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

Speaking after news that the Trade and Co-operation Agreeement has been ratified, Hannah Essex, Co-Executive Director of the BCC, said:

“While there may be relief that the ratification of the TCA has gone smoothly, the reality is that the changes within the agreement have been operational now for almost four months.

Commenting on GDP figures for February 2021 published by the ONS, BCC Head of Economics, Suren Thiru, said:

“The latest data confirms a modest return to growth in February. However, coming after a contraction in January, it does little to alter the prospect of a downbeat first quarter for the UK economy.

The British Chamber of Commerce has signed the Armed Forces Covenant in a virtual signing event attended by the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Simon Brooks-Ward CVO OBE TD VR.

Sarah Howard MBE believes women in business have a lot to be proud of but more needs to be done to make sure their voices are heard, especially in company boardrooms.

The Board of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today announced the appointment of Shevaun Haviland as the new Director General of the organisation.

Giving his reaction to the Chancellor’s budget, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the BCC, said:

“There’s much to welcome in this Budget for business communities across the UK. The Chancellor has listened and acted on our calls for immediate support to help struggling businesses reach the finish line of this gruelling marathon and to begin their recovery.

Giving his reaction to the Chancellor’s budget, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the BCC, said:

“There’s much to welcome in this Budget for business communities across the UK. The Chancellor has listened and acted on our calls for immediate support to help struggling businesses reach the finish line of this gruelling marathon and to begin their recovery.

Commenting on the announcement of the fund, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the BCC, said: 
 
“This is a welcome first step in dealing with some of the major issues that small businesses trading with the EU are facing.

Results from the first major business survey for 2021 by the British Chambers of Commerce on Brexit found that half (49%) of  exporters  are  facing difficulties in adapting to the changes in the trade of goods following the ratification of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) on 1 January 2021. 

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) – the UK’s largest independent survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth – found that business conditions remained weak in the fourth quarter as the second lockdown squeezed activity.

 
Commenting on the support measures for business announced by the Chancellor, BCC Director General, Adam Marshall said:   
 
'While this immediate cash flow support for business is welcome, it is not going to be enough to save many firms.

British Chambers of Commerce calls for the government to give businesses more evidence, support and clarity to weather Coronavirus restrictions and help power our economic recovery. 

National restrictions continue to significantly affect businesses across the country. While non-essential retail, hospitality and leisure businesses have had to temporarily close during lockdown, those businesses which are still operating will also have been heavily affected by the pandemic.

Commenting on the government’s updated Border Operating Model, published today, BCC Director of Trade Facilitation Liam Smyth said: 

The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES)

Responding to The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP’s announcement of a Winter Economic Plan, including a new raft of measures to support businesses and the economy as the pandemic continues, BCC Director General Adam Marshall said:

The Board of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today announced that Director General Dr Adam Marshall will leave the organisation in the Spring of 2021.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, BCC President Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith has said businesses face “the most difficult trading conditions in post-war history” and set out a series of measures

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement of further easing of Coronavirus restrictions from July 4 in England, including the reopening of culture, tourism and leisure venues

An exciting new business funding matching tool looking to revolutionise access to finance for businesses in Bedfordshire is released today 

Results from the latest BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that the majority of firms surveyed are in a position to partially restart

Results from the latest BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that firms are ready for a gradual reopening of the economy but

Results from the latest BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal the vast majority of firms surveyed say they will require three weeks or less 

Open letter to Prime Minister published as government mulls plan to lift lockdown

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.