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Ahead of the general election, Norfolk Chamber is setting out the key Norfolk business asks for any future government.  The Chamber is calling on all the political parties to consider the importance for Norfolk businesses to be able to access fast, reliable broadband.

Technology and how we use it is evolving rapidly, but Norfolk’s digital infrastructure needs to keep pace.  As more and more businesses rely on technology, Norfolk Chamber is keen to ensure that both our digital infrastructure and our business community are ready to take advantage of new technology developments as they evolve.

Whilst approx. 86% of Norfolk has access to 24mbps, a recent British Chambers of Commerce survey, reported that the Norfolk business community still thought that Norfolk’s digital infrastructure was not yet totally fit for purpose.  Throughout the county, significant numbers of companies of every size and sector said they lacked reliable internet connectivity – a basic requirement for businesses to operate efficiently in today’s world.

Commenting on the need to provide more access to superfast broadband, Lynsey Sweales, a Norfolk Chamber Board Member and Director of Social B said:

“A reliable broadband connection is absolutely vital for all companies, yet 20% of Norfolk companies suffer from unreliable connections. The BCC survey shows that firms in rural areas are at least twice as likely to have unreliable connections as those in towns. The focus of any future government must be on providing businesses with sufficient and reliable broadband connections to enable to them to do business confidently.  Having a business in a rural location shouldn’t mean you sacrifice market opportunities, businesses operating in Norfolk as well as businesses looking to invest and trade with Norfolk businesses need broadband confidence to do business”

The survey also showed that with more reliable connections Norfolk businesses could do more. Over half of businesses (54%) said that if the reliability of their broadband connection was improved it would allow them to use more applications, particularly cloud-based services (24%), transfer of large files (16%), and remote server access for employees (14%).

Commenting on the need for further broadband improvements, Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber said: 

“Unreliable connections stunt productivity, causing needless delays, costs and frustration. While businesses across the county are affected, it is the rural areas and small businesses that are most likely to suffer. An unreliable connection acts as a barrier to growth, and puts those companies most in need of support at a competitive disadvantage.

“These are a few of the reasons why Norfolk Chamber is calling for any future government to commit to more investment in broadband infrastructure across our county to ensure that local businesses, whether they are based in the city, market towns or in rural locations, can be compete on a level playing field with the rest of the UK and beyond.”

Stands are booking fast at the B2B Exhibition, which returns to Norwich City Football Club on Thursday 12 October 2017. Only 25% of exhibition stands are remaining with just 4 spaces left at the ‘Top of the Terrace’ level.

Building on its continued success year on year the B2B Exhibition is a key event in Norfolk’s commercial calendar that gives exhibitors unique access to network with a range of businesses and promote their products and services to the Norfolk Business community. Last year’s event sold out with over 100 exhibitors and more than 750 visitors and this year is shaping up to be even bigger!

To find out more about exhibiting or to book your stand, visit the event webpage or contact a member of the events team on 01603 625977.

Below is the latest update on the Qatari situation from our colleagues at the British Chamber of Commerce Qatar.

STATEMENT ON THE GCC/QATAR TRADE EMBARGO

Following the severing of diplomatic ties with Qatar by many of its regional neighbours, most notably by Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, the Qatar government has reacted promptly to stabilise the economy and ensure commercial and trade relations remain undamaged. The government has also  stated that it intends to continue its current infrastructure and development program on the same timetable as before The general reaction from the market is that it remains business-as-usual.. Many British companies have reported that the trade embargo has not yet had any significant impact on their UK-Qatar business.

The primary impact has been the need to reroute cargo (both flights and shipping) via Oman and Kuwait. The Qatar authorities have moved swiftly to agree new measures to strengthen the trade and shipping links with the Omani ports of Sohar and Salalah and similarly to reinforce air links with Kuwait, Muscat and other hubs in the wider region. That net effect has inevitably meant small delays to cargo shipments and increased transportation costs. But overall, the impact has not been as dramatic as initially feared and shipments are now arriving on a regular basis.

The British Chamber of Commerce Qatar (BCCQ) remains confident that the long-term economic prospects for Qatar look exceedingly strong. While it is hard to say how quickly and amicably the dispute will be resolved, attractive business opportunities in all sectors remain for UK businesses to expand trade with Qatar. In the eyes of the business community in Qatar the breakdown in relations has not affected commercial and economic affairs unduly. For those UK companies with existing business in Qatar or immediate prospects, the British Chamber would encourage you to renew contact with your key customers and partners and make early plans to visit the market. For those UK businesses based in UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia or who trade with Qatar through partners and agents based there we would urge you to contact the British Chamber to discuss how best to approach the market in the light of the current trade embargo.

The British Chamber of Commerce Qatar would like to encourage those who have enquiries about the current commercial market in Qatar to contact us. We are happy to provide further information and advice to UK businesses keen to trade in Qatar.

The British Chamber of Commerce Qatar 18th July 2017

People in Norfolk who support the need for upgrades to the A47 are being encouraged to go along to an event this Friday (21 July) to leave the organisation responsible for the road in no doubt of the local appetite for improvements.

Highways England, the government company charged with operating, maintaining and improving England’s motorways and major A roads including the A47, has announced it will be holding a roadshow event in a mobile unit at Tesco Extra on Kingston Road in Dereham on Friday between 12 and 7pm. As well as featuring an exhibition of plans for upcoming major roadworks in the region, Highways England staff will be available to talk to people about improvements to the A47.

Further Highways England roadshows are planned for later in the summer, including in King’s Lynn, Attleborough, Great Yarmouth and Hopton, so if people can’t make this Friday’s event in Dereham, there will be other opportunities to speak to Highways England in person to press the case for improvements to the A47. Further details on these events are expected to be announced shortly.

Highways England has announced £300 million of improvements to the A47 with works slated to start in 2019/20 financial year. Of the six schemes announced, four will be on sections of the road in Norfolk. These are:

• Dualling the A47 North Tuddenham to Easton;
• Dualling the A47 Blofield to North Burlingham;
• Improving the A47/A11 Thickthorn junction;
• Improving A47 Great Yarmouth junctions including reconstruction of the Vauxhall Roundabout.

Norfolk County Council welcomed the announcement of this investment and has offered to work with Highways England to ensure the work can get under way at the earliest opportunity. As part of its role on the A47 Alliance, a campaigning group that brings together the business community, local authorities, MPs and others, Norfolk County Council is pushing for central government to commit to making further improvements to the route with an ultimate goal to see the whole of the road dualled.

Martin Wilby, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Environment, Development and Transport Committee and Chairman of the A47 Alliance, said: “We need to take every opportunity to bang the drum for investment in the A47, and there is no doubt the message comes across much louder and clearer when you hear it from the many rather than the few. Please help us, if you can, to show the strength of local feeling on the subject.

“We’re making improvements and working on transport projects on roads that the County Council is responsible for that will help to ease traffic congestion, make roads safer and shorten journey times. However getting the A47 improved so it can cope with the amount of traffic using it now but also in the future is vital to the county’s success. It’s the key that will unlock a lot of other investment, including attracting businesses and high-skilled jobs, and improving quality of life for those who use the route regularly.”

The A47 Alliance agreed its priorities for securing further improvements along the route earlier this year. The schemes in Norfolk that have been identified as a priority are dualling the Acle Straight between Acle and Great Yarmouth and dualling the A47 Tilney to East Winch, including the Hardwick flyover, south of King’s Lynn.

For more information on the Highways England roadshows, visit www.gov.uk/government/news/road-show-to-show-you-road-works. For more information on the A47 Alliance, visit www.a47alliance.co.uk