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• Annual output inflation down from 3.2% in April to 2.8% in May; annual input inflation down from 1.0% in April to 0.1% in May

Commenting on the producer price figures for May 2012, Caroline Williams, CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“The decline in producer price inflation was better than expected, with both output and input measures at their lowest level since 2009. On this basis, we expect consumer price inflation to continue to fall over the next few months. This will ease the pressures facing businesses and consumers and provide a boost to consumer spending.

“But the economic situation at home and abroad remains difficult, and strengthening growth should be a top priority. While the government must persevere with measures to reduce the deficit, it should re-address priorities towards growth within the existing spending envelope. The lower inflation figures may make the MPC more inclined to increase QE, but we believe its focus should be encouraging lending to credit-worthy businesses.”

• Manufacturing output for April 2012 down 0.7% on the month, down 0.3% on the year

Commenting on the manufacturing output figures for April, published today by the ONS, David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The fall in manufacturing output is not surprising given ongoing problems in the eurozone and the UK’s tough deficit-cutting programme. It is important to avoid pessimism as many firms have shown resilience in the face of these obstacles, and have reserved their skills base during the recession. However, the immediate outlook is difficult. Our most recent forecast has indicated nil growth in manufacturing output this year and on the basis of this figure there is a risk that the sector will record a small decline in 2012.

“The new figures will also reinforce demands for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to increase Quantitative Easing (QE). This would only be helpful if the Bank of England stops focusing asset purchases exclusively on gilts and starts purchasing other assets such as securitized SME loans. We are pleased that Adam Posen has this week publicly supported such a move. Other policies to support growth are also needed, particularly more forceful deregulation and an increase in infrastructure spending within the current spending envelope.”

Commenting on the Home Affairs Committee’s report on immigration policy, published today, Jane Gratton, Head of Business Environment and Skills at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“The BCC has long campaigned for an immigration policy that supports business and the economy, so we welcome the Home Affairs Committee raising these issues.

“With unemployment at an all-time low, job vacancies remaining unfilled and businesses facing pervasive skills shortages, it makes no sense to cut-off an important supply of skills and labour. Businesses are not deliberately targeting non-UK workers, nor are they failing to train the UK workforce, but over half of firms we surveyed told us they would be affected in some way should there be any future restrictions on the rights of EEA nationals to work in the UK.    

“Foreign students are crucial to the success of universities and surrounding business communities, but the majority do not stay in the UK once their studies are finished so including them in the immigration statistics is misguided.

“The UK should be striving to attract the brightest talent from around the world, so it’s crucial that our immigration policy reflects this.”

Tech Nation is a ground breaking series of reports on the UK’s digital tech ecosystem. Over the last three years – it has captured the strength, depth and breadth of activity across the UK and highlighted the emerging tech cluster in Norwich. It has revealed the scale of the digital tech sector, captured its growth, and – crucially – developed an understanding of the characteristics of the communities driving it.

Norfolk Chamber is a Tech Nation Community Partner and we want to help make Tech Nation 2018, the best report yet.  But we need help from the Norfolk businesses community.  Last year the survey had 2,700 responses, this year they hope to reach 11,000 responses, and to hear from all tech communities in the UK to allow Tech Nation to provide the most up to date and insightful data on the UK tech community in 2018.

Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“ICT and digital creative is one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK and a major driver for the economy in Norfolk.  Norwich is now a recognised Tech City and has strengths in digital advertising and marketing, telecommunications and networking. The previous Tech Nation report showed that there were over 5,300 digital jobs in Norwich helping drive a digital GVA of £148 million.

“We want to hear from you on topics such as diversity of the tech sector in your local area, on opportunities for high growth businesses and the quality of education and training.”

The closing date for responses is: 02 February 2017 and only takes 5 minutes to complete – have your say now!

• 10-week consultation offers the public an opportunity to shape Heathrow’s future and how the airport will serve local communities and the UK economy
• Heathrow is seeking views on options to deliver and operate an expanded airport, alongside principles of new airspace design
• Consultation is latest delivery milestone and comes ahead of a Parliamentary vote in the first half of 2018 on a National Policy Statement for a new north-west runway at Heathrow  

The planning process for Heathrow expansion is now firmly underway, as the airport today launches what is set to be one of the largest public consultations in the country’s history.

Heathrow’s consultation is a major milestone in delivering an expanded airport – Europe’s largest privately funded infrastructure project, and the best way to keep the UK connected to global growth.   For the next ten weeks, Heathrow will seek views on how to shape its plans so it can deliver the huge opportunities of expansion while keeping to the promises it has made to local communities and meeting strict environmental tests. 

Over the past year, Heathrow has been working alongside local stakeholders and airline partners to evolve the plans it submitted to the Airports Commission.  This engagement has identified options to deliver an expanded hub airport for £2.5 billion less than previous plans – savings to help make sure airport charges stay close to today’s levels. These options can be delivered without compromising on the expansion commitments Heathrow made to local communities – including a world class property compensation scheme, the pledge to introduce a 6.5 hour ban on scheduled night flights and the promise to only release new capacity if air quality limits can be met.

Heathrow has also published its SME pledges and have 10 Business Summits planned for 2018 – across the UK to encourage SMEs to become involved in our supply chain as well as launching the process to pioneer new construction methods through off-site manufacturing with our Logistics Hubs.

The consultation launched today will be an opportunity for the public to view Heathrow’s emerging proposals and options in detail and provide feedback on them.  It will be composed of two parts – the first relates to the physical changes to the ground needed to build a new north-west runway and operate an expanded airport.  Feedback is being sought on potential infrastructure options including: 

• Three shortlisted options for the new north-west runway with length varying from between 3,200 and 3,500 metres
• Potential locations to expand terminal infrastructure: east of Terminal 2, west of Terminal 5 or a new satellite terminal by the new runway
• Proposed alignment of the M25: repositioning it approximately 150 metres to the west, and lowering it by 7 metres in a tunnel and raising the runway height so it passes over the M25
• Options for changes to local roads and possible changes to two junctions leading to the M25 

The airport is also asking for the public to review its plans to manage the effects of expansion on local communities and the environment. 

The second part of the consultation relates to potential principles, or ‘rules’, that could apply when designing the new airspace required for an expanded airport. Airspace across the country is being modernised as it has changed little since the 1960s.  Changes to airspace will ultimately improve resilience and punctuality for passengers while reducing noise, emissions and the number of late-running flights for local communities. At this early stage, future flight path options are not being consulted on. 

Responses can be submitted until the 28th of March at any of the 40 consultation events held across communities surrounding the airport and also online, via email or post. Views heard in Heathrow’s consultation will help to shape and refine the airport’s proposals, which will then be subject to a second public consultation next year. Parliament is expected to vote on a National Policy Statement in the first half of this year, which will set out the policy framework for Heathrow’s final planning submission.

Emma Gilthorpe, Heathrow’s Executive Director Expansion, invites local residents and stakeholders to take part in the consultation, saying:

“When the government announced its support for Heathrow expansion it made a clear commitment to keeping Britain open for business.  We want an expanded Heathrow to be the world’s best airport, ensuring that our country and its future generations have the infrastructure they need to thrive.  

“We need feedback to help deliver this opportunity responsibly and to create a long-term legacy both at a local and national level. Heathrow is consulting to ensure that we deliver benefits for our passengers, businesses across the country but also, importantly, for those neighbours closest to us.” 

Take part in the Heathrow consultation now.