Although more than 147,000 cars rolled off UK production lines in March, this was down 13.3% on the same month in 2017 and exports also fell by 11.9%.
Highlighting the importance of the automotive industry to Britain’s economy and jobs, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said that a double-digit decline in car manufacturing for both home and overseas markets was of considerable concern.
Overall output in the first quarter (Q1) of 2018 fell by 6.3%, with 440,426 cars leaving production lines in total this year. Almost 80% of these were exported although demand from overseas customers fell by 4.0% in the quarter.
SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “Following recent announcements on jobs cutbacks in the sector, it’s vitally important that the industry and consumers receive greater certainty, both about future policies towards diesel and other low emission technologies, and our post-Brexit trading relationships and customs arrangements.”
He described free and frictionless trade as an absolute priority for the industry and pointed out that Britain’s vehicle and component manufacturers are important contributors to the UK economy being responsible for 13.0% of all the country’s export in goods.
For every £1 generated by the industry, Mr Hawes explained, £3 are delivered to the economy via adjacent sectors such as logistics, retail and finance, with SMMT calculations putting the total economic impact at £219 billion – 10% of UK gross domestic product.
Join us for some business networking and beer tasting. You will learn how different types of beer can enhance different food – so this is an event for the foodies among us, as well as those who enjoy their alcoholic beverages!
Cheryl from The Thirst Consultants will be bringing along samples of beer – we will provide the food. Cheryl is a qualified Beer Sommelier and has helped to manage the Foreign and Bottled Beer Bar at Norwich Beer Festival since 2010.
Norwich Chamber Council met recently and invited Andrew Bell, CEO of Norwich International Airport (NIA) to provide an update on the airport. Andrew advised that NIA had enjoyed 4 years of double-digit growth and that they were now operating a much more streamlined business. Their offshore service was improving and a fourth helicopter had joined the fleet based in Norwich. NIA’s core route is to Amsterdam and this route was performing very well. Andrew also advised that the airport was looking to increase their Summer 2013 programme for package holiday traffic.
The Chamber Council’s economic round table discussions highlighted that Norwich businesses are finding it tough and it was apparent that some firms were finding it hard to finance their growth aspirations, as bank lending was proving difficult. Additionally businesses looking to recruit were struggling to find the right calibre of staff.
This roundtable discussion will explore the challenges of managing debt acquired during the crisis in a post pandemic world.
Taking risks is part of running a small business, but it’s not easy to plan for the unexpected, especially when it’s a global pandemic. Research from the British Chambers of Commerce shows that almost half of firms have reported an increase in debt since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. Over half of firms are looking to access finance over the next twelve months, but a quarter of respondents describe their current level of debt as either ‘unmanageable’ or ‘high and manageable’.
This roundtable discussion, delivered in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, TSB and the APPG for Fair Business Banking will bring SMEs from a wide range of sectors together to discuss how to manage debt in a post-pandemic world.
This roundtable discussion will:
Share best practice for managing what your business owes
Cover the options that are available to your business
Explore what your business needs to grow in the next 12 months
What lenders and government can do to support their customers through the recovery
Please note that this event is for:
SMEs who have a turnover below £2 million
How to register your interest:
We can only have one person per organisation represented at this virtual event. Please fill your details via the ‘Book Now’ button to register your interest and someone will be in touch with you shortly.
The International Trade Team at Norfolk Chamber is delighted to offer a new Training Service from January 2013.
Through our linkage with the British Chambers of Commerce, 6 x Level 2 (VQ Terminology) courses have been identified, which form an export curriculum that provides invaluable basic skills for small and large companies alike.
Candidates will have to demonstrate knowledge of the subject and their performance will be marked by external examiners on the completion of each module.
Successful candidates will receive a certificate; completing all six courses will result in the candidate achieving a nationally recognised Foundation Award in Exporting.
These courses are suitable for both experienced exporters and those with no previous knowledge of exporting.
The 6 course titles include:
Understanding Exports
Methods of Payment
Export Documentation
Incoterms® 2010
Letters of Credit
Import Procedures
These new courses will replace the existing courses that Norfolk Chamber has been delivering for many, many years although, they are very similar.
