Chamber News

5 days of knowledge, learning, and development We’re launching a brand-new week-long event from 21st to 25th March 2022 sponsored by MAD-HR. Festival of Knowledge is a week packed full of events across Norfolk covering a range of topics including climate change, cyber security, upskilling, personal development, and HR. These topics, and more, will be delivered through interactive workshops. training, guest speakers, and networking. There’s something for everyone. Monday will be in West Norfolk. Tuesday we will be in Great Yarmouth. Wednesday we will be in South Norfolk Thursday we will be in Norwich Friday we will be at the UEA in Norwich More details will be announced soon. Let’s Co.llaborate You can be a part of this inaugural event series and have the chance to raise your profile across Norfolk with our sponsorship packages. Find out more details about the packages below.  sponsorship_booklet_-_festival_of_knowledge_2022.pdf

On the second anniversary of Brexit, and with huge lorry queues being reported at Dover last week, the British Chambers of Commerce is calling for urgent action to improve trade with Europe.

With well over half of UK exporters (60%) surveyed by the BCC in November 2021 reporting difficulties in trading with the EU, an increase from 49% in January 2021, it is clear urgent action is needed.

Pictures of lorries stacked up on the A20, waiting to get into the port of Dover, also offer a vivid illustration of the problems continuing to impact the operation of the trade deal between the UK and the EU.

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “The main issue at Dover currently appears to be linked to the export of food products across the Channel. Like many of the problems this looks to be down to a differing interpretation of how the trade arrangements work after leaving the EU.

“In this case we are hearing French customs require a wet signature on paperwork for exports of animal and plant products, but as much of the documentation is produced digitally this is creating hold-ups.

“It is the latest in a string of issues with the trade deal that speaks to the wider problems of interpretation, inconsistent application and glaring gaps in its coverage.

“No-one is expecting goods to flow as freely across the channel now as they did prior to Brexit. But the way the trade agreement is being interpreted in 27 different EU countries is a major headache for UK business – especially smaller firms without the cash reserves to set up new EU based arrangements.

“Yet it doesn’t have to be this way. It is possible for the UK Government and EU to take a pragmatic approach and work together to reach new understandings on a consistent interpretation of the rules and to build on them further.

“Accredited Chambers of Commerce support the UK Government’s ambition to massively increase the number of firms exporting. Freeing up the flow of goods and services into the EU, our largest and nearest overseas market, will go a long way to realising that goal.”

Liam Smyth, Managing Director of ChamberCustoms, added:

“At ChamberCustoms we work, day in and day out, with companies to help them navigate the complexities of international trade. We’ve seen a huge demand for our services in relation to trading with the EU since the implementation of the trade deal, and we know first-hand what difficulties firms on the ground are facing.

“If the UK Government and the EU are willing to takes action on these proposals from the Chamber Network it will serve to improve trading conditions and let businesses get on with growing our economy and generating prosperity.”

The BCC has set out five key issues, and the solutions needed, to improve EU trade.  They are:

ISSUE:             Export health certificates cost too much and take up too much time for SME food exporters.

SOLUTION:     We need a supplementary deal on this which either eliminates or greatly reduces the complexity of exporting food for SMEs.

ISSUE:             Some companies are being asked to register in multiple EU states for VAT in order to sell online to customers there.

SOLUTION:     We need a supplementary deal, similar to Norway’s with the EU. This exempts the smallest firms from the requirement to have a fiscal representative and incur these duplicate costs.

ISSUE:             As things stand CE marked industrial and electrical products will not be permitted for sale on the market in Great Britain from January 2023/4. The same is true for components and spares.

SOLUTION:     We need action from the Government to help businesses with these timelines. Many firms are far from convinced about a ban on CE marked goods in Great Britain.

ISSUE:             UK firms facing limitations on business travel and work activities in the EU.

SOLUTION:     Government needs to make side deals with the EU and member states to boost access in this area as a priority for 2022.

ISSUE:             Companies starting to be pursued in respect of import customs declarations deferred from last year.

