News

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

The Future of the Economy: Have Your Say

The future of the economy may sound like an awfully big topic – and one you can’t influence. But in fact these conversations – and some great networking opportunities that go with them - are within your reach!

Read More

Red Tape, Regulation & Costs Holding Back Exports

•    Almost half (49%) of businesses say current customs checks and declarations are a barrier to exporting. This rises to 62% for manufacturers
 
•    Taxes and duties, due to tariffs, are the next biggest stumbling block for two fifths (40%) of firms.
 
•    Regulations, such as product certification, cause problems for a similar proportion of businesses (38%)

Read More

BCC Trade Manifesto - International Trade Vital For UK Growth

The British Chambers of Commerce has called for Government to focus on boosting services, advanced manufacturing, green and digital trade if it wants to hit its £1tn trade target.

Read More

The British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference: Getting Bedfordshire Businesses Heard in Westminster

As a member of Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, your voice, input, and influence don’t stop at the county’s borders. As part of the wider British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), we represent your interests to policymakers, politicians, industry peers, and the media, at a national level.

Read More

BCC responds to new Australia and New Zealand trade deals


Reacting to the new UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand trade deals which entered into effect at midnight, BCC Head of Trade, William Bain, said: 
 
“A new era of international trade will begin today as the first trade agreements agreed by the United Kingdom since it left the European Union come into force.  

Read More

BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BUDGET REACTION: Measures unlikely to shift dial on business investment

Giving her full reaction to today’s spring budget, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 
 
“The Chancellor has acted to address the unfilled jobs blighting our economy. It is especially good to see the help on childcare and for over 50s workers.  

Read More

No Signs of Business Recovery – BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q4 2022

•    After significant declines across all business conditions tracked by the BCC in Q3, most indicators have stabilised at a low level. 
•    Profitability confidence remains at Covid-crisis levels; only one in three (34%) businesses believe their profits will increase over the coming year, while more (36%) expect a decline.   
•    Just 33% of firms experienced an increase in sales over the past three months, while 25% of firms reported a decrease, with hospitality firms the least likely to report improvements.  
•    More firms are reporting taxation (38%) and interest rates (43%) as growing business concerns.  

Read More

October Growth Unlikely to Halt Recession

Reacting to the ONS GDP figures for October, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said:    

"The monthly growth in GDP for October of 0.5% is overshadowed by the underlying three-month trend revealed by the data, which shows a contraction in the economy of 0.3%.

Read More

BCC welcomes bold growth plan

Commenting on the Chancellor’s Fiscal Statement, Shevaun Havilland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Businesses will welcome many of the measures announced today that should boost economic growth, relieve cost pressures and encourage investment.

Read More

NEW PRIME MINISTER MUST TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO SUPPORT BUSINESS

Reacting to the announcement of the new Prime Minister, Sarah Howard, Chair of the BCC, said: “We would like to congratulate Liz Truss on running a successful campaign to become the UK’s new Prime Minister.

“She must now take immediate steps to support the economy. The last few months have been difficult for everyone, time is running out and urgent action is needed to deal with the costs’ crisis.

Read More

How We Connect You to Expertise to Solve Your Business Challenges

Whatever the size of your business, it is likely that at some stage you will face multiple challenges that can feel impossible to overcome. In fact, you will typically experience these at every stage of the business’s growth.

In this piece, we take a look at what we, as a member of the British Chambers of Commerce, offer to make it easier for business owners in our region to get advice and support when they need it most.

Read More

SHEVAUN HAVILAND: TIME RUNNING OUT FOR GOVERNMENT TO ACT

Director General of the BCC, Shevaun Haviland, is to urge the Government to take action to save the economy as the cost of doing business crisis continues to worsen.

Read More

BCC: Economy on a Knife Edge as Inflation Keeps Climbing

Commenting on the Office for National Statistics inflation figures for May 2022, Head of Research at the BCC, David Bharier, said:  
“The further increase in Consumer Prices Index inflation to 9.1% underscores the severe pressure that businesses and households are under.

Read More

EXPORT GROWTH NOW STAGNANT FOR 1 YEAR AS BCC SOUNDS WARNING ON TRADE



• Proportion of UK exporters reporting increased export sales (29%) was largely unchanged for the 4th quarter running

• Proportion reporting decreased sales historically high at 25%, also little changed since 1 year ago in Q1 2021

• Exporters more likely that non-exporters to expect increases to their prices in coming months

Read More

Spring Statement: Chancellor must act now to ease ‘cost of doing business crisis’

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the Chancellor to take bold and decisive action in his Spring Statement to tackle the escalating cost of doing business crisis.

