Chamber News

Commenting on the announcement that planning permission for EDF’s nuclear power plant in Hinkley Point, Somerset, has been approved, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“British business is clear that nuclear power is a vital ingredient in the UK’s long-term energy mix. Planning approval for Hinkley C is a major step in the search for energy security and a huge opportunity for local businesses in Somerset and beyond.

“While this announcement is positive, Britain’s first new nuclear plant in nearly two decades is not a done deal yet. Planning permission alone does not mean the project will proceed; complex negotiations on energy pricing must also reach a successful conclusion. Whatever the financial deal reached, it must offer value for taxpayers and certainty for business energy users – who need clarity on their costs and on security of supply.

“Planning approval for Hinkley C is only one step in the much-needed upgrade of the UK’s energy infrastructure. It must not be the only step taken – as without a comprehensive UK energy security strategy, our business competitiveness will be seriously diminished.”

Rupert Cox, Chief Executive of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, said:

“This announcement sends a clear message that the UK’s new nuclear build programme is on track. Local businesses are keen to play their part in developing the supply chain for nuclear power, and the Chamber has been at the heart of this effort. Here in Somerset, more than 1,200 companies have taken the necessary steps to ensure that they are ‘Hinkley ready’.”

Caroline Williams Chief Executive Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said: “It is great to see Hinkley C getting planning permission as it brings Sizewell C a step closer to the region. The Chambers have a key role to play in developing their supply chains and we look forward to ensuring that Norfolk businesses are ready to take full advantage of the business opportunities both locally and in Hinkley”

A recent meeting between the members of Great Yarmouth Chamber Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Cabinet, it was identified that there was a need for greater interaction between the schools and local businesses to ensure that comprehensive careers advice was available to the young people of Great Yarmouth to help secure a skilled workforce for the future. The group agreed that the first step should be to arrange joint meeting between the six main high schools in Great Yarmouth and local employers to determine the best way to bridge this gap.

Caroline Williams, CEO of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said “It is vital to the economic growth of Great Yarmouth that the right skilled people are available. It is important that our young people can easily identify the options available to them at an early age and that they understand the fantastic opportunities that are on their doorstep in key sectors from tourism, hospitality and energy to engineering and IT.”

Broadland District Council have launched a consultation on how the Growth Triangle to the north east of Norwich should grow and develop over the next 15 years and beyond. Eventually, the plan will become part of the planning policies for Broadland.

They are looking for your views on different options for the policies and proposals that should be contained within the Area Action Plan. Some of the policy options consider how factors that affect nearly all development in the area will be dealt with. These are things such as design or the integration of transport infrastructure. Other options look at what sites should be developed as housing or employment, or used for other purposes such as open space. You can take part in this consultation by completing their questionnaire. The consultation period will run from 18 March 2013 to 10 June 2013.

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) are organising a trade mission to the Central European Exhibition Centre, Brno, Czech Republic to enable UK companies to participate in an international business-to-business matchmaking event, Contact-Contract.

The Czech Republic is one of the UK’s largest European export markets, with sales of goods reaching £1.75 billion last year.

The central European country holds a strong strategic position at the heart of Europe with one of the most prosperous and stable emerging European market economies, and a highly developed infrastructure open to UK business.

Click here for further details of this mission which takes place from 23-25 April 2013.

Norfolk Chamber members are calling for the Chancellor to take rapid and radical steps to shift government spending from unproductive areas and towards growth measures that can be delivered quickly.

Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said: “It is imperative that infrastructure delivery must become a top priority across government. With the utilities and developers both waiting for each other to take the investment risk, it is essential that the government finds a way to unlock investment in infrastructure and get confidence back into the business community.”

Key Chamber priorities:

• Incentivise private-sector investment in infrastructure to support development of key infrastructure projects including road building and housing.
• Cuts in business taxation including NIC to be considered
• Introduce a firm timetable for the launch of a credible British Business Bank
• Freeze business rates for three years. Ministers must cancel the 2.6% rise scheduled for April
• Triple the lifetime limit for Entrepreneurs Relief on Capital Gains Tax from £10m to £30m which would encourage businesses who want to expand and reinvest their profits.
• Expand support for companies exporting to overseas markets to enable new and existing exporters to take advantage of new markets for their products and services.

Caroline Williams continued “These measures would all contribute to boosting confidence. Our own research shows that firms across Norfolk believe they can drive growth this year, but they can’t do it alone. Bold action must be taken now to boost confidence so that businesses can create wealth and prosperity. That means both delivering existing promises and taking radical action today, not tomorrow.”

Ian Hacon Vice President of Norfolk Chamber and MD Blue Sky Leisure said “I would say that a NIC holiday is great way to encourage jobs. On funding, despite poor performance on Funding For Lending(FFL) to continue with FFL and Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme for foreseeable future would be important. We need to continue to work with banks to try ensure it is properly allocated to the right clients”

Norfolk Chamber Board member Jonathan Cage and Managing Director, Create Consulting Engineers Ltd said: “The most important thing that I would like to see is any measure which increases consumer confidence. I don’t necessarily believe that it is the lack of finance that is stopping people from making growth decisions. It is the confidence that there is actually a market out there for the additional products, goods and services if you expand. We have a large number of SMEs who I am sure would like to grow and have the skills and motivation to do so. They are however all concerned about pressing buttons.