SOLUTION:     We need a pragmatic approach to enforcement to ensure companies recovering from the pandemic do not face heavy-handed demands too quickly on import payments, or paperwork.

  Photo credit: Getty Images/ Chamber Canva Pro 2022

Norwich City Council have released their latest economic barometer. The report highlighted: Locally

• Lotus, based at Hethel outside Norwich, has unveiled its best annual global retail sales performance since 2011.
• Ashtons Legal, one of the region’s largest law firms, is to acquire Norfolk-based Steeles Law in a merger which will increase its team to 400 people. The combination will add Steeles’ office in Diss, to Ashtons’ existing offices in Norwich, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Ipswich and Leeds.
• Business sentiment improved in December and employment levels rose at a faster pace as private firms in the East of England stayed confident about higher activity levels in 2022.
• Manufacturing exports from the region could rise significantly over the next decade if plans by firms to sell more goods overseas materialise according to a new study – The Export Dividend – from Barclays Corporate Banking.

Nationally

• The UK economy grew more slowly than previously thought in the third quarter, suggesting a shaky recovery even before the outbreak of the Omicron variant.
• December PMI data pointed to another solid increase in business activity across the UK construction sector, but the rate of expansion slipped to its lowest since September.
• UK households have suffered the sharpest fall in the amount of cash they have available to spend for almost eight years, amid a worsening cost of living crisis driven by high 5 inflation and rising energy bills.
• The number of insolvent businesses in England and Wales rose by 18.7 per cent last month to 1,674, up from 1,410 in October and an increase of 88 per cent on November last year

For full details of the latest economic barometer click here. Photo credit: Getty Images/ Chamber Canva Pro 2022

Norfolk businesses are the voice of this great county, and we all know how hard everyone works to push forward and carve out a successful business profile. The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise recognises the innovation and services provided by British businesses to the local, national and international markets. The awards also highlight the hard work and focus of running a successful business too. With 200 national businesses receiving these awards- there are four categories;

• International trade
• Innovation
• Sustainable growth
• Promoting opportunity

There have been many Norfolk-based winners in previous years – could your business be this year’s winner?  Recent local winners included Liftshare in Norwich, Snap-on in King’s Lynn, and Panel Graphic in Loddon. Liftshare’s CEO, Ali Clabburn, said of the recognition: “Winning the award in 2008 was a huge honour, but to have won it again 11 years later is a testament to the incredible work my team has done to help companies and individuals to travel more sustainably. We are constantly innovating to provide our clients with cutting-edge technology, alongside proven behavioural change techniques to guarantee the schemes we implement are a success.  Working with our base of over 700 clients to help them change and improve the way their staff travel is so satisfying, and their success really is our success.  The bigger and better their schemes become, the larger our network grows.” If you think your business deserves a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, you can find out more information on how to enter and what winning an award could mean for you and your employees by attending a free business breakfast meeting at  St Walstan Hall, Norfolk Showground on Thursday 10 March 2022. The event will commence with an introduction from Jake Humphrey and speakers will include Andy Wood, Adnams and Jamie Thums, Lintott Control Systems – both previous winners, who will talk about the benefits of winning the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Breakfast will be served from 07.45 and the presentations will start at 08.00. Th event will conclude just before 09.00. Start your winning journey – book your free place now. The event is generously supported by Norfolk County Council, Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, Eye Film and Production Bureau.

