year, on making sure the Norfolk business community are made fully aware of these opportunities and assist them in winning new contracts”

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce welcomes the Government approval for the £19m improvement of the A47 Postwick junction, at the eastern end of Norwich Southern Bypass. This is a project which has been on the Norwich Chamber Council’s wish list for a significant time.

Lack of capacity at the junction has prevented existing planning consents for business and housing development in the area from going ahead. Planning permission for the junction improvement has already been granted by Broadland District Council, but the side road and slip road legal orders also needed approval before the scheme could begin on site. A public inquiry into the side road and slip road orders was held last summer and the Secretaries of State for Transport and for Communities & Local Government have now given their approval.

Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber said” At last the uncertainty is over and we have the result that the business community has been waiting for. We welcome Norfolk County Council’s commitment to start on the site as soon as possible. We see this decision as a catalyst for new housing and business development. The real celebrations however will start with a positive decision relating to the go-ahead for the NDR application which is still waiting for approval and is subject of a public examination during 2014.”

“This is great news for jobs, housing and the Greater Norwich economy,” said David Harrison, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Development & Waste. “We will now be moving as quickly as possible to start on site, and I expect that developers whose planning permission depends upon the junction improvement will soon be doing the same.”

Government funding for the Postwick Hub – the junction improvement and expansion of the Postwick Park & Ride – has been available since 2009 when £21m was allocated from the Community Infrastructure Fund for the Postwick Hub, including expansion of the Park & Ride site. The scheme was reviewed by the new Coalition Government and £19m in funding for the junction was confirmed as part of the £86.5m allocation for Norwich Northern Distributor Road (NDR).

Although the Postwick Junction improvement is important for the NDR, it is also vital in its own right to unlock business and housing growth in the area. The Planning Inspectorate is currently reviewing the NDR application as part of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) development approval process. Whether the NDR goes ahead depends upon a Development Consent Order being granted and this will be the subject of a public examination during 2014.

(This link will take you to the inspector’s report and decision letter:

www.gov.uk/search?q=Postwick&tab=government-results)