Chamber News

The government has announced a roadmap for reopening non-essential retail next month. From 1 June, outdoor markets and car showrooms may reopen, subject to premises being made COVID-secure. Following this, from 15 June, all other retailers, ranging from shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, and electronics, as well as tailors, auction houses, photography studios, and indoor markets may reopen, if the Government’s five tests are met and these retailers follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines. 

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement on the phased reopening of the retail sector in England, related workplace guidance and enforcement powers, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:

“Clarity and guidance on plans for a phased reopening of the retail sector will be welcomed.

“Businesses will be taking a safe, proportionate and risk-based approach to returning to work, in close consultation with their staff. For many this will be an entirely new way of operating as they apply guidance to the practical realities of their business.

“HSE and local authorities should support businesses as they seek to comply with the new rules – and reserve new enforcement powers for the tiny minority of businesses who are wilfully disobeying or ignoring their obligations.”

Also commenting on the reopening of the retail sector, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:

“Work is already underway in Norfolk with the Chambers, New Anglia LEP and the Business Improvement Districts in Norwich, King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth working together to help support retailers to return to trading.”

Support from Norwich BID

Support from Discover King’s Lynn

New Anglia LEP Business Toolkit

Retailers also have the opportunity to attend a free webinar, hosted by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to find out more about how to make your retail workplace COVID-secure.

The BEIS Webinar will be held on: Thursday 28 May, 11am: Book your free place here.

As we all work to restart, rebuild, and renew – the voice of Norfolk business is more important than ever. This will be the first QES since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK and the subsequent lockdown.

The Chambers QES data will mark the clear shift from pre-Coronavirus conditions to the current situation and will form a significant part of the historical economic record.

Without this vital local and regional knowledge the decision makers cannot make informed  choices and put in the right support mechanisms that ultimately may impact on you and your company.

The QES is anonymous, open to anyone and only takes a couple of minutes to complete online. 

We need your input, if you only take one survey, then please make it the QES

Take Part Now.

As the government starts easing lockdown, many business owners are considering what steps they need to take to ensure their premises are safe to return to.

Hear from three Norfolk Chambers member businesses have already been through that process and have been giving their insight into how they adapted their ways of working to ensure their staff were safe at work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Panel Graphic, Loddon based engineering firm

Panel Graphic’s factory has been open throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period, producing more than 10,000 face shields each day for frontline workers.

Glenn Long, who has been managing logistics to produce face shields, shares the firm’s practical tips for operating safely.

The company implemented:

• Staggered break times
• Staggered start/finish times
• A one-way system
• Distancing floor graphics
• Adding sanitising zones
• PPE i.e. face shields
• Social distancing
• Workplace partitioning

He added: “As well as making our workplace safe for our staff, we’ve learnt a couple of valuable lessons during this period. Reliable suppliers have turned out to be key as many base materials are in short supply. We’ve also learnt that we have to embrace new market opportunities and act quickly.”

Warren Services, Thetford based engineering firm

Warren Services has introduced new shift patterns and embraced new technology to keep delivering for its customers through the COVID-19 lockdown.

Founder owner Richard Bridgman shares his advice on how to keep staff safe and well-informed.  He said:

“My first piece of advice to all companies is be positive rather than looking at why they cannot open, look at how to make it possible.

“From the start we at Warren Services were determined to stay open, we had a full order book. We discussed this with our customers, who told us that they still wanted their work on time and that they would adhere to agreed payment terms.

“So our next challenge was to look at how we work within Government guidelines and how we would keep our employees safe.

“Luckily we have been working hard on 4.0 and fully using IT, so we soon had the majority of the office staff working from home.

“Next, we divided the workforce in half and started two shifts : 6:00am – 2:00pm and 2:15pm – 10:15pm. This allows for all staff to leave before the others come in.

“We have opened all factory doors to make it easier for everyone to get in and out quickly, personal lockers are now spread about the factory or employees are encouraged to come to work in their overalls, bringing only the minimum amount of personal items in.