• 54% of firms say the business support provided by the UK Government in response to Plan B measures is not sufficient in the short term
• 59% say Government did not adequately assess the impact of Plan B measures on businesses
• 38% of business to consumer (b2c) firms say their business suffered a loss of revenue due to Plan B – more than 1 in 5 (21%) say this was ‘significant’
• 68% of firms reported absences due to illness or self-isolation in the last month, and of those, 50% said they had to reduce output or activity as a result

New figures released today (27.1.22), as Plan B measures came to an end in England, by the British Chambers of Commerce have laid bare the impact of Plan B measures on businesses. Director General Shevaun Haviland is calling on Government to delay the forthcoming National Insurance increase to give firms more time to recover. The survey data, from over 700 firms, showed sizeable proportions felt Government had not done enough to assess the impact the measures would have on business, and that support from the Treasury had not been sufficient even in the short term. The responses to a question asking firms to what extent they agreed or disagreed with the following statements as they related to the Plan B measures were as follows: Statement Strongly Agree Somewhat Agree Somewhat Disagree Strongly Disagree Need more Information The Government adequately assessed the impact on businesses (n=747) 7% 27% 24% 35% 7% The support available for business is sufficient in the short term (n=744) 8% 29% 23% 31% 9% On the statement ‘My business saw a significant loss of revenue following the announcement’ the results were highly variable by sector, with consumer-facing firms such as those in hospitality and retail far more likely to be reporting losses than business-facing firms such as those in professional services. Sector Strongly Agree   Somewhat Agree   Somewhat Disagree   Strongly Disagree   Need More Information B2C Services (Hospitality, leisure, retail) (n=220) 21% 17% 24% 33% 5% B2B Services (n=272) 6% 18% 25% 46% 4% Manufacturing (n=240) 5% 14% 25% 50% 6% When asked if they had experienced absences in the past month only 32% of firms reported no absences. Manufacturers were the most likely to report absences at 81%, followed by B2C services at 67% and B2B services at 57%. Responding to the figures, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Shevaun Haviland, said: “These figures lay bare the serious impact that Omicron and the Plan B restrictions have had on our economy. Whilst the financial support offered by the Treasury was welcome it is clear than many firms still found it was not entirely sufficient. Many also told us that they felt the impact of the measures should have been more thoroughly assessed. “Significant numbers of firms in the business to consumer sector also reported a large loss of revenue following the announcement, whilst output from manufacturers was hit especially hard by absences from illness. “We now need to see plans for dealing with any future variants made public, along with assessments of the impact of any measures required and what support would accompany those measures. We all hope this is the beginning of the end of the pandemic, however the role of Government is to plan for all eventualities. “Businesses will only truly be able to enter a phase of ‘living with Covid’ when they have the confidence that a plan is in place should further complications arise. We are seriously concerned about the impact on business investment in the absence of a comprehensive plan for the future. “Government also needs to recognise that the events of December piled further pressure on businesses who were already drowning in increased costs. These firms need to be given a chance to come up for air if we are to engineer a successful recovery in every sector and every region of the country. “That’s why I am calling on the Government to postpone the rise in National Insurance Contributions due for April to give the economy a chance to properly recover. They should commit to levy no further up-front costs on businesses for the remainder of this parliament to give businesses the confidence they need to invest and grow for the future.”

Norfolk County Council have released their latest economic report for October 2021 to December 2021.  The report highlighted: The employment level in Norfolk has decreased by 1.7% from the same time last year.  But 76.2%, the County’s performance is above the national level (74.4%), and below the regional level (76.9%). After the successful Go Digital pilot, which supported 43 small businesses with increasing digitisation, the programme grew significantly, with 191 additional businesses joining the programme. The Norfolk Market Town Report found that since 2019 the vacancy rate in Norfolk Market Towns increased by 0.7% to 6.6% but, is below Great Britain’s average of 13.8%. Watton has the highest vacancy rate, at 13%, and Loddon has the lowest, at 0%. Norfolk was the most successful English local authority in terms of Community Renewal Fund projects approved (14) and was awarded the 4th largest amount of funding for any Lead Authority (over £6 million). For full details of the latest economic intelligence report click here. Photo credit: Getty Images/ Chamber Canva Pro 2022

