A huge thank you to our expert panellists, exhibitors, and our main sponsor Greater Anglia, for helping make the Big Debate on the 7th February 2025 such a success.
And of course, thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and engaged in these critical discussions, we couldn’t do it without you. Your passion and insights continue to drive Norfolk’s business community forward.
Reflections from the event co-host, Jack Weaver, COO at Norfolk Chambers
Reflecting on last week’s 15th annual Norfolk Chambers Big Debate, I’m struck first by the palpable concern and frustration amongst our business community, but equally the wave of positivity and sense of “we’ve got this.”
There’s no doubt the mood amongst Norfolk’s businesses is low and confidence about the future is below where we’d want it to be nine months into a new government. In the interests of balance, not all blame can be levelled at the new Labour government. Much of the rocky foundation on which business confidence is faltering was laid by the previous government and their response to geo-political events.
Top concerns
One of the major talking points last week was skills. The challenge of recruiting good people in the context of increased costs post-October Budget. Meanwhile, retaining good people in the face of stiff competition and employees evaluating what really matters to them: wellbeing, carbon footprint, and work/life balance, is no easy task.
We also heard from many businesses (particularly those in retail, hospitality and tourism) who are staring down a significant increase in overheads from April. This is leading many to evaluate job roles, hours, and efficiencies. There is palpable anger about the changes to APR and BPR tax relief from 2026, not helped by lots of uncertainty about what the actual legislation will say. Some in the business community feel the impact on agriculture has had more of the media attention to the detriment of other family businesses who will also be impacted. Yet we can’t escape the fact that agri-food is a critical foundational sector in Norfolk, so the impact will be felt.
Predictably some people are concerned about the pace of AI adoption and the potential for certain specialisms to lose out. Opinion is clearly divided over this with some viewing the technology as a huge opportunity for productivity enhancements and greater efficiency, with others concerned about the impact on jobs and those unable to adopt and exploit the technology.
Reasons to be cheerful
Each challenge was met with calls for positivity and a devolution deal for Norfolk is generally felt to be a real and imminent benefit the business community. This fast-track deal has the potential localise important decision-making on transport infrastructure, skills, funding and more besides. We just need to not view it as a silver-bullet.
Norfolk is also getting much better at telling its story internally and externally and this is changing the narrative with key decision-makers in Westminster, something I feel quite keenly when I speak to policymakers and colleagues in other Chambers.
The business community has more than ever got real agency over the skills landscape, and this is already having an impact.
Norfolk, as ever, remains resolute, resilient and realist. Our businesses will do what they do best and rise to the occasion, and there’s a determination to succeed. But realism is the watchword and businesses are buckling up for a tough time.
Check out the event photos below and relive the key moments from an incredible day of debate and collaboration. After this year’s success, we’re already working on next year’s event, to make the Big Debate even bigger!
These photos are low-resolution for digital use. If you would like higher-resolution copies, please email our official event photographer, Paul Macro, at [email protected] with details of the images you would like.