Confidence is achieved by promoting positive messages and ensuring that a clear message and strategy is developed for long term economic stability. The government should not be drawn to any major radical changes where again we are not sure what the outcome will be. Instead it needs to give stability and certainty with mechanisms to reward businesses and companies who are prepared to give it a go.

What I think can be done without much money is to get a positive message being issued to the world that Britain is open for business, which has to be in every bodies interests. This is not the time for political squabbling.”

The Norfolk Chamber of Commerce has today received acknowledgement of their support for the Greater Norwich City Deal Bid. The letter from Greg Clark, HM Treasury, advised that Ministers were impressed with the potential of the Greater Norwich proposal to deliver local growth.

• UK trade deficit in goods and services was £2.4bn in January 2013, compared with a deficit of £2.8bn in December 2012
• Underlying export volumes were unchanged in the three months to January, while import volumes fell by 2% in the same period

The trade figures for January 2013 out today shows that Britain’s trade deficit is still too large despite the January figures being better than predicted. While the falling trade deficit in January may improve the prospects that GDP growth will be positive, it is too early to draw firm conclusions. We must take into account the poor construction figures, and the latest industrial production figures, which were disappointingly weak.

“More effective action is needed to ensure that the considerable untapped potential of many Norfolk exporters can be used to drive a sustainable recovery. The government must implement the measures it has already announced to support companies seeking to break into new markets. We clearly need a national export strategy that focuses on key areas such as trade finance, promotion, and insurance, and this would enable Norfolk companies to compete in the global arena and provide growth to the local economy.”

The discussion at the Great Yarmouth Chamber Council meeting last night centred around their forthcoming meeting with the Great Yarmouth Borough Council Cabinet on Wednesday 13 March 2013. The Great Yarmouth Chamber Council is keen to strengthen communications with the Borough Council Cabinet. They wish to highlight the need for both the Cabinet and local businesses to support young people and motivate the next generation of workers and also to understand the needs of the supply chain to help support future economic growth in Great Yarmouth.

John Morse, President of Great Yarmouth Chamber Council said “It is important that we maximise our efforts in providing plentiful opportunities to motivate, recruit, train and deploy succeeding generations across a wide variety of business sectors. Both the Chamber Council and the Cabinet have identified the skills challenge as a major initiative and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work together in order to have a coordinated response.”

The Middle East Association, in partnership with the Kurdistan Regional Government, will be leading a Trade Delegation to Iraqi Kurdistan from 28th April to 3rd May 2013, visiting Erbil and Duhok.

The mission will have a particular focus on:

• Healthcare
• Education
• Infrastructure
• Hydroelectric power generation
• Agriculture
• Water treatment

Each of these areas of interest will have a comprehensive sector-specific mission programme organised by the KRG.

For further information, please click here.

“Bridging the Gap – Exploring International and Canadian Supply Chain Solutions and Partnerships”.

A fantastic opportunity to network with key International companies and organisations.

This is an opportunity for companies in this emerging sector to consider International obstacles to the growth of UAS, but to do so in an area of Canada where the Government wants to look at attracting innovative companies to set-up R&D/production facilities at its emerging centre of excellence at Slemon Park.

Click here for further details.

The UK-Algeria Business Council and Enterprise Parliament are pleased to organise a multi-sector Trade Mission to Algeria, from 14-17 April 2013.

British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent working and friendship visit to Algeria confirms the good political and economic relations between the two countries. The PM said that he had “excellent” discussions with President Bouteflika, adding that his visit to Algeria was the first of a British Prime Minister since 1962.

“We have agreed to forge a strategic partnership between our two countries,” he said, adding that an important part of its will be related to security, especially in defence, intelligence and fight against terrorism.

David Cameron also said that he discussed with the Head of State the economic relations between the two countries and hoped that the two sides will further strengthen them in the future. “We also talked about the necessity to strengthen English language teaching in Algeria,” he concluded.

To find out more about the mission, please click here.

Trade barriers between the EU and Peru were lifted on 1 March 2013, when the ambitious and comprehensive trade agreement concluded in 2012 was provisionally applied in the South American country.

The agreement will open up markets for exporters from both sides, eventually bringing annual savings of more than €500 million. However, it is the improved and more stable conditions for trade and investment that are expected to bring the biggest gains.

The deal includes far-reaching provisions on the protection of human rights and the rule of law, as well as commitments to effectively implement international conventions on labour rights and environmental protection.

The EU is Peru’s third largest source of imports (mainly machinery and transport equipment) and the main destination for its exports (mainly fuels and mining products).

The trade agreement represents an important opportunity for Peruvian agricultural and fisheries exports, which already represent almost a third of the country’s exports to the Union.

EU-Peru trade has grown significantly in recent years and its volume reached €9.2 billion in 2011, corresponding to 16% of Peru’s trade volume.

Colombia, which also signed the trade agreement with the EU in June 2012, is expected to join the implementation phase later this year, once its internal ratification procedures are completed.