Introducing The Co.next Advisory Board Following the successful launch of Co.next, we have selected a board of five passionate business leaders based in Norfolk. This is made up of James Groves, Rebecca Headden, Stokely Howard, Kerry-Anne Lyme, Warren Salmons and Alex Sellers. Each of these individuals will help us bring the Co.next initiative to life, and bring with them a wealth of experience and energy to make things happen. We wanted to ensure that the board was also representative of under 35s in Norfolk, especially given this is the targeted audience. We have therefore gone one step further and created an ‘Advisory Board’, made up of seven budding professionals who will sit on the board for an interim period of 6 months. They will then assist in electing the next Advisory Board, allowing for a continuous loop of recommendations and opportunity. Our confirmed Advisory Board: James Melton-Royal, Ashley Day, Rebecca Campbell, Hannah Wright, Sam Edwards and Hannah Ireland and Rose Steward. We’d love for you to join us to celebrate the launch of Co.next on Wednesday 9th February at The Forum. This event is open to every business in Norfolk, current business leaders, and professionals, as well as future leaders and professionals. Book your place here! Supported by the Norfolk Chambers and Governed by a board of a passionate business leaders, we would love to hear from you if you would like to get involved or know more. Get in touch Meet The Co.next Board here 

A brand-new concept for business professionals 35 and under is launching in February 2022 by The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce. Co.next will launch with a clear objective to empower, engage and encourage the next generation of business professionals. Co.next has been created by The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce to provide a structured, inclusive, collaborative, vibrant, and Norfolk-wide approach to support working professionals and future leaders 35 and under with appropriate, engaging, networking events and knowledge hubs. Chaired by James Groves of Indigo Swan, the board supporting this initiative consists of a range of passionate business leaders, who are on a mission to help shape the next generation of business support. James says, “I truly believe we are blessed with great talent in Norfolk, and finding this, unearthing this, polishing this with the support of their employers, is something that I take extremely seriously.” The board consists of Chris Sargisson from The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Rebecca Headden from R13 Recruitment, Stokely Howard from Trendy Grandad Creative Agency, Warren Salmons from Morgan Sindall, Kerry-Anne Lyme from Larking Gown, and Alex Sellers from Turning Factor. Chris Sargisson, CEO of The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce says, “I am picking up growing concerns that the essential early-stage creation of a life-long network is becoming a lost art. Heavy reliance on digital interaction instead of physical engagement compounded most recently by the pandemic accelerate the challenge which, if action is not taken soon may only be felt at a point when the time to resolve it has passed.” As part of this offering, The Norfolk Chambers of Commerce have been working in collaboration with Stokely Howard from Trendy Grandad Creative Agency to deliver the highly successful GEN-E events. These are dynamic networking events for under 35s in Norfolk, each of which has seen an incredible response and sold out within 24 hours. We wanted to ensure that the board was also representative of under 35s in Norfolk, especially given this is the targeted audience. We have therefore gone one step further and created an ‘Advisory Board’, made up of seven budding professionals who will sit on the board for an interim period of 6 months. They will then assist in electing the next Advisory Board, allowing for a continuous loop of recommendations and opportunity. Our confirmed Advisory Board: James Melton-Royal, Ashley Day, Rebecca Campbell, Hannah Wright, Sam Edwards and Hannah Ireland and Rose Steward. Meet them here The official launch of Co.next will be taking place on Wednesday 9th February at The Forum. We’d love for you to join us to celebrate the launch of Co.next on Wednesday 9th February at The Forum. This event is open to every business in Norfolk, current business leaders, and professionals, as well as future leaders and professionals. Book your place here! Supported by the Norfolk Chambers and Governed by a board of a passionate business leaders, we would love to hear from you if you would like to get involved or know more. Get in touch

The Big Debate returns as a face-to-face event at The Halls, St Andrews Plain, giving you the opportunity to engage with Norfolk MPs and business leaders. The event brings together Norfolk MPs, and local business leaders to discuss and debate key issues affecting businesses in the region, this high-profile annual policy event is a key date in the commercial calendar for the start of 2022. Meet the Panellists who on Friday February 4th will be covering our the topics for 2022:

• People, Skills, and Wellbeing
• Transport and Infrastructure
• Growth and Innovation
• Climate Change

Make sure you are part of the debate on Friday 4th February 2022 – Book your ticket here.

