*In aid of Norfolk and Waveney Mind – Suggested Donation £10 Per Vehicle*
Parking onsite from 9:30am
What are the benefits of a positive work culture? Stronger teamworking, higher morale, better employee retention and increased productivity and efficiency – all of which are essential for business success.
We answer this question and more in a FREE webinar alongside Jodie Woodrow from Pure Executive and Tim Cornell from Planned Ascent. The webinar will be full of valuable insights and recommendations for you to implement in your business, and will cover:
MAD-HR Director Charlotte Bate will be providing helpful tips and advice on this subject from an HR perspective.
The UK does very little business with countries in South East Asia, currently trading more with Belgium than with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam combined.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid will be hoping to correct this imbalance when he speaks at the UK-ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Dialogue conference being held on 13 October at Asia House in London.
ASEAN is attracting global attention, with Prime Minister David Cameron having paid a recent visit to South East Asia, where he was accompanied by Mr Javid. With a population of over 600 million, a growing middle class and a combined GDP of about US$2.4 trillion, ASEAN is already a dynamic and exciting market for the global business community and is set to be a long-term driver of global economic growth.
The UK-ASEAN Dialogue will explore the challenges and opportunities in the region, looking specifically at the political climate, infrastructure development and financial services.
Other confirmed speakers at the conference include Lord Mandelson, Chairman and Partner, Global Counsel LLP; Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia; and David Sayer, Chairman – High Growth Markets, KPMG.
The conference will be followed in the evening by Asia House‘s annual gala event – the Asian Business Leaders Awards – that is to be held at The Banqueting House, Whitehall.
Larking Gowen and Mills & Reeve are hosting a live webinar to give you the latest on Primary Care Networks and incorporation.
Primary Care Networks are now in their fourth year and greater funding is being channelled into the directed enhanced service. This webinar will give you an update on Primary Care Networks and the potential challenges that arise. In particular, it will focus on introducing a corporate entity into the structure, commonly referred to as PCN incorporation.
As we continue the countdown to The Big Debate 2023 here are four things to learn covering our four Big Debate topics.
Infrastructure and transport
Mobilitways Commuter Census Survey 2022 reported that 81% of commuters were considering an alternative travel mode and 61% of commuters worried about rising fuel costs.
People, skills and Wellbeing
How can the menopause affect your finances? Despite the menopause affecting roughly 50% of the population, it’s often left unspoken, and its symptoms misunderstood. In fact, a survey found that 91% of women aged 50-64 felt that there was little to no acknowledgement of the menopause within their workplace.
www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/how-can-the-menopause-affect-your-finances/
Net zero & sustainability
One month into 2023, how are your resolutions going? Refresh your starts and new beginnings by setting yourself a resolution can provide a sense of purpose and direction. Many people find that having a sense of community and shared purpose can help them stay committed to their goals, and telling others about your resolution is a proven way to increase how successful you are in keeping it.
www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/knowledge_hub/8-eco-friendly-new-years-resolutions-canopey/
Cost of Living Crisis
If you’re wishing for a healthier and happier life in 2023, these finance-related resolutions could go a long way.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural endurance go-karting event, we’re pleased to announce the event will return on Saturday 23rd March to Ellough Park Raceway, Beccles.
Teams, consisting of 2-5 drivers, will have two hours to complete the most laps before the clock stops, and the chequered flag is shown.
Perfect for team-building, the day includes:
Winners can celebrate in true Formula 1 style – the top three teams will receive trophies (and champagne) in our post-race podium ceremony.
To make things interesting, there will be a starting grid silent auction with the highest bidder awarded pole position.
The entry fee is £250 per team.
All proceeds from the event will support our Build The Nest campaign.
Commenting on the latest ONS Labour Market statistics released today, BCC Head of People Policy, Jane Gratton, said:
“The labour market remains incredibly tight adding to the growing list of concerns businesses are facing. This is a ticking timebomb for firms up and down the country.