“Breaks are spread about more throughout the day and some take them in their cars. Social distancing rules always apply throughout the business. We have strict cleaning regimes in all areas and all machines and equipment are wiped down at the end of all shifts.

“We have had to adjust and tweak as we go along and the main thing is to use common sense.”

Pasta Foods, Norwich and Great Yarmouth based dried pasta manufacturer

Operations Director David Matwij shares the processes which the firm put in place to allow operations to continue during lockdown.  He said:

“We put together a list of activities which we implemented to not only keep our individual employees, safe, but to keep their families and partners safe as well.

“Behind those measures, we carry out weekly audits to cross check that all staff are adhering to our new policies and procedures and those are conducted by our Health, Safety and Environmental Officer.”

Some changes have been made to the physical space within the factories, including:

• Signs were displayed in various entrance points across all three facilities
• Additional hand sanitisation was installed in all entrances to the sites and factory processing areas
• All staff were provided with ‘personal’ hand sanitisers to carry upon their person and these are refilled when required
• Clear segregation barriers were installed within main office block entrances with clear instructions on our COVID-19 process
• A strict two metre distancing rule was applied
• Canteen tables and chairs were removed to allow two metre spacing within the area
• Staff kitchen areas limited to one person use at a time

A number of changes to working practices were also made:

• All applicable office staff and Directors commenced working from home and were provided with all of the necessary tools to be able to complete their task in full, from computers and printers to network connection availability
• All employed personnel were provided with a letter indicating that they were a ‘key’ worker, inclusive of site and working hours
• Document handling procedures with distribution partners were changed to prevent hand contact
• Breaks were staggered to allow limited exposure to people in rest areas
• Shift start/finish times were staggered to prevent staff congregating around clocking in/out machines to allow people flow
• Regular updates were provided by Senior Management regarding our ‘Company position’ on COVID-19 and daily calls ensured new policies and processes were communicated to staff
• Any member of staff within our Business who had possibly come into contact with somebody with COVID-19 symptoms were asked to self-isolate on full pay for seven days, followed by the increased isolation of fourteen days
• Introduced the availability of temperature testing for staff as and when required.
• All movements between manufacturing facilities required by Departmental Heads was ceased
• All visitors were asked not to attend site unless it was Business Critical, and if deemed necessary, all corrective measures were enforced and followed Government legislation at all times
• The company created a Government Log-in for COVID-19 test kits when these became available to speed up the process of testing

Government Guidelines for safe return to work

The UK government has provided guidance for businesses on working safely during Coronavirus – click here for the full details.

PPE Database

During the pandemic, New Anglia LEP created a database for local PPE suppliers – initially solely for supplying the NHS and the care sector.  This database is currently being updated to include ‘back to work’ items, like sneeze screens, sanitiser stations, signage and public realm furniture.  If your firm would like to access this database, please register for a login. https://newanglia.co.uk/ppe-supplier-database/

Organisations representing businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk are working together to help companies get ready to reopen as lockdown restrictions begin to ease.

Support to source PPE, advice for employers and employees and positive messages about our town centres are among challenges and solutions being shared by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, the Federation of Small Businesses, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Norwich BID, Ipswich Central, Discover King’s Lynn and the Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership.

The group has been gathering advice from firms which were open throughout lockdown to produce case studies to help those now making plans to reopen. The tips include staggered break times, restrictions on numbers of people using canteens and kitchens, as well as looking at ways to allow for contact-free handling of paperwork for deliveries and orders.

The group is also working together to look at demand for PPE, using a database of local and national suppliers which has been created by New Anglia LEP.

Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said “Many businesses will be considering what they need to put in place to adhere to the government guidance.  Having access to examples of what has worked well for other businesses is really helpful.  We would also caution businesses to consider timescales – some products may take several days/weeks to deliver.  Having easy access to information about PPE suppliers will help them get organised.”

Hayley Mace, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership’s Head of Communications and Engagement, said: “We know that many businesses are concerned about reopening. Whether they’re worried about getting the signage they’ll need or trying to work out how to ensure social distancing for staff and customers, it is a really challenging time and it’s important that business groups work together to try and come up with practical, helpful advice and consistent messages.”

