Chamber News

Commenting on the labour market figures for November 2018, published today by the ONS, Nova Fairbank, Head of Policy, Governance & Public Affairs said:

“The slight increase in the unemployment rate suggests that the UK jobs market may be starting to falter under the weight of persistent Brexit uncertainty and chronic skills shortages. While the number of people in work remains close to historic highs, the research from the British Chambers of Commerce confirms that there has been a significant deterioration in the share of firms looking to recruit, which if sustained could increasingly impact on employment growth.

“While wage growth increased again, recent improvements largely reflect a number of temporary factors, including the continued rise in actual hours worked. Productivity dropped in the quarter, to achieve sustained real wage growth the longstanding issues that undermine the UK’s productivity need to be addressed.  

“There is clear evidence of a deep-rooted skills gap across the UK which is constraining business growth. To plug skills shortages, the government must deliver a post-Brexit migration system that enables access to the skills needed at all levels to help grow our economy.”

Last week two of our favourite colleagues got engaged!

We are super happy for Sam and Jack. Sam and Jack both started working at the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce back in 2013 as apprentices. As many of you will know they have both flourished in their careers since then. Jack is now the IT and Data Manager and Sam is the Conference and Events Manager, they are both key members of the team who contribute to a whole range of Chamber of activities.

We wish them well and can’t wait for the big day!!

On Thursday 8th November we were at The Boathouse in Ormesby, an absolutely beautiful venue with stunning views over the broads. It was a bright morning and everyone was in good spirits, especially once the speakers were underway.

We were lucky enough to have two speakers join us for the morning: Mark Cazaly, Public Affairs Manager at The Post Office; and Jon Holder, the Peak Performance Coach.

Mark spoke about how the Post Office supports businesses banking needs through being part of a wide network that have long opening hours and work with most high street banks. Jon brought some much needed post-breakfast energy to the room through his unique approach. Firstly delegates had to greet each other in a low energy way, this was gradually amped up until people were “high tenning” each other and laughing away. His main aim was to highlight how you approach the day has a real impact on your own experience but also other people.

This was certainly not your typical stuffy business breakfast and we certainly enjoyed ourselves, judging by the smiling faces around the room so did all the delegates too!

East Coast Hospice were our feature charity, they are fundraising to build a ten-bed palliative care facility with day care and complementary therapies for the people of Great Yarmouth & Waveney. They currently have planning permission on the 7.54 acres of land they own and the hospice will provide specialist end of life care as well as supporting and training other agencies and carers.

You can find out more about our feature charity and speakers below: Mark Cazaly – The Post Office Jon Holder East Coast Hospice  

Last Friday evening saw Norfolk Chamber successfully deliver a fabulous West Norfolk Chamber President’s charity dinner at the Town Hall in King’s Lynn.

The black tie event was held in aid of the Mayor of King’s Lynn, Nick Daubney’s favoured charity, The Purfleet Trust, as well as another local charity, Festival Too. 

Nearly sixty local business people attended the event and were privileged to hear from the guest speaker, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, explorer, fundraiser, author and public speaker.  Sir Ranulph is described by The Guinness Book of Records as “the world’s greatest living explorer”, he is the only man alive ever to have travelled around the Earth’s circumpolar surface.

Local businesses donated some amazing raffle prizes and on the night, the raffle alone raised £560 for the nominated charities.  The total of the money raised is still being finalised, but is expected to exceed £2,500.

Hosting the event, the West Norfolk President, Michael Baldwin said:

“It was an honour to host both the Mayor and Sir Ranulph Fiennes.  I was pleased to see so many local businesses supporting an event that brought the business community together to raise money for such worthy causes.  We view this event as a starting point to engage with more of the local business community.  Ultimately by working together, we can give a stronger voice to the issues that matter the most in West Norfolk.”

Following the event, Michael Baldwin, West Norfolk President and Chris Sargisson, Norfolk Chamber’s Chief Executive also signed the Love West Norfolk pledge.

Gnaw adds the deliciousness and fun into chocolate, with cheeky additions added to their chocolate such as love heart and banana splits sweets. Started back in 2011, the brand and business have grown strength to strength, with the recent success of several awards such as being selected as a finalist in the Norfolk Business Awards 2018 and Finalists in the UK Packaging awards 2018.  With the addition of the British Chamber of Commerce Awards, 2018 has certainly been their award Gnawyear! 

