The B2B Exhibition has always been a highlight in the Norfolk Chamber calendar, attracting both local and nationally known organisations for a day of face-to-face business. Today (23 August) we sold out all our exhibition spaces. 104 exhibitors will be joining us across two floors of Norwich City Football Club, as well as Anglia Car Charging exhibiting at the entrance to the exhibition. We’ll be hosting a range of businesses and sectors including charities, venues, accountants, software developers and even a trampoline park. View all exhibitors. This day is a unique opportunity to find new products and services from the region’s top businesses. Our exhibitors run discounts, special offers, competitions and giveaways during the event helping you get the most out of your day. This sold out event is free to attend as a visitor including access to two floors of exhibition, our dedicated networking lounge and the four masterclasses running throughout the day. Visit the networking lounge to set up meetings, pop in to see who you might find or just enjoy a break from a busy day at B2B. The bar will be open for refreshments so utilise the space during the day to make notes, build relationships or find potential clients. The masterclasses give you an opportunity to learn something new and boost your business. The four topics our experts will be teaching you about are networking, sales, LinkedIn and business growth – all vital topics in the business world. Make sure you check out the schedule and make a note of which ones you’d like to go to. Find out more. B2B can often be an overwhelming day. You think you’ll have enough time but the day flashes by. We’ve written a handy top 10 tips list for visitors to get you prepared ahead of the day. View top tips. We hope to see you there this year as we present another sold out exhibition. Book your tickets.
If you have a .eu web domain but do not have a presence in the EU, you may be at risk of losing your domain as a consequence of Brexit. Only firms that are established in a Member State are allowed to own .eu domains, and therefore some firms that are based in the UK, but own a .eu domain could be at risk of losing their website. More information on potential scenarios can be found here. If you are at risk of losing your .eu domains, please contact Mark Carvell, Head of International Online Policy at DCMS.
Abellio train operator Greater Anglia has launched ‘Job Track’ a free rail ticket scheme for job seekers in the region. The scheme will help the unemployed by offering free train tickets to travel to job interviews and when successful in gaining employment, further help is available with a free season ticket for their first two months in work.
The ‘Job Track’ scheme is a new initiative by Greater Anglia, aimed at helping the unemployed find work and to broaden the horizons of job seekers to consider employment opportunities outside of their immediate local area, within reasonable commuting distances.
Greater Anglia will offer those joining the scheme a maximum of six day return tickets to attend job interviews at locations within the train operator’s network, and on securing work eligible applicants can apply for an initial two-month season ticket free-of-charge. This will provide those successful in securing employment with a month to establish themselves in their new job, followed by a second month of free travel to assist them in putting their finances on a firm footing.
The scheme is being promoted and publicised at Job Centres and applicants meeting the required criteria to qualify for the scheme, will be able to apply for tickets through the Greater Anglia website at: www.greateranglia.co.uk/jobtrack
Ruud Haket, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said: “We’re very keen to play a positive role in the communities we serve across London and the East of England. This scheme will assist those looking for work and when finding employment, offers a great help to people at a time when money is tight. We hope it will prove attractive to job seekers across our region in their efforts to get back to work.”
Train operator, Greater Anglia, has upgraded ticket office windows at 35 rail stations across its network to provide a better service to customers.
The new ‘Speakeasy’ windows, supplied by Sonic Windows, will improve audio and visual communication at the ticket office with the aid of an improved built-in intercom system.
The new ticket office windows have been installed at the following stations:
Great Yarmouth, Alresford, Dovercourt, Colchester, Rochford, Hockley, Rayleigh, Chadwell Heath, Seven Kings, Maryland, March, Audley End, Elsenham, Sawbridgeworth, Harlow Mill, Harlow Town, Roydon, Broxbourne, St Margarets, Enfield Lock, Brimsdown, Ponders End, Northumberland Park, Hackney Downs, Walthamstow Central, Highams Park, Chingford, Rectory Road, Stoke Newington, Stamford Hill, Bruce Grove, White Hart Lane, Edmonton Green, Southbury, and Theobalds Grove.