The courses will still be delivered by our trusted and accredited trainer Mike Strawson, who has been working with us for years. Those of you who have attended our courses will know that Mike has an incredible knack of delivering the content in such a crystal clear manner, delegates walk away with a sound understanding of the subject.
Come and watch the England v Wales Rugby World Cup game on our large 7m HD screen in the splendor of our Banking Hall. Full bar and food will available throughout the game.
Every ticket reserved will be automatically entered into a FREE PRIZE DRAW to win an official World Cup replica rugby ball and t-shirt (courtesy of Pilch).
Representatives from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk – the three counties the A47 trunk road runs through – stand united in calling for the Government to fully dual the road between Peterborough and Lowestoft, a meeting heard today. Members of the A47 Alliance came together at County Hall in Norwich today (Friday, 11 May) to discuss ongoing efforts to convince the Government to invest in the A47. Currently just 47% of this major route is dual carriageway and while Highways England have committed to making £300m of improvements to the road, including dualling some stretches, this will still leave substantial sections of the A47 as single carriageway with no current plans to dual them. The Just Dual It! campaign, which is being led by Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and the Eastern Daily Press, is calling on the Government to commit to make funding available to dual the entire length of the A47 by 2030. Since launching at the end of March, the campaign has received more than 2,000 messages of support from residents, businesses and political figures, whose reasons for wanting the route fully dualled range from road safety, shortening journey times and improving journey reliability and creating a better transport link between the east of England and the Midlands and beyond. At today’s meeting representatives heard updates on the campaign from Chairman of the A47 Alliance and Norfolk county councillor Martin Wilby, MP for Mid Norfolk George Freeman and Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough James Palmer. Martin Wilby said: “We knew a lot of people felt very strongly about getting the A47 fully dualled but the widespread support for Just Dual It! has shown that this campaign crosses borders and matters to people from all walks of life. As it stands, the road is a source of regular frustration and concern. Fully dualled, the A47 would be an asset to counties in the east of England, supporting business growth, boosting tourism and improving day-to-day life for hundreds of thousands of people. “We’ve waited long enough, it’s time for the Government to commit to fully dualling this major route – and we won’t rest until they do.” George Freeman MP said: “While I am very proud that we have managed to secure the £300 million required for the first phase of A47 dualling, it is imperative that we now get the rest dualled in order to improve safety and ensure that Norfolk has the 21st century transport system it deserves. Only then can we unlock the true economic potential of our great county.” James Palmer said: “Dualling the A47 is essential for the future prosperity of the northern part of East Anglia. “I have been only too pleased to lend my support to the A47 Alliance and the Just Dual It! campaign. When I became Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough last year, I made the A47 one of my key transport priorities. I felt the Highways England proposals already on the table – the dualling of 2.5km of road from Wansford to Sutton and improvements at the Guyhirn roundabout by 2021 – were not nearly ambitious enough. “Big regional campaigns like Just Dual It! really do make a difference to decision makers in Whitehall and I stand ready to make the case for dualling the A47 as loud and as clear as possible on behalf of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.” The importance of dualling the road to the regions’ businesses was also stressed at the meeting, and their support for the campaign is seen as key to getting Westminster to invest in the road. Nova Fairbank, Public Affairs Manager for Norfolk Chamber said:”The full dualling of the A47 is a ‘must have’ for Norfolk Chamber and the local business community in order to deliver greater economic growth and jobs in this region. From tourism to logistics, manufacturing to research, all sectors across our region rely heavily on the A47 as our main road artery East to West and onwards to the Midlands. Improvements to this route are vital to help us to remain accessible and competitive.” Richard Perkins, Suffolk Chamber representative to the A47 Alliance, said: “Suffolk Chamber of Commerce have been supporting their members in North East Suffolk for a long time in seeking to substantially improve the A47, which is the only trunk road serving the area and provides vital links to Great Yarmouth, Norwich and the UK in general. The creation of a fully dualled A47 is robustly endorsed by Suffolk Chamber, its members and the business community in general and will greatly facilitate the accelerated economic growth of the Energy Coast areas of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth.” There are several ways that businesses can show their support for the campaign to get the A47 fully dualled, including:
These messages will be transferred onto a Just Dual It! postcard, which will then be hand-delivered to Westminster in the summer to evidence the strong support that exists for getting the A47 dualled.