Starting with supplying their product within the region, Gnaw has now grown extensively, with a strong partnership and trade in France, and a number of other European countries. However, their export does not stop in Europe! They now export globally to Russia and Asia. Praised by the British Chamber of Commerce Judges for having a ‘100% commitment to international trade and with their innovation and locally sourced products are a great advocate for UK produced goods.’  

Winning the BCC regional awards requires meeting several key criteria for the Regional Export Business of the Year, details are below;

•    The level of exports when compared to the size and sector of the organisation

•    The barriers that have been overcome e.g. languages

•    The degree to which products/services are new and market non-traditional

•    Innovative approaches to establishing and entering new markets.

As the winner of the Regional Small Business of the Year award (Yes, two awards!! Hurray!). Gnaw was commended and highlighted for their progressive knowledge by the BCC Judges for ‘spotting the trends in the marketplace, this forward-thinking company developed a new innovative range.’

 They were also highlighted for their progressive approach with the launch of their healthy ingredient’s bars. The Judges work with the guidelines below to judge each submission. 

The judges will be looking at:

•     What differentiates the company’s products/services from their competitors

•     Strong managerial and financial performance

•     Innovation

•     Potential for growth

•     Evidence of the business’s commitment to staff

It is clear Gnaw have worked very hard to achieve these awards. The Norfolk Chamber of Commerce is delighted for Gnaw and we wish them all the best in the next stage of the completion. https://www.britishchambers.org.uk/events/chamber-awards

Commenting on the first estimate of GDP for Q3 2018, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said

“While the pick-up in GDP growth in the third quarter is welcome, the stronger headline figure masks a loss of momentum through the quarter from the particularly strong July outturn, when a number of temporary factors, including the heatwave and the World Cup, boosted activity. 

“The services and construction sectors were the strongest performers in the quarter, reflecting a boost in activity from the exceptionally hot summer. The fall in business investment is a concern as it stifles productivity and growth. However, measures such as the increase in the Annual Investment Allowance announced in the Budget should provide a lift to investment over the near term.

“It remains likely that the stronger growth recorded in the third quarter is a one-off for the UK economy, with persistent Brexit uncertainty and the financial squeeze on consumers and businesses likely to weigh increasingly on economic activity in the coming quarters.

“Against this backdrop, the Bank of England’s recent hawkish rhetoric looks a little misguided and risks a further weakening in business and consumer confidence. With inflation on a downward trajectory and the UK’s growth outlook subdued, there remains sufficient scope for the central bank to keep interest rates on hold for some time yet. To ease the extent of current uncertainty, the government must deliver a comprehensive Brexit deal that gives firms the clarity and precision they need.”

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

Locally

• Business activity in the East of England picked up to a 6 month high in August due to a strong order book
• UEA has been ranked a top 15 university in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 for 3rd year running
• Lotus has unveiled plans for a new multi-million pound expansion which aims to transform its Hethel site into a global destination for fans
• During August the average house price grew by 1.2% in Norwich and by 0.2% in England compared to July

Nationally

• UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 0.7 per cent in the 3 months to August 2018 with all 3 main sectors contributing positively
• UK productivity grew in the second quarter this year, though is behind rates achieved before the global financial crisis in 2008
• The UK can expect low economic growth for the next 3 years
• Estimated average weekly earnings in real terms increased by 0.7% compared with a year earlier

For full details of the latest economic barometer click here.

Tech Nation has launched a great new set of awards. This competition is an exciting opportunity for innovative, early-stage tech start-ups. To find out more and be part of this great chance click here

The prizes include for winner;

Tailored/bespoke package of support worth over £4000 per winner that includes:

• 1-2-1 mentoring with a high profile mentor
• Facilitated introductions to investors and corporates
• Bespoke PR campaign
• One-to-one BDODrive Accelerate session focused on unlocking your growth potential and identifying the tangible steps you need to take
• Financial contribution towards a conference of your choice
• Pitch training and coaching
• Networking opportunities with investors, heads of accelerators, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders

 The Deadline is Sunday 18 November

The Greater Norwich Development Partnership, a collaboration between Norwich, Broadland and South Norfolk’s councils, is in the process of piecing together a new local plan for the area.

Earlier this year, 562 submissions were mooted in the first phase of establishing the blueprint for development over the next 18 years.