The Speakeasy windows offer simultaneous two-way voice communication by means of an intercom system which comprises public microphone, public loudspeaker, staff microphone, staff loudspeaker and induction loop.
The windows benefit customers by providing clear unobstructed vision and amplified sound to improve communication even in areas where there are levels of background noise. Volume levels can be adjusted by staff to suit the individual needs of the customer and the Induction loop transmits a signal for hearing aid users.
Customer Services Director, Andrew Goodrum, said, “It’s important that ticket office staff can communicate clearly and easily with customers at the ticket office window. Whether finding the best ticket to suit the customer’s needs or providing assistance and information, being able to communicate well will enable them to provide the best possible customer service.”
The UK’s new Customs Declaration Service (CDS) has opened for business.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced that it has successfully implemented the first software release for CDS, which means that a selected group of importers will be able to start making certain types of supplementary declarations on the system.
The majority of importers will start using CDS from November 2018, once their own software provider or in-house IT team has completed development of CDS-compatible software. Exporters will start using CDS at a later date.
The existing Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system will continue to operate in parallel with CDS during a transition period which is scheduled to end early next year.
The CDS will, HMRC claims, deliver a modern system for importers and exporters who have to complete customs declarations when trading outside the EU.
It will, however, meet the requirements of the Union Customs Code (UCC) as well as supporting the anticipated growth of UK trade.
Describing the software release as a major milestone, Kevin Franklin, HMRC’s Customs Transformation Programme Director, said that going live on time was a great step towards fully introducing the new system.
“Our priority now is to make sure software developers, agents and their clients are ready and we will continue to work closely with them throughout the transition,” he continued.
Software providers are advised to consider what changes will be needed to their products and how they will approach the roll-out of the new system. Information about how HMRC intends to introduce the new Service can be found at www.gov.uk.
Notice is hereby given that the 122nd Annual General Meeting of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce & Industry will be held at The Open, 20 Bank Plain, Norwich on Tuesday 02 October 2018. Registration will be at 9.45am, for meeting commencement at 10am. Please see attached for all papers relevant to the meeting.
Trade through the terminals and cargo handling facilities on the tidal Thames fell by 10% to 43.7 million tonnes during 2012, the Port of London Authority (PLA) has announced.
The principal reason for the reduction of 5.1 million tonnes year-on-year in port trade was the closure of the Coryton oil refinery at the end of May.
The volumes of unitised (container) cargoes, cereals and biomass all increased, while the volume of all other types of cargo reduced.
PLA Chief Executive Richard Everitt said: “2012 was a tough year for trade on the river. The closure of the Coryton terminal, one of the largest cargo handling facilities on the river, was compounded by limited growth or declines in other cargoes.”
The medium term prospects for trade on the river nevertheless look very strong, he continued, as the main benefit of having a terminal on the Thames – proximity to the UK’s biggest consumer market – continues to attract major investment.
During 2013, Coryton is expected to re-open under new owners as an oil products import facility, the London Gateway container port will open, work will be well underway at the Port of Tilbury’s London Distribution Centre, and Stolt Neilsen will be developing a facility at Dagenham.
The British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with DHL, today (Friday) publishes its latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook, based on survey and documentation data from UK exporters, including those in Norfolk. The Outlook indicates that many exporters are performing well but economic and political factors are weighing on them.
The survey, of over 2,600 exporters, found that confidence in future operations remains strong, but external economic and political factors are having an impact. The results show 60% of exporting manufacturers were more concerned about exchange rates in the second quarter of the year than in the previous three months. There was also increased concern among 43% of service exporters,
highlighting the broad impact of the weakness of the pound.
The findings indicate that price pressures eased slightly on exporters during the second quarter of the year. However, those manufacturers under pressure to raise prices report the cost of raw materials as the leading factor (81%). Service firms believe the cost of raw materials (39%) and other overheads (51%) are the leading sources of cost pressure.
The escalating labour shortage in the UK is also having a serious impact on exporters, with a staggering 69% of recruiting manufacturers struggling to find staff.
Elsewhere, the BCC/DHL Trade Confidence Index, which measures the volume of trade documents issued by accredited Chambers of Commerce for goods shipments, decreased slightly on the quarter (-1.34%), but still stands higher than at the same quarter in the previous year.