You can read the case studies from some local Chamber member businesses online here.

To find out more visit New Anglia LEP’s PPE database.

For the latest Government guidance on working safely.

The Future Fund – announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20th April – is open for applications since Wednesday 20th May 2020. 

The Future Fund uses an online platform for applications, whichpublishes its set of standard terms and eligibility criteria for borrowers, investors and solicitors to view. 

The new Future Fund will support innovative UK companies with good potential, that are essential in ensuring the UK retains its world leading position in science, innovation and technology. These companies typically rely on equity investment and are currently affected by Covid-19.

Until now these companies have been unable to access other government business support programmes because they are either pre-revenue or pre-profit. The financing supports companies facing a significantly extended length of time between funding rounds, due to the impact of the current economic situation.

Developed by government and delivered by the British Business Bank, the Future Fund will help these companies through the current period of economic disruption and recovery, so they are able to continue their growth trajectory and reach their full economic potential.

How it works:

• Open for applications since Wednesday 20th May.
• Scheme operates on a commercial basis to deliver an initial commitment of £250m of new government funding.
• Financing will be unlocked by additional third-party investment on a match funded basis.
• Applications submitted via an online platform based on a set of standard terms and eligibility criteria.

Eligibility criteria:

• Companies must be UK-incorporated and if part of a corporate group, only the parent company is eligible.
• Companies in receipt of the loans will be required to have previously raised at least £250k in equity investment from third party investors in the last five years.
• Only eligible companies that can attract at least 50% of third-party investment will receive funding.
• Companies cannot have any of their shares traded on a regulated market, multilateral trading facility or other listing venue.
• The company must have been incorporated on or before 31st December 2019.
• At least one of the following must be true for the company:
• Half or more employees are UK based;
• Half or more revenues are from UK sales.

For more information on the Future Fund eligibility criteria and applications process, download the factsheet or visit the Future Fund webpages here.

The Future Fund online platform is now open for applications.

The UK government has provided guidance for businesses on working safely during Coronavirus. In consultation with industry, this guidance has been produced to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible.

5 Steps to Working safely

There are 8 guides which cover a range of different types of work:

1. Construction and other outdoor work
2. Factories, plants and warehouses
3. Labs and research facilities
4. Offices and contact centres
5. Working in other people’s homes
6. Restaurants offering takeaway or delivery
7. Shops
8. Vehicles

A glazing and locks services firm has carried out a courtesy ‘disinfectant clean’ of the offices of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce to prepare them for the return of staff.

New Chambers member Evander – which has its headquarters in Norwich – joined the organisation at the start of the year as part of a plan to boost its corporate social responsibility activity and get closer to the communities it operates in.

Matt Smith, Head of HR at Evander, advised that the aim was to reassure the Chambers team that they would be returning to a safe environment after the coronavirus lockdown. He said:

“During these difficult times, we have shared with them some of the feedback we’ve received from our clients and customers around the challenges and nervousness colleagues might have in returning to their workplaces over the coming weeks and months,” he said. “The Norfolk Chambers provide valued support and services for local businesses, which will be key going forward as we move into an eased phase of lockdown and businesses start to re-open and begin operating again.”

Commenting on the support from a new Chambers member, Chris Sargisson, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chambers said:

“We’d like to thank Evander for their support and we are very happy that our offices will be safe and ready for our staff to return to work at the appropriate time.”

Evander has put in place numerous initiatives to ensure safe working at its offices on Broadland Business Park and at its depots across the UK. Click here to read more about their specialised services. 

Results from the latest British Chambers of Commerce Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that the majority of firms surveyed are in a position to partially restart operations as lockdown restrictions are eased: 

• 83% of respondents report that they know some or a lot of details about government guidance on working safely
• 37% of firms report they can implement the guidance and fully restart, and 45% report they can partially restart
• 85% of respondents have received payment from furlough scheme

The leading business organisation’s weekly tracker poll, which serves as a barometer of the pandemic’s impact on businesses and the effectiveness of government support measures, received 609 responses. 