“Today’s figures show little improvement for employers over the last quarter. Despite the small increase in employment levels, the number of job vacancies in the economy remains around the highest on record. Competition for skills and labour continues to drive up wage costs.”
“Skills and labour shortages have reached crisis point for many firms. The impact is being felt on their ability to meet customer demand and forcing some to turn away new business, because they simply do not have the human resource. This is restricting growth and business confidence. It’s a serious and urgent problem.
“On top of all of this, firms are now grappling with the highest inflation in almost 40 years; the largest spike in interest rates in three decades; ongoing supply chain disruption; and eye watering energy bills. There is a limit to how much additional cost business can absorb.
“The Government can help ease the growing pressure in the labour market at no extra cost to the Exchequer. We need an immediate review and reform of the Shortage Occupations List (SOL) to include more jobs at all skill levels. This will give firms breathing space to train and upskill their workforce. We have over a million more job vacancies than people available to work, so the sooner we start the SOL review, the better.
“We also need to encourage economically inactive people back into the UK labour market through access to publicly funded rapid retraining opportunities. Businesses must be part of the solution too by creating the right workplace conditions, for example by providing flexible working practises, training opportunities and a focus on workplace healthcare and support.
“We cannot see another month of the same old news, it’s time for action and we’re offering the solution. It’s time for the Government to listen.”
If you are approaching retirement you may be aware that there is a vast array of options available to you, as a result of the government’s pension freedom legislation. These financial decisions, coupled with making the transition from employment to retirement, may be quite daunting. Lovewell Blake Financial Planning is committed to helping you plan for the financial and emotional impact of retirement on yourself and your family. We are running a series of informal workshops at our Norwich office, which will cover a range of topics to provide useful and informative guidance on how to effectively manage the impact of retirement. Timings: 7.45 am arrival and light refreshments 8.00 am start 9.30 am finish We do hope you can join us.
Networking is an extremely valuable tool for businesses but it can be intimidating to many. The thought of introducing yourself and talking to people you have never met before is enough to make anyone feel nervous. Feeling like this is normal. Not everyone will be good at networking the first time, it takes time to gain confidence and for you to feel comfortable in that environment.
On the 31st January, we were joined by Mills & Reeve for a networking masterclass at their Norwich Office. Leanne Loome, Marketing Events Manager and Matt Skipper, Head of New Business at Mills & Reeve presented some top tips on how to develop and improve your networking skills. Networking internally is a really good way to not only practice your networking skills but to also grow your internal network and get to know the people around you and what they are responsible for.
Leanne and Matt outlined four things to think about before you go networking. Attendees were asked to discuss the four rules in groups and come up with suggestions for each.
Do your research
First Impressions
Practice your elevator pitch.
Your elevator pitch is a quick description of who you are, where you work and why you are attending the event. You should always end your elevator pitch on an open question, for example, ask them why they are at the event.
Walking into the room
Follow up
The masterclass concluded with the key to networking, be yourself and enjoy it.
Thank you to Leanne Loome and Matt Skipper for joining us and creating an activity lead masterclass that provided some top tips to make us feel more comfortable for future networking events.
The 2020s are the critical and decisive decade for climate change where we will need to reduce emissions to limit climate change and prepare for the unavoidable impacts. Impacts of climate change are pervasive for water issues and go beyond the problems of floods and droughts. At the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, there was a renewed attempt at highlighting the role of water in addressing climate change. The need for interdisciplinary solutions across a range of cross-cutting problems is only now appreciated. In this context, we invite you to this interdisciplinary conference held in Norwich from noon on 22nd June until 3:30 pm 23rd June 2022, hosted by the University of East Anglia’s Water Security Research Centre, the Anglian Centre for Water Studies, and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
Over this two-day event, we will share current understanding of water challenges and solutions, network across academia, industry, government and the third sector, and develop ideas and collaborations between experts to seek solutions to water challenges. Together with keynote talks, four themed sessions will focus on how climate change will impact water and health, nature-based solutions for water management, integrated assessment of adaptation options, urban-rural interdependencies, and the roles of all sectors in climate mitigation and adaptation.