The current phase has seen an additional 202 possible sites put forward, which are now open for public consultation.  Suggestions include a wide variety of residential developments across the region; industrial/warehousing site at Attlebridge, housing and employment site at Honingham and a potential Garden Village off Silfield Road.

The overall plan is being put together to help Norwich City, Broadland and South Norfolk councils establish how they could shape development in the area in the coming years.

Stuart Vincent, Chairman of the Greater Norwich Development Partnership – which represents all three councils, said: “This is a further chance for people to have their say before a draft plan is put forward for consultation next year.  The more people who contribute, the better the plan will reflect the views of people who live, work and run businesses here.”

There is still time to have your say as the consultation, is open until Friday, 14 December.  It can be found on the Greater Norwich Local Plan website.

Join Natwest and Norfolk Chamber for a power-hour of Networking to celebrate Women in Business during Global Entrepreneurship Week. 

No long presentations, just time to introduce your business and share best practices with a room of likeminded people.  This event is free to attend for all women who are involved or who have an interest in business and you do not have to be a customer of NatWest or a member of Norfolk Chamber to attend.  It is being held at Norfolk Chamber’s offices on Tuesday 13 November from 9.30am. 

We are delighted that Kelly Saddleton, Business Development Manager for The Nest is joining us.  She is best known for being a spokesperson for women’s and junior golf. Understanding the power of relationships, connection, and engaging with the world openly Kelly has spent the last two years traveling the country sharing her story of overcoming the barriers facing women in the sports industry whilst working with golf clubs to modernise their marketing strategies and drive in new business.

Recently Kelly has found her way back to Norfolk as the new Business Development Manager of The Nest. She is driven by a passion to help people achieve their potential, an ethos shared by The Community Sports Foundation.  Her moto is “Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.”

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)  the world’s largest celebration of innovators and job creators, who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.  During one week every November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. These activities, from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings, connect participants to potential collaborates, mentors and even investors- introducing them to new possibilities and exciting opportunities.

Places are limited, to book your free place now, click here.

South Norfolk Council has launched its new “Business Awards” to recognise and celebrate the economic success of the district. The new awards build on the council’s very popular Independent Retailer awards, widening the scope and focus to reflect the diversity of the business community in South Norfolk.

Entry for the awards opened on 01 November and businesses can nominate themselves for an award in any of the nine categories and at the same time residents will be asked to support their favourite business by nominating them as ‘South Norfolk Retailer of the Year’.

South Norfolk Council’s Deputy Leader, Michael Edney said: “In South Norfolk we actively support and encourage inward investment and business growth. The district is home to so many successful businesses, from multi-national organisations, cutting edge tech and bio science companies to the widest range of independent shops and traders.”

“These awards are an opportunity to celebrate the astonishing number of successful businesses that we have. If you’re a business owner, put your company forward for the recognition both you and your staff deserve and if you’re a customer make sure you nominate your favourite business as our Retailer of the Year”

The 9 categories are:

• Excellence in Digital Creative and ICT

• Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing

• Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing

• Innovation in Agriculture, Food and Drink

• Visitor Economy Experience

• New Business

• Business Growth

• International Business Growth

• Business in the Community

For category criteria and to enter the awards click here now.

Sponsors of the Awards include the headline sponsor, Fosters; as well as: InTouch Systems; Norwich Research Park; Mirus Aircraft Seating; New Anglia LEP; Dunston Hall; CNC Building Control; Big Sky Developments; Hethel Innovation; and Britannia Safety & Training.

Nominations for the awards close on 31 December 2018 and South Norfolk will celebrate and reward excellence in businesses at a black tie ceremony at Dunston Hall on Tuesday 05 February 2019.

