Chamber News

Thursday 15^th September saw the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce’s Talking Tech event return with over 50 business professionals in attendance. Once again hosted at The Space, Norwich, we were happy to welcome 13 speakers, each with unique insights and experience, across three panels covering Everyday Tech, Green Tech and Innovation Tech. Co-hosted by Tim Robinson (COO at Tech East) and Nova Fairbank (CEO at the Chambers), the event began with the Green Tech Panel, addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the business community at the moment. One key topic was the journey to net zero; Julie Furnell (Mobilityways) highlighted that many companies would like to begin their journey but ‘are just unclear on where to start’, a point echoed by many others. Simon Girdlestone (Solinatra) focused on costs and how these could be ‘passed through to the consumer and small business’ by investing in products which ‘[use] less energy to produce’, a key factor in making businesses greener and also easing hardship during the current cost of living crisis. Chris Spinks (Westcotec) spoke about the mission to make green and sustainable products safer and therefore more accepted – they ‘encourage people to cycle to work…because we can provide warning systems to make it safer so use their cycles’. Following this, we heard from our Everyday Tech panel about how advances in tech have allowed advances in business practices, from the needs of those working from home such as access to faster internet connections, as well as the continuing drive to introduce more diversity to the tech world. Clifford Norton (BT Local Business) said it was ‘all about speed nowadays’ and made the point that access to fast internet can help ‘make companies perform better’. James Fowler (Uptech) agreed, adding that ‘There’s a need to build in the infrastructure into a business’ otherwise ‘You lose productivity, which ultimately means you lose money, by people having to wait for things’. Andy Skinner (Norfolk County Council) touched on another key point, saying ‘Education is critical’ for businesses and that they need to ask their customers ‘What do they want?’ in order to avoid a disconnect between their business practices and customer demand. As our work becomes more and more technologically focused, it is also important, said Darren Chapman (CyberScale), as ‘the risks and threats evolve constantly’ and although ‘there’s an awareness of the risk and that something needs to be done’ many businesses ‘don’t always know exactly what that is’. By increasing knowledge about cyber security, businesses can ensure that they keep pace with technology in a way that remains safe and reassures their customers. After a break for lunch, we returned to the main auditorium for our third and final panel on Innovation Tech. As a sector that is constantly pushing for the next advancement, innovation is key to success. We were pleased to welcome Imogen Shipperlee (Hethel Innovation) who questioned whether the focus is too often on ‘coming up with a fancy looking product’ when asked to innovate. James Adams (Tech Educators) added that we need to ask ‘how are we making something that’s solving the needs of tomorrow’ in order to take advantage of the market available. Dominic Mitchell (UEA) expanded on a question raised earlier, that of recruitment; ‘we want to deliver graduates that you want to employ… Big challenges we have are attracting people into the engineering sector’. Hayley Johnson (Artlist) offered one possible explanation by adding ‘the demands of the next generation has jumped hugely’ particularly in the creative industry. Mark Stringer (Lotus) summed the mood of the panel by saying ‘By collaborating we can take innovation in different directions’ A big thank you to our event partner Tech East and our sponsor BT Local Business; without their support events like Talking Tech would not be possible. Thank you also to those businesses who exhibited at the event; Orange Heating Supplies, BT Local Business Norfolk & Suffolk, Upp, Beacon IT, Uptech, Eastern Voice & Data and 101 Websites, Apps & Email Marketing. We would also like to thank everyone who attended; we look forward to seeing you again at Talking Tech in 2023!

We’re delighted to announce that two of our members have won a British Chambers of Commerce regional award. Solinatra is the winner of The Rapid Riser award. Thomas Paine Hotel is the winner of The Community Champion award. The Chamber Business Awards is one of the showpiece events in the business calendar, recognising and promoting the best of British business through a series of regional heats, culminating in a campaign to showcase winning businesses on an international stage. The Chamber Business Awards provide a brilliant opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the Chamber of Commerce Network. The Norfolk Chambers are invited to nominate members for the awards in any of the following categories. For 2022, there are three new exciting categories to allow members to showcase their talents and business acumen. The Workforce Developer – Commitment to People Award – A business that has shown how their approach to the learning and development of their team has enhanced their business performance. The Rapid Riser – Scale up Business of the Year – An organisation that can demonstrate exceptional levels of growth with a strong plan for sustainable financial performance. The Community Champion – Community Business of the Year – An organisation that facilitates, participates, and enables community engagement, demonstrating the power of giving back. After the regional heats, the British Chamber of Commerce will announce the winners from mid-October onwards. National winners will be announced, and presented with their award at a high-profile event already being hosted by their nominating Chamber.  

HMRC continues to research what it’s like to use our products and services. This is essential to ensure our products work well for those who use them.

We’re researching what it’s like for UK-based micro and small businesses to export to or import from EU countries, now that the UK has left the EU.

It’s entirely optional to complete this survey. HMRC will only share your answers internally and they will be kept anonymous. 