Find out more – https://watersecurity.uea.ac.uk/critical-climate-decade-implications-for-water-conference/
Inquiry
The International Trade Committee is holding an inquiry into export opportunities and whether UK exporters are able to take advantage of them.
The inquiry will look into the current situation for exporters, the support offered by the Government and how easily exporters can access it.
The inquiry will also consider whether there are options, not currently offered by the Government, for supporting businesses. It will also explore how the support offered by the UK Government compares with that available in other countries.
This inquiry is currently accepting evidence
The committee wants to hear your views. We welcome submissions from anyone with answers to the questions in the call for evidence. You can submit evidence until Friday 24 March 2023.
https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7207/export-opportunities/
The arrival of the summer recess marks a respite period for many (other than Conservative Party leadership candidates and members) from an intense period of policy-making affecting trade. As a new Prime Minister takes office on 6 September, the in-tray on international trade issues will be daunting.
Firstly, the prospect of a fully-fledged trade dispute between the UK and the EU is drawing ever closer. The Northern Ireland Protocol Bill completed its Commons stages this week, and was introduced into the House of Lords yesterday. This provides UK Ministers with the legal powers domestically to over-write the Protocol and introduce check free, friction free movements of goods East-West and West-East across the Irish Sea for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The European Commission is expected to launch new legal proceedings against the UK Government within days for alleged breaches of the Withdrawal Agreement. Should the Bill become law – a prospect still many months away – the EU is expected to respond with further actions including safeguard measures (tariffs) on selected UK exports to the EU while the whole matter is resolved by the dispute resolution machinery in the Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Co-operation Agreement. The BCC is prioritising a negotiated solution, but potentially affected companies should be taking advice now to mitigate their exposure to new costs on exporting goods to the EU should matters worsen.
Second, the UK Government launched its consultation document yesterday on a Single Trade Window (STW) which is designed to be rolled out from December 2023 as part of the new Target Operating Model (TOM). This will incorporate border control processes for goods entering GB from the EU and the rest of the world, including those inbound measures which were deferred from entering into force in the latter half of 2022 (requirements for safety and security certificates, export health certificates, and documentary, identity and physical checks on products of animal origin and plant. products). In time, the STW is designed to provide a single user portal for a range of border and customs processes and greater efficiency in holding times for goods. A range of other countries are also progressing their Single Customs Window plans too, including the EU.
Third, an autumn campaign on preference utilisation rates among SMEs is being prepared for roll out. The BCC is involved in discussions with the UK Government about outputs and delivery of this, following our research findings from members that awareness and ways to use new trade agreements being made by the UK with other trading partners was very low. The aim is to increase volumes of exports and numbers of companies exporting. Initially five markets will be prioritised: Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and Norway. The Australia and New Zealand free trade agreements are expected to be ratified later in the autumn and take effect early next year after legislation at Westminster on procurement and amendments to the tariff schedule are passed.
Fourth, an intensive series of negotiating rounds will be required to complete some and progress other key trade negotiations. Negotiations with India are expected to be completed in time for 24 October – the BCC has had sight of some negotiating drafts in key areas. Canada negotiations for a bespoke trade agreement are expected to conclude by the end of the year to tie-in with UK accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Negotiations with the Gulf Co-operation Council, Mexico and Israel are getting underway but may not finish into 2023.
Fifth, delivering an export strategy which provides a pathway to stronger export-led growth will be key this year. The Office for Budget Responsibility forecast in last autumn’s Budget export growth between 8-9% this year. Trade data from the first half of this year puts UK export performance short of that growth trajectory. The BCC is putting plans to DIT to remedy that and boost export volumes.
So a busy autumn ahead, as well as unpredictable events such as the impact of the war in Ukraine on supply chains. Keep in touch with ChamberCustoms and the BCC as we guide you through this uncertain period and reach together better times ahead.
Photo credit: Chamber Canva Pro
You can view this original article here on the BCC website