Four potential road options for a Norwich Western Link, designed to improve travel between the A47 and the western end of Broadland Northway (formerly Northern Distributor Road) and tackle transport problems in this area, have been published. Three new dual carriageway roads and a single carriageway upgrade to the B1535 make up the shortlisted options. While the majority of the new or improved roads would be built at or near ground level, viaduct-style bridges over river flood plains are included in some of the options. All of the routes also include improvements to the A1067 Fakenham Road. The shortlisted options, from west to east, are: • Option A – a 7.2 mile single carriageway upgrade to the B1535 and A1067, linking to the A47 at the Wood Lane junction north of Honingham. This option would significantly realign the current B road, smoothing it out to make it a higher standard route. The route would join the A1067 via a new junction at Lenwade and make use of the existing bridge across the River Wensum at Attlebridge. It is predicted this route would carry around 10,000 vehicles a day by 2040. The estimated cost is £60 million. • Option B – a new dual carriageway route and dual carriageway upgrade of the A1067 totalling 5.2 miles, with the new route to the east of Weston Longville and linking to the A47 at Wood Lane. At the northern end of this route, two alternatives are given for how it could join the A1067. One would be via a new junction near Attlebridge which would include widening the existing River Wensum bridge at Attlebridge. The other would see a new 660 metre viaduct crossing of the Wensum created, joining the A1067 further to the east. It is predicted this route would carry around 30,000 vehicles a day by 2040. The estimated cost is £155 million based on the viaduct alternative as this has a higher cost. • Option C – a new dual carriageway route and dual carriageway upgrade of the A1067, linking to the A47 at Wood Lane and totalling 3.9 miles. Around 350 metres of the A1067 would be dualled before a new junction would take the route between Weston Longville and Ringland, crossing the River Wensum on a 720 metre-long viaduct. It is predicted this route would carry around 32,000 vehicles a day by 2040. The estimated cost is £153 million. • Option D – a new dual carriageway route and dual carriageway upgrade of the A1067 totalling 3.6 miles. The route is similar to Option C at its northern end, however it then runs to the west of Ringland and links to the A47 further east at the junction with Taverham Road. Around 400 metres of the A1067 would be dualled before a new junction would take the route between Weston Longville and Ringland, crossing the River Wensum on a 660 metre-long viaduct, then turning more to the south and crossing the River Tud on a second viaduct, this one 120 metres long, before it meets the A47. It is predicted this route would carry around 31,000 vehicles a day by 2040. The estimated cost is £161 million. Members of Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Development and Transport Committee will be asked next Friday (9 November) to approve the shortlist and proceed with a public consultation on the options between 26 November 2018 and 18 January 2019. More detail on the routes will be published to coincide with the consultation’s launch, along with details of consultation events and locations. Cllr Martin Wilby, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Development and Transport Committee, said: “These are four good options for a Norwich Western Link, each with their own merits. If the committee approves them, they will give people real choice to consider during the consultation which will help us to identify a preferred option by next spring. “A lot of work has gone into shortlisting these options. This includes understanding the benefits of each of the routes, particularly in terms of changing the way people travel through the area. And we’ve also given careful consideration to minimising and mitigating the impact of any construction, on the natural environment and on people who live and work in the vicinity. “Assuming the committee approves the options, much more information would be provided when the consultation launches to help people make an informed decision about any of the routes they would support for a Norwich Western Link.” The four routes have been published following months of work to identify which options would be most effective as a Norwich Western Link. This work followed Department for Transport assessment guidelines and included traffic surveys and modelling, gathering information on environmental and ecological factors in the area and developing a longlist of road and non-road options. While road options were found to be the most effective in isolation, the County Council will consider complementing these options with other transport measures such as walking and cycling routes and traffic management measures on other roads. The shortlisted options have also been informed by the results of an initial Norwich Western Link consultation which was held earlier this year. The consultation had more than 1,700 responses and showed that there was very strong support for creating a new link between the A47 and Broadland Northway, with the majority of those responding suggesting a new road as their preferred solution. Key transport issues identified by people through the consultation included slow journey times, rat running and roads not being suitable for the volume and type of traffic such as HGVs. The County Council made providing a Norwich Western Link one of its three infrastructure priorities in 2016. Councillors were aware there were long-standing concerns about traffic congestion on roads and in communities to the west of Norwich and calls from many people to fill in what they saw as the ‘missing link’ between the A47 and Broadland Northway. Since 2016, a number of changes have taken place or been announced – Broadland Northway is fully open and helping to reduce journey times, plans for a Food Enterprise Zone at Easton are progressing and Highways England’s work to dual a section of the A47 between North Tuddenham and Easton is set to start by 2021. The County Council has been in discussion with Highways England for some time about its plans to develop a Norwich Western Link. The A47 junctions for the four shortlisted routes have been chosen to tie-in with the junctions proposed as part of the dualling upgrade of this stretch of the A47. If the Environment, Development and Transport Committee approves the shortlist next Friday, details of the consultation, including information on consultation events, will be made available shortly afterwards.