Read More

BCC Forecast: UK economic growth to halve this year as domestic & global headwinds soar

UK economic growth is expected to halve this year amid soaring inflation, major tax rises, and global shocks - including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Read More

BCC Research Finds Little Love for EU Trade Deal

• 71% of exporters say EU trade deal is not enabling them to grow or increase sales

• Only 1 in 8 exporters think it is helping them grow or increase sales


• Majority think it has pushed up costs, increased paperwork and delays, and put the UK at a competitive disadvantage.

Read More

Surging Inflation a Key Risk to UK Growth Prospects

Commenting on the inflation statistics for January 2022, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Head of Economics at the BCC Suren Thiru, said:

“Rising inflation highlights both the cost-of-living crisis facing households and the uphill struggle for businesses to keep a lid on price rises amid surging cost pressures.

Read More

3 in 4 Firms Raising Prices as Chancellor warned of ‘Cost of Doing Business Crisis’


• 73% of firms in a new survey say they are raising prices in response to rising costs

• More than 3 in 5 (62%) cite soaring energy bills as driving factor, rising to 75% for manufacturers

• 63% site increased wage bills as driving prices rises

• British Chambers of Commerce call on the Chancellor to adopt their five-point plan to address these challenges. These include a temporary energy price cap for small businesses and the extension of the financial support announced for households last week to include small firms

The British Chambers of Commerce has warned the Treasury of an impending ‘cost of doing business crisis’. A new survey of more than 1,000 businesses, showed that firms across the country are under intense pressure from a variety of costs. It found that prices were likely to rise as a result, further fuelling the cost-of-living crisis for households.

In response to the new research, BCC Director General, Shevaun Haviland, has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak warning of the dangers facing firms. The British Chambers of Commerce has outlined a five-point plan, which if implemented, will help businesses to weather the current conditions and keep price rises under control. These measures included a temporary energy price cap for small businesses, extending the Chancellor’s energy bills rebate scheme for households to smaller businesses and delaying the planned National Insurance rise by 1 year.

Survey Results

When firms were asked if their business was facing pressure to raise prices from a variety of sources the results were as follows: 

Read More

‘First step must now become leaps and bounds’ – BCC on Levelling Up White Paper

Responding to the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:


“This is an important first step in putting local economic prosperity at the heart of Government policy.

Read More

BCC Says More Must be Done to improve UK-EU Trade

On the second anniversary of Brexit, and with huge lorry queues being reported at Dover last week, the BCC is calling for urgent action to improve trade with Europe.

Read More

New generation of exporters needed to power economic growth - BCC Trade Manifesto

The British Chambers of Commerce is today setting out its manifesto to recruit legions of new UK exporters as its research continues to show poor overseas trade growth:

• In Q4 of 2021, just over a quarter of exporting firms (29%) saw their overseas sales increase

• Almost half (47%) saw no change, and a quarter (24%) reported a decrease

• This is despite substantially more firms reporting improved domestic conditions, with 45% confirming increased UK sales in Q4

Read More

BCC finds rising cyber-attack fears in hybrid working world


• More than half of firms believe their exposure to attack has increased due to working from home arrangements

• One in 10 firms have been the victim of a cyber-attack in the last year

• This rises to more than one in seven for larger firms with more than 50 employees

• Only one in five firms have cyber-security accreditations in place

Read More

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q4 2021: Recovery weakening as inflation worries soar

• 58% of firms expect their prices to increase in the next three months, the highest on record. 66% of businesses cited inflation as a concern, also a record high
• 1 in 4 (27%) firms were worried about rising interest rates, as concerns over rate hikes among manufacturers reach record high
• Just under half of firms (45%) reported increased domestic sales in Q4, compared to 47% in Q3

Read More

45% of Firms Facing Difficulties Trading with EU Under Post-Brexit Trade Agreement


• 45% of firms in a new survey reported difficulties adapting to changes in rules for buying or selling goods brought about by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), while 15% reported that this was easy

• Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) said they faced difficulties of buying or selling services, while 14% found it easy

• 1 in 5 (20%) reported difficulties moving people, while 8% found it easy

• The BCC also launched a report alongside the survey which explores solutions to the issues

Read More

Business and Governments Must Unite to Hit Net Zero Target


• Nine out of 10 firms have not done any assessment on a series of key strategies for managing a sustainable transition to net zero

• Two thirds (61%) said either capital grants or tax allowances would do most to encourage them to reduce their carbon consumption in the long term.