The Outlook indicates that many UK exporters are maintaining their competitiveness in foreign markets with healthy sales and order books, but the weakness of the pound is increasing the cost of raw materials imported from abroad. With growing tension around the nature of the future UK-EU trading relationship and escalating trade disputes with key partners such as the US, the government must do all it can to maintain confidence and take unilateral action to improve the domestic business environment wherever possible.
Key findings from the report:
39% of exporting manufacturers saw an increase in export orders over the last three months, 30% of exporting service firms report an increase
60% of manufacturing exporters are more concerned about exchange rates than three months ago (up from 56% in the previous quarter)
26% of manufacturing exporters and 25% of service firm exporters are more concerned about inflation than three months ago
35% of exporting manufacturers and 32% of exporting service firms expect the price of their goods/services to increase
For those manufacturing exporters under pressure to increase prices, 81% report the cost of raw materials as the leading source of pressure
77% of exporting manufacturers and 67% of services firms attempted to recruit in the last three months, however, of those, 69% and 60% respectively reported difficulties finding the right staff
The BCC/DHL Trade Confidence Index, a measure of the volume of trade documentation issued nationally, fell by 1.34% on the quarter. The Index now stands at 125.26 – the fifth highest level since records began in 2004.
Commenting on the findings, Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs for Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:
“These are unusual times, and the escalating political and economic turbulence doesn’t go unnoticed by Norfolk businesses. It’s been a summer of trade tensions and endless Brexit bickering, and exporters are particularly exposed to the consequences of that turmoil.
“Companies in our region will always find a way to trade with each other, but messy negotiations and the threat of higher tariffs have implications, and can hit confidence and firms’ bottom lines. While many Norfolk exporters are making the most of their competitive advantage in foreign markets, the fall of sterling also puts considerable pressure on the cost of imports and the volatility can make it difficult to plan.
“The UK government can’t control currency or the actions of trading partners, but it can take steps to mitigate the level of uncertainty at home. Reaching a pragmatic and business-focused Brexit deal with the EU this autumn would go a long way to reassure markets and business communities. Addressing issues in the domestic environment – most importantly the shortage of skills in the UK – should also be top of the agenda when parliament returns next week.”
Ian Wilson, CEO DHL Express UK and Ireland, said:
“The resilience of UK exporters is highlighted with this quarter’s Trade Confidence Index. Despite being a slight decline on the previous quarter, the index remains up year on year and it is encouraging to see it stands at the fifth highest level on record. This strong performance also reflects what I hear from our customers and, at DHL Express, we continue to support an abundance of energetic, internationally-focussed UK entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the world.
The uncertain climate exporters are operating in and the challenges faced cannot be overlooked, but with all uncertainty comes opportunity – and continuing to trade internationally and expanding your portfolio of markets (and market segments) still provides the best way to spread business risk and ensure long-term revenue and profitability growth.
The growing labour shortage continues to be a very real hurdle that is impacting a vast number of sectors. Amidst challenging and unpredictable times, industry and government must work closely to ensure that we identify and develop UK talent in order to future-proof our businesses for what lies ahead.”
With the second quarter of 2018 behind us, and amid growing international uncertainty, from escalating trade disputes to oil price rises, the UK economy continued to grow at a sluggish rate. Brexit was a key factor – but long-standing structural issues also continued to hold companies’ growth back.
The dominant service sector, consumer-facing industries, such as hospitality and retail, reported tougher trading conditions. Cashflow and investment intentions fell significantly for retailers as consumer spending continued to remain subdued. Meanwhile the UK manufacturing sector reported improved domestic sales orders and Norfolk manufacturers reported increases in their export sales and orders.
Is the uncertainty of Br3exit impacting on your business; have you seen an increase in sales and orders; are you having recruit difficulties or facing supply chain challenges, it’s more important than ever that as many Norfolk businesses as possible complete the survey.
Now we are in the third quarter – how are Norfolk businesses reacting to the current economic climate? Today (Tuesday 28 August 2018) is the first day of the fieldwork period for the Q3 Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).