The eighth tranche of polling was conducted from 13 – 15 May after the Job Retention Scheme was extended until the end of October.  

Restarting operations 

Encouragingly, the majority of respondents (83%) reported high levels of awareness of the government’s new workplace guidance as sectors of the economy begin to reopen gradually. 

Just over a third (37%) of respondents said that they could fully restart operations by implementing the government guidance, while 45% said they could do so partially. However due to social distancing guidelines, it is likely that many firms will see a reduction in demand and will not be able to restart at full capacity.  

10% of respondents did not agree that they would be ready to implement guidance and restart operations, mainly citing social distancing as difficult.  

Businesses furloughing employees

Results from this week’s poll continue to show that majority of employers (around 70%) have furloughed a portion of their staff. Cash-poor firms, with less than three months’ cash in reserve, remain more likely to furlough portions of their workforce. 

The number of respondents that have submitted a claim to HMRC and received payment is around 85% – a significant increase from last week (73%) and the week before (59%). 

The furlough scheme continues to prevent firms having to make redundancies, with very few respondents making any.  Employers have welcomed the extension of the furlough scheme in some form until the end of October, and it will be critical to introduce high levels of flexibility if it is to phase employees back into work.  

Bounce Back Loans 

This week’s survey reports encouraging take up of the government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme, with over half (54%) of respondents who attempted to secure a loan reporting success, which is an increase compared to last week (26%).  

Just over a third (38%) of respondents were awaiting a decision on a loan. This is a decreased from last week (58%).   

Commenting on the results, BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said:

“While businesses have welcomed the publication of official guidance on how they can reopen premises and restart operations, some sectors still require greater clarity from the government on when and how they will be allowed to do so. This is particularly the case for hospitality and leisure companies, which will not reopen before July at the earliest.  

“Companies at all levels of readiness to restart, of all sizes, and in every part of the UK will need sustained government support as they navigate the ‘new normal’ with reduced demand and restrictions still in place. Many support schemes will need to be adapted and updated, but must not be withdrawn prematurely.” 

On the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme:

“HMRC and the Treasury deserve enormous credit for the successful rolling out of the Job Retention Scheme, which is helping huge numbers of businesses to protect livelihoods.  

“But the message from firms on the ground is clear: the furlough scheme must become more flexible if it is to help companies bring employees back to work successfully. Furlough has helped businesses to avoid millions of immediate redundancies – and now must be adapted to help firms keep as many of these jobs as possible as they restructure and reconfigure post-lockdown.”  

On the Bounce Back Loan Scheme: 

“Our results show that the Bounce Back Loan Scheme is continuing its encouraging start. Yet there are many firms out there who are not in a position to take on debt, so the government must consider further expansion of grant schemes to ensure that as many businesses as possible get access to the support they need.” 

Employers will be able to make claims through the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme from 26 May.

A new online service will be launched on 26 May for small and medium-sized employers to recover Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payments they have made to their employees, the government announced today (19 May 2020).

The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme was announced at Budget as part of a package of support measures for businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

This scheme will allow small and medium-sized employers, with fewer than 250 employees, to apply to HMRC to recover the costs of paying coronavirus-related SSP.

Employers will be able to make their claims through a new online service from 26 May. This means they will receive repayments at the relevant rate of SSP that they have paid to current or former employees for eligible periods of sickness starting on or after 13 March 2020.

Tax agents will also be able to make claims on behalf of employers.

To prepare to make their claim, employers should keep records of all the SSP payments that they wish to claim from HMRC. You can read further guidance on checking whether you can claim back SSP paid to employees due to coronavirus (COVID-19) on GOV.UK

Join us next Tuesday 26th May and one of King’s Lynn’s most loved business leaders, Captain Fawcett, on our virtual online networking event 2 Hour Tuesday.

The marvelous Richard Finney will be speaking on Captain Fawcett’s journey during COVID-19, and all the things they have been getting up to.