• Most firms recommend the government focus on a transition to more efficient sources of energy

Read More

BCC gives full response to October 2021 Budget

Giving her reaction to the Chancellor’s budget, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:

“There is much to welcome in this Budget for business communities across the UK.

Read More

New Data Shows Export Recovery Remains Flat Amid Disruption To Supply Chains

   
• Proportion of UK exporters reporting increased export sales (30%) rose slightly from Q2 (27%)

• However, proportion reporting decreased sales remained stubbornly and historically high at 26%, while 45% report no change

• Recovery in manufacturing exports began to fall back slightly from previous quarter

Read More

BCC Forecast: business investment set to be left behind in record economic recovery

UK business investment is expected to decline this year despite the prospect of record economic growth, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) economic forecast.

The leading business group predicts UK GDP growth for 2021 of 7.1%, which, if realised, would be the strongest outturn since official records began in 1949.1

Read More

Carbon footprint a mystery to 9 out of 10 small businesses

• National business survey finds vast majority of small businesses have yet to put targets in place to reduce their emissions – with the pandemic pushing climate action down the agenda

• Just 11% of respondents measure their carbon footprint, although half of respondents acknowledge their customers are worried about the environment

• Larger firms are far more likely to be taking environmental action than microbusinesses

Read More

The Future of the Economy: Have Your Say

The future of the economy may sound like an awfully big topic – and one you can’t influence. But in fact these conversations – and some great networking opportunities that go with them - are within your reach!

Read More

Red Tape, Regulation & Costs Holding Back Exports

•    Almost half (49%) of businesses say current customs checks and declarations are a barrier to exporting. This rises to 62% for manufacturers
 
•    Taxes and duties, due to tariffs, are the next biggest stumbling block for two fifths (40%) of firms.
 
•    Regulations, such as product certification, cause problems for a similar proportion of businesses (38%)

Read More

BCC Trade Manifesto - International Trade Vital For UK Growth

The British Chambers of Commerce has called for Government to focus on boosting services, advanced manufacturing, green and digital trade if it wants to hit its £1tn trade target.

Read More

The British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference: Getting Bedfordshire Businesses Heard in Westminster

As a member of Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, your voice, input, and influence don’t stop at the county’s borders. As part of the wider British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), we represent your interests to policymakers, politicians, industry peers, and the media, at a national level.

Read More

BCC responds to new Australia and New Zealand trade deals


Reacting to the new UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand trade deals which entered into effect at midnight, BCC Head of Trade, William Bain, said: 
 
“A new era of international trade will begin today as the first trade agreements agreed by the United Kingdom since it left the European Union come into force.  

Read More

BRITISH CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BUDGET REACTION: Measures unlikely to shift dial on business investment

Giving her full reaction to today’s spring budget, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 
 
“The Chancellor has acted to address the unfilled jobs blighting our economy. It is especially good to see the help on childcare and for over 50s workers.  

Read More

No Signs of Business Recovery – BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q4 2022

•    After significant declines across all business conditions tracked by the BCC in Q3, most indicators have stabilised at a low level. 
•    Profitability confidence remains at Covid-crisis levels; only one in three (34%) businesses believe their profits will increase over the coming year, while more (36%) expect a decline.   
•    Just 33% of firms experienced an increase in sales over the past three months, while 25% of firms reported a decrease, with hospitality firms the least likely to report improvements.  
•    More firms are reporting taxation (38%) and interest rates (43%) as growing business concerns.  

Read More

October Growth Unlikely to Halt Recession

Reacting to the ONS GDP figures for October, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said:    

"The monthly growth in GDP for October of 0.5% is overshadowed by the underlying three-month trend revealed by the data, which shows a contraction in the economy of 0.3%.

Read More

BCC welcomes bold growth plan

Commenting on the Chancellor’s Fiscal Statement, Shevaun Havilland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Businesses will welcome many of the measures announced today that should boost economic growth, relieve cost pressures and encourage investment.

Read More

NEW PRIME MINISTER MUST TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO SUPPORT BUSINESS

Reacting to the announcement of the new Prime Minister, Sarah Howard, Chair of the BCC, said: “We would like to congratulate Liz Truss on running a successful campaign to become the UK’s new Prime Minister.

“She must now take immediate steps to support the economy. The last few months have been difficult for everyone, time is running out and urgent action is needed to deal with the costs’ crisis.