The QES is the largest independent business survey in the UK and is used by both the Bank of England and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to plan the future of the UK economy. It is also closely watched by the International Monetary Fund.
You can have your say by completing the QES online NOW It takes less than 3 minutes. The completion deadline for this survey is midnight on Monday 17 September 2018. The Q3 results will be published week commencing 08 October 2018
Key Norfolk findings in the Q2 2018 survey:
Norfolk Manufacturing sector:
The balance of firms reporting increased domestic sales rose from +16 to +35, while the balance reporting improved domestic orders also rose, from +23 to +35
The balance of firms reporting increased export sales rose from +31 to +44. The balance reporting improved export orders also rose, from +26 to +31
The balance of firms increasing investment in training fell, from +33 to +5, while the balance of those increasing investment in plant and machinery also fell from +33 to +30
The percentage of firms looking to recruit remained steady at +30 while the number of those struggling to recruit rose significantly from +67 t0 +82
Cashflow continues to be a concern within manufacturing, with just +10% reporting improved cashflow.
The balance of firms expecting turnover to increase remained static +45 (from +46)
67% of firms in the sector expect the cost of their raw materials to rise in the next three months
Confidence that profitability will improve over the next twelve months dipped from +35 to +30
Norfolk Services sector:
The balance of firms reporting increased domestic sales rose from +19 to +34, while the balance reporting improved domestic orders rose considerably from +13 to +28
The balance of firms reporting increased export sales also rose, from +8 to +35. The balance reporting improved export orders also rose substantially, to +22 from +6
The balance of firms increasing investment in training rose to +22 from +13
The percentage of firms looking to recruit rose from14% to 37%, but the number of those struggling to recruit also rose to 82% (from 63%)
Cashflow is a concern, with just 12% reporting improved cashflow.
The balance of firms expecting turnover to increase in the next year increased, from +24 to +59
Confidence that profitability will improve over the next twelve months increased from +15 to +36
With the second quarter of 2018 behind us, and amid growing international uncertainty, from escalating trade disputes to oil price rises, the UK economy continued to grow at a sluggish rate. Brexit is a key factor – but long-standing structural issues also continue to hold companies’ growth back.
In the last quarter, the dominant service sector, consumer-facing industries, such as hospitality and retail, reported tougher trading conditions. Cashflow and investment intentions fell significantly for retailers as consumer spending continued to remain subdued. Meanwhile the UK manufacturing sector reported improved domestic sales orders and Norfolk manufacturers reported increases in their export sales and orders.
Is the uncertainty of Brexit impacting on your business?; have you seen an increase in sales and orders?; are you having recruit difficulties or facing supply chain challenges? – it’s more important than ever that as many Norfolk businesses as possible complete the survey.
Take part in the Q3 Quarterly Economic Survey (QES). It is the largest independent business survey in the UK and is used by both the Bank of England and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to plan the future of the UK economy. It is also closely watched by the International Monetary Fund.
You can have your say by completing the QES online NOW It takes less than 3 minutes. The completion deadline for this survey is midnight on Monday 17 September 2018. The Q3 results will be published week commencing 08 October 2018
Key Norfolk findings from the previous Q2 2018 survey:
Norfolk Manufacturing sector:
The balance of firms reporting increased domestic sales rose from +16 to +35, while the balance reporting improved domestic orders also rose, from +23 to +35
The balance of firms reporting increased export sales rose from +31 to +44. The balance reporting improved export orders also rose, from +26 to +31
The balance of firms increasing investment in training fell, from +33 to +5, while the balance of those increasing investment in plant and machinery also fell from +33 to +30
The percentage of firms looking to recruit remained steady at +30 while the number of those struggling to recruit rose significantly from +67 t0 +82
Cashflow continues to be a concern within manufacturing, with just +10% reporting improved cashflow.