Including, if you haven’t already seen, his latest Captain Fawcett and his Tales of Derring-do a short story delivered by the Captain himself on Youtube. You can find the first episode here.

The UK Global Tariff (UKGT) has been released today. UKGT will be the UK’s new most-favoured nation (MFN) tariff regime (replacing the EU’s Common External Tariff) on 1 January 2021, unless an exception applies. For example, the goods you’re importing:

• are from a developing country that pays less or no duty because it’s part of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences;
• are from a country that has a trade agreement with the UK; or
• have a relief or tariff suspension that’s operated by the UK.

Changes:

UKGT is broadly in line with EU tariff schedule, though it introduces a number of changes, including:

• removing tariffs on products which are used in UK production, not made in the UK or are a nuisance tariff of below 2%;
• rounding tariffs down (to the nearest 2% below 20%, 5% between 20-50%, and 10% for tariffs over 50%) and moving complex agricultural tariffs to a single percentage; and
• removing the EU’s Meursing table of tariffs to allow the scrapping of thousands of tariff variations on products.
• UKGT also removes tariffs on £30 billion worth of imports entering UK supply chains.

Continuity:

• tariffs on agricultural products such as lamb, beef, and poultry to be maintained;
• 10% tariff on cars to be maintained;
• tariffs for the vast majority of ceramic products to be maintained; and
• maintaining some tariffs which support imports from the world’s poorest countries who have preferential access to the UK market.

Coronavirus:

• Almost all pharmaceuticals and most medical devices (including ventilators) are tariff free in the UKGT.
• While some products used to fight Coronavirus maintain a tariff, the UK has introduced a temporary zero tariff rate on these products. This relief waives the tariff and VAT for PPE, medical devices, disinfectant and medical supplies from non-EU countries.

Key Takeaways:

• The UKGT is estimated to ensure that around 60% of trade will come into the UK tariff free on WTO terms or through existing preferential access from January 2021. Future trade agreements will increase this proportion.
• The UKGT will provide important leverage in future trade talks with EU, US, New Zealand, Japan and other key trading partners.
• The UKGT increases the importance of getting a trade deal with the EU to avoid an increase in business costs and a negative impact on the wider economy.

Commenting on the announcement of the UK Global Tariff, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce said:

“We look forward to hearing from the Norfolk business community to understand what the impact of this new tariff will have on their businesses and what challenges and opportunities those businesses are seeing going forwards.”

If you would like to comment on the new UKGT please contact [email protected]

Norfolk Chambers recently surveyed the local business community to understand what challenges they were facing and how they were coping with the lockdown and potential easing of these measures. 

A cross-section of the business community responded and the results highlighted that 34% of businesses had concerns about implementing social distancing in their workplaces and 32% of businesses cited concerns over future business demand.

The results represented firms employing over 1,433 people between them.  When asked where their staff currently where, as a result of Covid-19, they advised that 29% were still operating within the workplace; 25% were working from home; and a further 34% had furloughed their staff.  Just 1% had had to make staff redundant, whilst 11% had terminated zero hours or contracted personnel.

When asked about gearing up and re-opening their premises, 54% of respondents said this could be done within 1 to 5 days, and 23% within 1 to 2 weeks.  A further 18% said they would need 3 weeks or more to be ready to open.

Other results showed:

• 26% had received a Small Business Grant
• 47% had deferred the Tax and VAT payments
• 18% had requested a business rates holiday
• 1% had successfully applied for and received a Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan
• 33% had applied for a Bounce Back Loan
• 7% of businesses were concerned about future cashflow

Commenting on the results, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy for Norfolk Chambers said:

“Norfolk businesses are clearly concerned about implementing the social distancing measures.  As the lockdown is eased, clear guidance and information on what each business must do to ensure their workplace is safe, must be available.

“Norfolk Chambers welcomed the government’s recent announcement that the furlough scheme would be extended until the end of October.  However, business concerns around future demand highlights that a phased approach and lots of flexibility with the furlough scheme will be needed.  Businesses are facing the challenge of balancing between bringing staff back and having sufficient business demand to generate the income to pay them.”