The British Chambers of Commerce is today setting out its manifesto to recruit legions of new UK exporters as its research continues to show poor overseas trade growth:

• In Q4 of 2021, just over a quarter of exporting firms (29%) saw their overseas sales increase
• Almost half (47%) saw no change, and a quarter (24%) reported a decrease
• This is despite substantially more firms reporting improved domestic conditions, with 45% confirming increased UK sales in Q4 

BCC research also shows that exporters are uniquely facing a wide range of issues, from unprecedented inflationary pressures and global supply chain crises to a raft of new requirements flowing from the EU trade deal. The Manifesto sets out a comprehensive list of steps to get more UK businesses, currently just 10%, involved in international trade. This compares to more than 60% of companies which are members of an Accredited Chamber of Commerce. To do this the BCC is working with the whole of its Global Business Network, both within the UK and in 76 markets across the world, to help encourage the shift. It is making the move after 23% of firms surveyed said finding a business partner or distributor overseas would encourage them to either start exporting or export more. A further 16% of firms also said support with trade documentation would encourage them to start exporting or increase the amount of business they do overseas. Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “The UK is bursting with amazing businesses offering goods and services that are high quality, sustainable and well designed. There are hundreds of overseas markets which are crying out for what we can offer. “Yet only 10% of UK businesses are currently involved in exporting when all our research shows that firms trading overseas are more productive, innovative and resilient. “So, it’s vital we now recruit a new generation of exporters to help take our overseas trade to the next level. We are standing at a moment where we can seize the opportunity to be in the vanguard of a world-wide revolution in new technology, digital services and Net Zero innovations. “Accredited Chambers of Commerce have all the tools necessary to equip these new recruits and allow them to trade with confidence. Our ChamberCustoms service can also provide training, advice and brokerage to help goods clear UK borders with as little fuss as possible. “Our research shows that overseas trade fell off a cliff in early 2020; just 8% of UK exporters saw any increase in the second quarter of that year. Almost two years later and the figures are still way below where they need to be, with only around a quarter reporting improvement. “We are using our entire Global Business Network and will do everything we can to help firms explore the amazing possibilities that are out there. But more also needs to be done by government to support UK companies that have had to battle with rocketing costs, disrupted supplies and reams of new paperwork in Europe.  “If we all work together to take action then we can revitalise our exports growth and help power the UK’s economic recovery.” “The manifesto sets out a number of steps that the UK government could take to help firms trade with the EU and to make sure that any new trade agreements put the interests of business at their heart. In Europe these include:

• Streamlining customs and trade processes to reduce paperwork and delays
• Developing more business-friendly rules on cross-border VAT
• Bringing back, and boosting, the Brexit SME Support Fund to help firms adapt

More widely they include:

• Creating a Business and Trade Growth Office at the Dept for International Trade to help smaller businesses get involved in exporting
• Providing better access for UK professional services and mutual recognition of qualifications
• Setting rules on trade that support the future exports of environmental goods and services
• Securing real benefits for importers and manufacturers in the UK on tariff reductions and rules of origin

Providing manufacturers with better options on sourcing materials and components Ms Haviland added: “We want to work with the UK Government and other trading bodies to build a proper coalition of support for a strong UK trade and investment strategy. “If we want more firms to get involved in exporting then we need to see more end-to-end support to help them make the leap. “But businesses also have the knowledge and practical know how to help the UK Government negotiate trade treaties that can open up new growth opportunities. “We have always been champions of international trade and there is no doubt in our minds that businesses that embrace exporting to overseas markets will be better off for it, as will our economy. All it takes is a willingness to try.” Commenting on the manifesto launch, Nova Fairbank, Chief Operating Officer of Norfolk Chambers said: “Norfolk Chambers are already working with nearly 300 international trade clients and stand ready to support the Norfolk business community to meet their international trade needs.  Since 01 January 2022, there have been some significant rule changes from importing goods into the UK – our fully trained expert team are here to answer any questions you may have and help ensure that you and your business are fully compliant when moving goods across international borders.” Team: Julie Austin, Sam Martin and Ethan Saunders-Johnson Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Tel: 01603 729716 Photo credit: Getty Images/ Chamber Canva Pro 2022  