The survey should take no more than 5 minute to complete.  This survey is now live and will remain open until 14^thOctober 2022.

You can access the survey here:  https://forms.gle/f2Z5G1WoB1s6xxP1A

If you have manufactured or imported 10 or more tonnes of plastic packaging since 1 April 2022, you may need to register for the tax. View the steps to take below https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-to-register-for-plastic-packaging-tax 

Commenting on the Chancellor’s Fiscal Statement, Nova Fairbank, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chambers, said:  “Norfolk businesses will welcome many of the measures announced today that should boost economic growth, relieve cost pressures and encourage investment. “The announcement to reverse the increase to National Insurance Contributions (NIC) is a big win for the British Chambers of Commerce and the business communities across the UK. This is much needed support for companies during these difficult times. “Firms will also be glad to see the Annual Investment Allowance made permanent. It is a crucial tool which gives them the confidence to push ahead with investment, and will add greater certainty to their plans, now we know it is guaranteed to remain. “Business wants to create the wealth that funds Government spending, and plans for Investment Zones, and steps to encourage new funding in our growth industries have the potential to do just that. “Investment Zones could also finally deliver on the Government’s long-standing promise to level up, if the scheme is truly UK-wide. But lessons must be learned from the past, otherwise they can simply displace growth and investment from one area to another without creating new economic activity. “This is a bold start, but is still looking at the short term, when businesses need certainty and stability to plan their future investment.  We now await further detail on the reforms the Treasury have announced, to see if this will develop into a comprehensive long-term economic strategy. “All eyes will also now turn to the forecasts by the Office of Budget Responsibility in the autumn for reassurance on public finances.” On the repeal of IR35, she added:  “We welcome this decision. It will allow workers and business owners to have more flexibility, ease skills shortages and ultimately create a more flexible labour market.” On VAT free shopping for overseas visitors, she said:  “This is a measure the BCC has been calling for. International inbound tourism is a vital part of the UK economy, supporting people and places, especially industries such as hospitality.” Image credit: Chambers Canva Pro 2022

Commenting on today’s Bank of England interest rate rise, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:   “The decision by the Bank of England to raise the base rate to 2.25% is further evidence they are taking a hard line on tackling inflation. Our research shows that unrelenting inflation, largely driven by rising energy costs, is by far and away the top business concern at present.  “But the Bank faces an increasingly tricky balancing act. The interest rate is a very blunt instrument to control inflationary pressures that are largely driven by rocketing energy costs and global supply chain disruption. The Bank’s decision to raise rates will increase the risk for individuals and organisations exposed to debt burdens and rising mortgage costs – dampening consumer confidence.  “Recent energy price cap announcements will have provided some comfort to businesses and households alike and should place downward pressure on the rate of inflation.  “Friday’s fiscal statement by the Chancellor is now a critical moment. He has the unenviable task of shoring up the economy whilst avoiding additional  inflationary stimulus.  “The Bank, looking to dampen consumer demand, and Government, looking to increase growth, could now be pulling in opposite directions.  “What businesses will want to see is a plan to address the short-term drivers of inflation as well as a long-term strategy to promote investment that gives them confidence for the future and counteracts the recessionary pull of rising interest rates.”   

Comment from Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce:  “After months of campaigning, today’s Government announcement to reverse the increase to the National Insurance Contribution (NIC) is a big win for the British Chambers of Commerce and the business community. This is much needed support for businesses during these difficult times.  “There are a range of other challenges that must be addressed including labour shortages, supply chain disruption, and rising raw material costs. Tomorrow’s mini budget from the Chancellor is now a critical moment. To truly revitalise our economy for the difficult months ahead then tomorrow must bring a clear long-term plan that gives business the confidence to grow.” 

Konect bus is kindly providing discounted tickets for those traveling to the B2B Exhibition on 13th October 2022. To claim your discount, simply download the Konectbus App via i-store or Google Play, then register for an account. Once set up, select mobile tickets > Anywhere > Anywhere Adult Day and go to checkout. You will then be prompted to add a discount code: B2B22 A discount of £1.80 will be applied to the normal ticket price of £6.80. The discounted ticket can only be purchased on the morning of travel. The Konectbus service No4 ( Fab 4)  takes you direct to the Norfolk Showground,  which as you can see from the current timetable operates an hourly service, with the the first bus departing Dereham Market Place at 06.10am and the last bus to Norwich Bus Station is 17.43pm and to Dereham is 18.52pm. From Dereham and Norwich Bus Station, the journey takes around 35 minutes and you would need to get off at the stop at New Costessey, showground.