The balance of firms expecting turnover to increase remained static +45 (from +46)
67% of firms in the sector expect the cost of their raw materials to rise in the next three months
Confidence that profitability will improve over the next twelve months dipped from +35 to +30
Norfolk Services sector:
The balance of firms reporting increased domestic sales rose from +19 to +34, while the balance reporting improved domestic orders rose considerably from +13 to +28
The balance of firms reporting increased export sales also rose, from +8 to +35. The balance reporting improved export orders also rose substantially, to +22 from +6
The balance of firms increasing investment in training rose to +22 from +13
The percentage of firms looking to recruit rose from14% to 37%, but the number of those struggling to recruit also rose to 82% (from 63%)
Cashflow is a concern, with just 12% reporting improved cashflow.
The balance of firms expecting turnover to increase in the next year increased, from +24 to +59
Confidence that profitability will improve over the next twelve months increased from +15 to +36
The first Norfolk Enterprise Festival is set to take place this summer, providing a forum for entrepreneurs across the county to meet, mingle and celebrate our thriving business community.
Attendees will be able to hear from some of Norfolk’s most successful entrepreneurs at a series of talks, participate in workshops and receive feedback from their peers.
Our county is a hub for individuals with an ambitious, enterprising spirit and is home to over 8,000 fast growing small businesses across a wide variety of industries. However, many find themselves isolated from the wider business community and see their potential limited by a lack of support and communication networks.
This is something the Norfolk Enterprise Festival hopes to change. The brainchild of local businessman Mark Lapping, CEO of Aquapak Polymers, and George Freeman, MP for Mid Norfolk, the festival hopes to drive prosperity and growth for small businesses across the county.
“Norfolk is a powerhouse of high growth small businesses in all sectors, from technology to tourism, gin to genetics, finance to food, creating jobs and innovative products. But the micro and start-up sector needs a stronger voice and all of us in public office or private enterprise need to reach out to show our support. We’ve started this Festival to create a forum for the entrepreneurial community to come together and help make sure its voice is properly heard,” says Mark Lapping. “We believe that the Norfolk Enterprise Festival is the intervention the county needs to take its potential to the next level.”
Norfolk Chamber Chief Executive, Chris Sargisson is speaking at the Festival and will be giving his top five tips for success as an entrepreneur. Commenting on the first ever Norfolk Enterprise Festival he said: “This event is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate, champion, promote and support Norfolk’s growing entrepreneurial community”
Also speaking at the festival will be Chris Starkie, Chief Executive at New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, he added, “This event will help to turn great ideas into the successful businesses of tomorrow.”
The festival will take place on Saturday, September 22 at Westacre Theatre. Tickets are free, and registration available through the festival’s website https://norfolkenterprisefestival.co.uk/. For more enquiries, or to find out how to get involved, contact the Norfolk Enterprise Festival on admin@norfolkenterprisefestival.co.uk.
Eight areas, listed by the Chancellor in a speech at the Royal Society last November, are to receive significant funding after he identified them as vital to the UK’s future growth and to helping it stay ahead in the global race.
The Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts, has confirmed that £600 million is to be invested in “big data”, space, robotics and autonomous systems, synthetic biology, regenerative medicine, agri-science, advanced materials and energy.
He noted the unique strengths of the UK’s research base but stressed that the Government now needs to capitalise on this by backing the right technologies and helping to take them through to market.
Mr Willetts said: “Strong science and flexible markets is a good combination of policies. But it is not enough. It misses out crucial stuff in the middle – real decisions on backing key technologies on their journey from the lab to the marketplace. It is the missing third pillar to any successful high tech strategy.”
He also announced a £350 million investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in Centres for Doctoral Training and a £1 million Technology Strategy Board competition to help to accelerate the development of concepts where robots are able to interact with each other and humans.
Of the latest funding, £35 million is to go to centres of excellence in robotics and autonomous systems to be created in and around universities, innovation centres, science parks and enterprise sites to bring together the research base and industry.
Another £45 million will be provided for new facilities and equipment for advanced materials research in areas of UK strength such as advanced composites, high-performance alloys, low-energy electronics and telecommunications.
Lee Hopley, Chief economist at EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, said that the new measures should help to address the barriers faced by innovative SMEs in accessing expertise and facilities.
“Public spending on innovation spending, just as much as science, offers high returns and this should be a priority in the Government’s forthcoming Spending Review,” she said.