The Big Debate returns as a face-to-face event at The Halls, St Andrews Plain, giving you the opportunity to engage with Norfolk MPs and business leaders. The event brings together Norfolk MPs, and local business leaders to discuss and debate key issues affecting businesses in the region, this high-profile annual policy event is a key date in the commercial calendar for the start of 2022. The topics for 2022 will be:

• People, Skills, and Wellbeing
• Transport and Infrastructure
• Growth and Innovation
• Climate Change

We are very pleased to announce our Transport and Infrastructure panellists are; Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia, Jeremy Wiggin, Norfolk County Council, James Wild, MP for North West Norfolk, Steve Royal, Network Manager, Konectbus ltd and Peter Brown, Managing Director of Jack Richards and Son. Jonathan Denby, Head of Corporate Affairs for Greater Anglia A role that encompasses PR, public affairs, stakeholder relations, community engagement, integrated transport, accessibility and regional rail strategy. He has held a number of senior positions in train operating companies in East Anglia over the last 30 years. One of the architects of the East Anglian Rail Prospectus, he is a key player on the Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce, the West Anglia Main Line Taskforce and the Ely Taskforce. A committed ambassador for rail travel and its wider contribution to society, he is also a member of the National Community Rail Steering Group. Another common thread through his career is pivotal roles in customer-focused service improvements, from new and more frequent services to wi-fi facilities on trains and the introduction of new trains – including the high quality new intercity and regional trains Greater Anglia has already introduced on its Norfolk routes, as part of its network-wide fleet replacement programme. Jonathan lives in Norwich and, outside the railways, his interests include fell walking, travel, the theatre and music. Jeremy Wiggin, BSc (Hons) MSc MCIHT Jeremy is a team leader in the Major Projects transport team at Norfolk County Council focused on delivering a wide range of transport schemes, with a primary focus on Norwich.  Jeremy has worked as the project lead for infrastructure projects based around walking, cycling and public transport, as well as for innovation projects using technology to improve the delivery of transport, including smart ticketing, electronic passenger information systems and personalised journey planning.  Jeremy is the lead for the Transforming Cities Fund programme in Norwich and is currently engaged in bringing zero emission buses to Norwich and supporting the roll out of shared transport and micromobility modes.James was elected in December 2019 as the MP for North West Norfolk. James Wild, MP West Norfolk James Wild was elected in December 2019 as the MP for North West Norfolk. Before being elected to Parliament, James had a number of roles in the public and private sectors.  He was a Special Adviser in the departments for business, energy, the Ministry of Defence and to the Prime Minister in the Number 10 Brexit Unit. Prior to his roles in government, James worked in the private sector including for a consultancy advising major international business and for a leading mobile communications company. Since being elected to Parliament, James has been a strong voice locally and in Westminster for North West Norfolk. James is a member of the Public Accounts Committee which holds the government to account for how taxpayers’ money is spent. In September 2021, he was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Conservative Party Chairman and Minister without Portfolio. Steve Royal, Network Manager at Konectbus ltd Steve has worked in the local bus industry since 1988, first for Eastern Counties buses as a customer service assistant, then in their schedules and network planning section for 10 years, before becoming Operations Manager at the Norwich depot. Steve joined Konectbus in 2006 as Operations Manager in 2006 before moving onto Network Manager in 2019 , responsible for schedules and network planning. Steve continues to work extensively with the local authority and stakeholders to ensure that our local bus services meet their needs. Peter Brown, Managing Director of Jack Richards and Son Peter Brown is Managing Director of Jack Richards and Son, the Norfolk based haulier, which is well known for its distinctive yellow and red livery. In that time the business has developed from a regional haulier with 3 sites, employing 130 people and sales of £13m to a national logistics company operating from 14 sites across the UK, employing over 700 people with sales in excess of £70 million. The business which was owned until 2019 by the Richards family is now a subsidiary of the Turners Group based in Soham. Prior to working for Jack Richards Peter was managing director of Larchlap, a manufacture of fence panels and garden sheds and of Securicor Omega Logistics based in Ipswich. Originally from Southwold in Suffolk Peter went to high school in Beccles and did a degree in Accountancy at the City of London Polytechnic. He is married with two adult children and lives in Fakenham.