It is that time of year again when we look forward toour famous Christmas quiz.This year we are asking you to dig out your best (or worse) Christmas knitwear and join us at the Holiday Inn Norwich North, Norwich Airport on 20th November.
As with previous years, we are looking to the generosity of organisations to sponsor the event and have several sponsorship opportunities available from just £75.
We are also looking for organisations to bring teams of up to 10 along and with tickets priced at £25 per head this is a great opportunity to dust off those quiz books and swat up to be crowned winners of the evening (there will of course be prizes for the team that comes last).
It would be fantastic if you could join us in making this event a huge success, in previous years over £15,000 has been raised through the quiz, and we hope this year will be the biggest and best yet!
For more information, or to book, please contact Gena Moore – gena@nelsonsjourney.org.uk or call 01603 431788.
Chief Operating Officer at Tech East,Tim Robinson will provide an update on the organiation’s mission to establish the East of England as the next global tech cluster and promote digital excellence across the region. Businesses will hear about the accelerated growth of exciting tech companies throughout Norfolk and the positive impact this has on the Eastern region. Tim will also examine the increasing availability of tech and digital skills throughout Norfolk and beyond. The event will be hosted by the Chamber’s Chief Executive, Chris Sargisson, who will facilitate an interactive Q+A session to close the event. The networking event at Barnham Broom Hotel will provide Norfolk Chambers with a chance to meet likeminded businesses, form valuable new connections and raise their profile in the Norfolk business community. Book your place at the event here.
With the intense focus on the current energy crisis, join Indigo Swan as they explore the present gas and electricity markets and how renewable technology has the potential to provide businesses with a more sustainable method to cut costs.
Presenter Bio
Between them James Groves (Managing Director of Indigo Swan), Aimee Konieczny (Commercial Director) and Oliver Denison (Head of Sustainability) have a wealth of experience, expertise and knowledge on energy sector. They share a passion for doing good business and are a shining light of Indigo Swan’s values and mission.
Indigo Swan
Indigo Swan are a multi award-winning, independent energy consultancy based in the heart of Norwich. Founded in 2009, the company now has 25 employees they call Swans and has become admired for their ‘happiness first’ approach. They offer their clients a tailored service which fuses relentless efficiencies with a colourful personality. From finding the right supplier to supporting businesses on their sustainable journey, their mission is to help educate others in making better decisions about their energy.
With only two weeks to go until our Norwich Business Breakfast, now is your last chance to book onto our ever-popular breakfast in the centre of Norwich. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear from ofo’s Regional Operations Manager Matthew Thomas-Keeping who will be talking about the company’s evolution from 2014 to now. Matthew will discuss the context of bike sharing as a force to change urban mobility and where bike sharing will be heading in the coming months and years, in the context of Norwich. In usual Chamber style, we will also be providing:
A luxury Norwich venue
Lots of coffee and a full English breakfast
Our trademark networking activities
The rest is up to you! You will meet lots of other Chamber members at our most popular, and often sold out, Norwich Breakfast and hopefully leave (potentially on an ofo bike!) having made new business connections. Click here to book your place onto our Norwich breakfast.
Eleven government departments have each appointed a Head of International Trade Profession to champion trade negotiation skills and help ensure that the UK develops appropriate expertise.
The International Trade Profession aims to raise the skills and ambitions of those working, or aspiring to work, in international trade by opening up new roles and career opportunities in the UK Government, supporting talented people to develop careers in trade and providing a training programme for them.
Announcing the initiative, the Chief Trade Negotiation Advisor, Crawford Falconer, said: “We are ensuring government attracts the best and brightest talent by not only offering trade professionals a clear route into working on trade policy, exports and investment at the centre of government but also nurturing their ability for the future through access to world-class training.”
The need for the UK to develop its own trade negotiation capacity has been highlighted by Brexit, with the possibility of the country having to take on responsibility for something that for many years has been the responsibility of the EU.
Commenting on the announcement, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said that, by establishing the International Trade Profession, the Government has embedded the development of trade negotiation capability at the heart of its agenda and taken another important step in getting UK trade policy Brexit-ready.
That view was echoed by CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn who commented: “Business will warmly welcome the appointment of Heads of International Trade Profession across Whitehall, demonstrating that the Government is building expertise and capability in a crucial area for post-Brexit Britain.”