Read More

EXPORT GROWTH NOW STAGNANT FOR 1 YEAR AS BCC SOUNDS WARNING ON TRADE



• Proportion of UK exporters reporting increased export sales (29%) was largely unchanged for the 4th quarter running

• Proportion reporting decreased sales historically high at 25%, also little changed since 1 year ago in Q1 2021

• Exporters more likely that non-exporters to expect increases to their prices in coming months

Read More

Spring Statement: Chancellor must act now to ease ‘cost of doing business crisis’

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the Chancellor to take bold and decisive action in his Spring Statement to tackle the escalating cost of doing business crisis.

Read More

BCC Forecast: UK economic growth to halve this year as domestic & global headwinds soar

UK economic growth is expected to halve this year amid soaring inflation, major tax rises, and global shocks - including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Read More

BCC Research Finds Little Love for EU Trade Deal

• 71% of exporters say EU trade deal is not enabling them to grow or increase sales

• Only 1 in 8 exporters think it is helping them grow or increase sales


• Majority think it has pushed up costs, increased paperwork and delays, and put the UK at a competitive disadvantage.

Read More

Surging Inflation a Key Risk to UK Growth Prospects

Commenting on the inflation statistics for January 2022, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Head of Economics at the BCC Suren Thiru, said:

“Rising inflation highlights both the cost-of-living crisis facing households and the uphill struggle for businesses to keep a lid on price rises amid surging cost pressures.

Read More

3 in 4 Firms Raising Prices as Chancellor warned of ‘Cost of Doing Business Crisis’


• 73% of firms in a new survey say they are raising prices in response to rising costs

• More than 3 in 5 (62%) cite soaring energy bills as driving factor, rising to 75% for manufacturers

• 63% site increased wage bills as driving prices rises

• British Chambers of Commerce call on the Chancellor to adopt their five-point plan to address these challenges. These include a temporary energy price cap for small businesses and the extension of the financial support announced for households last week to include small firms

The British Chambers of Commerce has warned the Treasury of an impending ‘cost of doing business crisis’. A new survey of more than 1,000 businesses, showed that firms across the country are under intense pressure from a variety of costs. It found that prices were likely to rise as a result, further fuelling the cost-of-living crisis for households.

In response to the new research, BCC Director General, Shevaun Haviland, has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak warning of the dangers facing firms. The British Chambers of Commerce has outlined a five-point plan, which if implemented, will help businesses to weather the current conditions and keep price rises under control. These measures included a temporary energy price cap for small businesses, extending the Chancellor’s energy bills rebate scheme for households to smaller businesses and delaying the planned National Insurance rise by 1 year.

Survey Results

When firms were asked if their business was facing pressure to raise prices from a variety of sources the results were as follows: 

Read More

‘First step must now become leaps and bounds’ – BCC on Levelling Up White Paper

Responding to the publication of the Levelling Up White Paper, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:


“This is an important first step in putting local economic prosperity at the heart of Government policy.

Read More

BCC Says More Must be Done to improve UK-EU Trade

On the second anniversary of Brexit, and with huge lorry queues being reported at Dover last week, the BCC is calling for urgent action to improve trade with Europe.

Read More

New generation of exporters needed to power economic growth - BCC Trade Manifesto

The British Chambers of Commerce is today setting out its manifesto to recruit legions of new UK exporters as its research continues to show poor overseas trade growth:

• In Q4 of 2021, just over a quarter of exporting firms (29%) saw their overseas sales increase

• Almost half (47%) saw no change, and a quarter (24%) reported a decrease

• This is despite substantially more firms reporting improved domestic conditions, with 45% confirming increased UK sales in Q4

Read More

BCC finds rising cyber-attack fears in hybrid working world


• More than half of firms believe their exposure to attack has increased due to working from home arrangements

• One in 10 firms have been the victim of a cyber-attack in the last year

• This rises to more than one in seven for larger firms with more than 50 employees

• Only one in five firms have cyber-security accreditations in place

Read More

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q4 2021: Recovery weakening as inflation worries soar

• 58% of firms expect their prices to increase in the next three months, the highest on record. 66% of businesses cited inflation as a concern, also a record high
• 1 in 4 (27%) firms were worried about rising interest rates, as concerns over rate hikes among manufacturers reach record high
• Just under half of firms (45%) reported increased domestic sales in Q4, compared to 47% in Q3

Read More

45% of Firms Facing Difficulties Trading with EU Under Post-Brexit Trade Agreement


• 45% of firms in a new survey reported difficulties adapting to changes in rules for buying or selling goods brought about by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), while 15% reported that this was easy

• Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) said they faced difficulties of buying or selling services, while 14% found it easy

• 1 in 5 (20%) reported difficulties moving people, while 8% found it easy

• The BCC also launched a report alongside the survey which explores solutions to the issues

Read More

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