The Big Debate returns as a face-to-face event at The Halls, St Andrews Plain, giving you the opportunity to engage with Norfolk MPs and business leaders. The event brings together Norfolk MPs, and local business leaders to discuss and debate key issues affecting businesses in the region, this high-profile annual policy event is a key date in the commercial calendar for the start of 2022. The topics for 2022 will be:

• People, Skills, and Wellbeing
• Transport and Infrastructure
• Growth and Innovation
• Climate Change

We are very pleased to announce our Climate Change panellists are; Ellen Goodwin, Infrastructure Manager and Clean Growth lead at New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Paul McCarthy, General Manager at Chantry Place, Stuart Wright, Aviva and Clive Lewis, labour MP Ellen Goodwin, Infrastructure Manager and Clean Growth lead at New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Ellen is responsible for leading the New Anglia LEP’s embedment of clean growth.  She supports the newly appointed Clean Growth Taskforce focussed on leadership and collaboration, evidence and impact, decarbonising transport, transition business support and workforce for the future.  She is also responsible for developing and implementing the LEP’s infrastructure strategies and plans, overseeing and supporting the work of the LEP’s Infrastructure Boards. Paul McCarthy, General Manager at Chantry Place. Leading the team at Chantry Place, East Anglia’s premier shopping centre and home to the very best of international, national and local brands from Apple to Zara.  Also Chair of the Norwich BID, Chair of the Business Climate Leaders Group and Vice President of the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce. Stuart Wright Operations Net Zero Delivery Director at Aviva  Stuart Wright started work as an Army officer in the Royal Engineers training first as a Military Engineer and then more formally as a Civil Engineer.  A career change (after 20 years) took him briefly to PA Consulting and then to Aviva.  Time at Aviva has been spent almost exclusively in the planning, design and operational delivery of shared services.  Roles have included UK property director and Aviva Europe operational services director and more recently Group Property and Facilities Director, where he had a wide remit including all operational property acquisitions and disposals as well as running the worldwide real estate portfolio.Stuart has now been appointed to lead Aviva’s ambition to be carbon net zero across its operations and operations supply chain, including all markets, subsidiaries and joint ventures, by 2030, building on his strong track record of delivering carbon reduction projects. Stuart was Chair of the UK Living Wage Foundation Advisory Council from 2026 to 2021, a body that provides advice and guidance on the development of the Living Wage in the UK; he is now a Trustee of Citizens UK, the founder charity of the Living wage.Outside of work Stuart enjoys his family, gardening and his vintage tractor. Clive Lewis, Labour MP Norwich South Clive has lived and worked in Norwich since 2001, and has been MP for Norwich South since 2015. Clive has been Shadow Defence Secretary and a shadow business minister since 2015 . Most recently he was shadow minister for sustainable economics in the Labour Treasury Team. He is Married with a three year old daughter, and is one of the founders of the Global Alliance for a Green New Deal – a plan to address the climate and nature crises while making life better for us all, backed by over 300 lawmakers from 42 nations. Clive has lived a life outside of politics. He was a BBC TV News reporter for more than a decade. He served a tour of duty with the British Army in Afghanistan in 2009. Clive’s first full time job was in a food factory. He was the first in my family to get to University. Clive grew up on a council estate and was raised in a single parent family by his dad. At work, he stood up for his fellow employees by being a rep for my trade union.