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

Loan schemes still slow to help many cash-strapped firms – but furlough scheme preventing redundancies

Results from the latest BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that the vast majority of businesses surveyed have furloughed a proportion of their workforce, and are awaiting funds from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as payday approaches for many.

Commenting on news that applications are now open for the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:

“The opening of the Job Retention scheme 

Commenting on the Chancellor’s announcement today (17 April) that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be extended by one month until the end of June, BCC director general Adam Marshall said:

Results from the BCC’s first Covid-19 Business Impact Tracker paints a concerning, if unsurprising, picture for business communities affected by Coronavirus.

Commenting on the Coronavirus outbreak and its impact on business, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:

“Businesses are increasingly managing the economic impacts of Coronavirus, from shipping and travel restrictions to increased freight costs and supply chain disruption. 

Commenting on the government’s policy proposals for a points-based immigration system, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:

“The speed and scale of these changes will require significant adjustment by businesses.

Over half of UK firms attempted to recruit in the last quarter of 2019, but almost three quarters have struggled to find the right talent, the largest survey of UK employers has found.

As the UK marks its official departure from the European Union, and the start of an 11-month transition period, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“In our business communities, this historic moment will bring a mixture of regret for some and celebration for others

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey reveals that the UK ended 2019 in stagnation, amid long term uncertainty, rising business costs and a slowing global economy. 

Commenting on the appointment of Andrew Bailey, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:   

Commenting on the Queen’s Speech today, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Bibby Financial Services (BFS) have revealed that uncertainty around Brexit, tariffs and exchange rate volatility

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey – now in its thirtieth year as the largest UK private sector survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth

Essential, a family owned and operated business supplying branded apparel and corporate clothing from Dunstable, has been crowned one of the winners in the East of England heats of the Chamber Business Awards 2019.

The British Chambers of Commerce today publishes an evaluation of official UK Government guidance to businesses on critical operational issues in the event of an unwanted ‘no deal’ exit on 31st October.

Over two-fifths (43%) of businesses have had employees absent from work for more than four weeks due to ill health in the last two years, according to new research by the British Chambers of Commerce and Unum. 

The British Chambers of Commerce has today released its latest economic forecast, downgrading growth expectations for the UK in 2019 to 1.2%

Commenting on the latest UK GDP statistics, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“Although there was a rise in GDP between June and July, the zero-growth recorded on the underlying three-month measure points to an economy under pressure

New research from the British Chambers of Commerce shows a concerningly high number of UK firms aren’t ready for a no deal Brexit. Business has consistently called on government to avoid a messy and disorderly exit but in light of the political turmoil and relentless uncertainty, clearer and more consistent information is needed to help them prepare.

Responding to the latest Westminster developments, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“Businesses feel like Westminster is playing an endless game of political chess, while their futures and the health of the UK economy hang in the balance.

Commenting on the government announcement on proposals to simplify planning rules to improve rural mobile coverage, Mike Spicer, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook from the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with Totaljobs, finds that recruitment intentions strengthened in the second quarter of 2019, while difficulties finding suitable staff eased, but remain high by historic standards.

Today the British Chambers of Commerce – which represents 75,000 firms of all sizes and sectors, employing 6 million people – has written to incoming Prime Minister Boris Johnson setting out 15 urgent, immediate steps that the PM must address on arrival in Downing Street to boost business confidence and stimulate the UK economy.

Commenting on the announcement that Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP has won the Conservative leadership contest and will be the next Prime Minister, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Commenting on the inflation statistics for June 2019, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“Inflation held steady in June, as the upward pressures from clothing and food were offset by weaker outturns in several price categories

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey – the largest private sector survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth, closely watched by policymakers including the Bank of England – finds that underlying economic conditions remained stagnant in the second quarter of 2019.

New research by the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with global job site Indeed, reveals the increasing time it’s taking businesses to recruit the skills they need, emphasising the importance of removing blockers in the training system to develop a pipeline of talent.

Commenting on the inflation statistics for May 2019, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: 

“The easing in consumer prices in May is further evidence