Norfolk Chambers is part of the A47 Alliance and we are Chair of the A47 Alliance Task & Finish Group. We have helped to draft the below letter to the Prime Minister and we would like business signatures to show the level of support for the full dualling of the A47. The A47 Alliance is a collaboration of 26 organisations covering business leaders, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Chambers of Commerce, local authority members from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Suffolk who have come together to make the case for a fully dualled A47. The A47 Alliance recognises that the whole of the A47 cannot be dualled at once and therefore have three priority schemes which we are currently lobbying government to provide funding for in the next trunk road programme, which starts in 2025. These are:

• Acle Straight dualling
• Tilney to East Winch dualling
• Peterborough to Walton Highway dualling

Dualling of these sections of the A47 will increase the economic performance of the eastern region, as well as reduce congestion, improve safety and increase journey reliability along the route. Support from businesses in the East is essential to make the case for A47 dualling as businesses are key to the economic prosperity of the region. As part of the A47 Alliance’s campaigning activities, we are sending the letter (see document below) to the Prime Minister Liz Truss. With a Norfolk MP in Number 10, this is a prime opportunity to campaign for much-needed investment in the A47 and make a strong case for dualling. To show the vast support in the region for A47 dualling and the importance of the route to the businesses in the East, we would like to obtain your support for dualling in the form of a signature to add to the attached letter. Including the signatures of businesses from across the region with show clearly to the Prime Minister just how important A47 dualling is for the economy of the East and supporting our businesses. We would be extremely grateful to receive your signature and organisation logo to include within the letter. Please may you send these to the A47 Alliance mailbox ([email protected]) by Friday 30^th September which is when we intend to send the letter to Liz Truss. Letter to PM from A47 Alliance (002)

Responding to the findings,  release of further details from Government on the energy support plan for business, Chief Executive Officer at the Norfolk Chambers, Nova Fairbank said: “The latest government news will give Norfolk businesses a much-needed sense of relief from the pressures of rising energy costs.” “For months we have been calling for Government intervention to help businesses with eye watering energy costs. This support package is significant and will ease the cost pressures that have been piling up on businesses. “It will allow many firms that were facing closure, or having to lay off staff or reduce output, to keep going through the winter. “But the exact level of support will vary greatly from business to business depending on the detail of its contract, so some will inevitably do better than others. “We now need action to get this saving passed onto business as soon as possible – every day will put some firms closer to the edge and they cannot hang on much longer. “There must also be effective legal oversight to ensure no firms that are due this money miss out. “For those that will benefit, six months support is not enough for most firms to make plans for the future. “We understand there are a range of unknowns for the Government in looking ahead, but without that reassurance very few firms will make plans to invest or grow. “Some businesses will still struggle to meet their bills despite this government intervention, the Chancellor must prioritise those firms in his mini-budget on Friday. “There are a range of other challenges that must be addressed including labour shortages, supply chain disruption, and rising raw material costs. “To truly revitalise our economy for the difficult months ahead then there must be a clear long-term plan that gives business the confidence to grow.” More detail on the Government plan can be found here.  

Commenting on the Office for National Statistics inflation figures for August 2022,  Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Alex Veitch, said:   “This rise in Consumer Prices Index inflation by 9.9% confirms the sustained pressure businesses and consumers have been facing over the past year.  “This is also reflected in the squeeze on businesses’ operating costs as Producer Price Inflation figures remain at record highs of 20.5% in the year to August 2022.  “While the rate of growth has eased slightly, this has been driven by a fall in motor fuel costs – other goods continue to rise. “There is a limit to how long any firm can sustain these rising costs before something has to give. We know from our research that two thirds of businesses plan to increase their own prices.  “The size of last week’s Government intervention on energy prices should have a dampening effect on inflation when it is enacted.   “But the lack of detail on exactly how much help any individual business will get, and for how long, means very few will be planning to invest any time soon.  “There are also a whole host of other issues ranging from transport and shipping costs, raw material prices, energy sector regulation and the tight labour market that must be addressed.  “It is imperative the Government’s forthcoming ‘fiscal intervention’ provides business with confidence that there is a cohesive plan to take the economy forward.”  

Commenting on the latest ONS Labour Market statistics released today, BCC Head of People Policy, Jane Gratton, said:      “With firms doing their best to keep afloat during a period of spiralling costs, they are also facing an extremely tight labour market which is further impacting their ability to invest and grow.  “Despite a second month of a decrease in job vacancies, the overall number of vacancies in the labour market remains high. With over 1.2 million unfilled jobs across the country, labour shortages have reached crisis levels for businesses across many sectors and regions.   “During a period of increasing inflation, and a stagnant economy, we cannot afford to let recruitment problems further dampen growth.  “The cost-of-doing-business crisis is intensifying the challenges present in the already tight labour market, as it is having a significant impact on firm’s abilities to invest in the workforce. As rising costs force businesses to put investment plans on hold, budgets for people training and development are taking a hit.     “Government can help by reducing the upfront costs on business and providing training related tax breaks, increasing flexibility in the apprenticeship levy, and ensuring job seekers have access to rapid retraining opportunities.   “The Shortage Occupation List (SOL) must also be reformed to include more jobs at more skill levels, to give firms breathing space to train and upskill their workforce.”