Latest updates and stories from Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce and its Members

Uncertainty over the UK’s future relationship with the EU is one of many factors that has weakened the outlook for business investment, according to the latest forecast by British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement to the House of Commons on delaying Parliament’s ‘meaningful vote’ on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

Commenting on the GDP and trade statistics for October 2018, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

• BCC convenes a meeting with DEXEU Secretary Dominic Raab and seven Northern European Chambers of Commerce

• The group collectively represents regions and nations that cover 70% of UK-EU trade – around £344bn in 2016

On March 29, 2019, a newly negotiated relationship between the EU and the UK will begin as the Brexit divorce is finalised.

On 12th September the Government presented the Agriculture Bill to Parliament, together with announcements about the future of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). 

Commenting on the publication of the first tranche of UK Government technical notices aimed at giving businesses and consumers advice on the implications of a 'no deal' exit from the European Union, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Commenting ahead of the publication of technical notices from the government relating to the possibility of ‘no deal’ in the Brexit negotiations, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Commenting on the passage of amendments to the Customs Bill, which commit the government to fully separating the UK from the EU VAT regime, Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

• Over half of UK businesses did not attempt to access finance in the last year
• One-in-two businesses that did seek finance did so because of cash flow
• Investment intentions are focused on incremental investments

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today published the two-dozen top real-world questions being asked on Brexit by businesses across the UK – and says the government 

Commenting on the publication of the NAO report on the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), Anastassia Beliakova, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today slightly downgraded its growth expectations for the UK economy, forecasting GDP growth for 2018 at 1.3% (from 1.4%) 

Chamber business leaders from across the United Kingdom have today written to the Prime Minister calling for a renewed focus on tackling the barriers to growth and investment in the United Kingdom - and a radical plan for action.

Commenting on the GDP figures for Q1 2018, released  by the ONS, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Today marks the one year countdown until the UK officially leaves the EU. And with the Brexit divorce progressing day-by-day, it’s only natural for business owners to feel uncertain about the future.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today (Monday) upgraded its growth expectations for the UK economy, raising its forecast for GDP from 1.1% to 1.4% in 2018 and from 1.3% to 1.5% for 2019, and its first forecasts for 2020 is for 1.6% growth.

by James Pinchbeck, Marketing Partner Streets Chartered Accountants.

The Chancellor has delivered his first Spring Statement, which did away with the typical announcements around tax changes and public sector cuts or increased spending. 

Addressing the BCC Annual Conference 2018 today, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, will remind the government that the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the UK business community, and country, are not related to exiting the EU, but to the fundamentals in the domestic environment.

With the UK manufacturing PMI and CBI SME trends survey out today, Atul Kariya, head of manufacturing at MHA MacIntyre Hudson, comments on the urgent need to address the growing skills crisis threatening the sector:

Commenting on the speech by David Davis on a transition period after we leave the European Union, Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Commenting on the labour market figures for January 2018, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) today  publishes its Quarterly Economic Survey – the UK’s largest and most authoritative private-sector business survey.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today slightly downgraded its three-year outlook for the UK economy, cutting growth expectations from 1.6% to 1.5% in 2017, from 1.2% to 1.1% in 2018, and from 1.4% to 1.3% in 2019.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) releases the results of its survey, in partnership with American Express, which finds the majority of businesses expect the fall in sterling to increase their costs.

The planning system in England is more complex, costly and difficult for business than it was 5 years ago, according to a major report published today by the British Chambers of Commerce.

Giving his reaction to the Autumn Budget, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Ahead of the Budget on November 22, the British Chambers of Commerce is urging the Chancellor to provide respite for businesses in every corner of the country by freezing business rates for the next two years.

Commenting on the trade statistics for September, released today by the ONS, Mike Spicer, Director of Research Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: