News

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

BCC comments on inflation figures

Commenting on the inflation statistics for June 2018, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

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BCC: business alarm on potential Brexit VAT bombshell

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:

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BCC: Credit ‘apathy’ restricting potential growth opportunities for SMEs

• 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

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Brexit: time running out for answers to firms’ real-world questions, says BCC

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 

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BCC: Firms in the dark on customs declarations

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:

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BCC Economic Forecast: UK set for weakest year of GDP growth since 2009

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%) 

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BCC: Labour market remains robust, but earnings slowdown concerning

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

Read More

BCC to Prime Minister: Time to 'fix the fundamentals' for UK growth

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.

Read More

Q1 GDP figures show UK stuck in global growth slow lane

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:

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BCC: Half of businesses not seeing improvement in UK mobile network

Only half of businesses believe the UK’s phone network is more reliable than five years ago, according to new research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) released today.

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BCC comments on inflation statistics

Commenting on the inflation statistics for March 2018, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

“Inflation slowed again in March, confirming its downward trajectory. 

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BCC forecast: UK economy remains subdued despite uplift from strong global growth

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.

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BCC reacts to Chancellor’s Spring Statement

Commenting on the Spring Statement, delivered today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

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Adam Marshall: Ambitious growth plan for UK more important to business than Brexit

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.

Read More

BCC launches Chamber Business Awards at London Stock Exchange

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) launched its flagship Chamber Business Awards at the London Stock Exchange. London Chamber of Commerce & Industry members AnyJunk, last year’s winner of the ‘Business of the Year’ award, has the honour of opening the day’s trading.

Read More

BCC: Transition must deliver clarity and certainty for trade

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:

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BCC: Labour market remains strong but skills shortages start to bite

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:

Read More

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey: Skills shortage biggest risk for business

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

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BCC forecast: Uncertainty constraining UK economic growth

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.

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BCC: Currency volatility compounding cost pressures for many businesses

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.

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BCC: Planning system must work better for business

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.

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BCC/DHL: British exporters keep calm and carry on

The British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with DHL, today publishes its latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook, based on survey and documentation data from UK exporters.

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Budget 2017: Full BCC reaction

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

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Budget 2017: Welcome action on business basics – but more to do on bigger picture

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

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BCC: Tackle broken business rates system, Chancellor

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.

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BCC: UK’s weak trade position shows no signs of improving

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:

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BCC comments on MPC decision

Commenting on today’s interest rate decision by the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, Mike Spicer, Director of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

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BCC Budget Submission

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget on November 22, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the government to take immediate action to halt the expected 3.9% increase in business rates valuations next year, as part of a bold Budget that seeks to boost the UK’s productivity.

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BCC comments on inflation figures

Commenting on the inflation statistics for June 2018, published today by the Office for National Statistics, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

BCC: business alarm on potential Brexit VAT bombshell

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:

Read More

BCC: Credit ‘apathy’ restricting potential growth opportunities for SMEs

• 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

Read More

Brexit: time running out for answers to firms’ real-world questions, says BCC

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 

Read More

BCC: Firms in the dark on customs declarations

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:

Read More

BCC Economic Forecast: UK set for weakest year of GDP growth since 2009

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%) 

Read More

BCC: Labour market remains robust, but earnings slowdown concerning

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

Read More

BCC to Prime Minister: Time to 'fix the fundamentals' for UK growth

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.

Read More

Q1 GDP figures show UK stuck in global growth slow lane

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:

Read More

BCC: Half of businesses not seeing improvement in UK mobile network

Only half of businesses believe the UK’s phone network is more reliable than five years ago, according to new research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) released today.

Read More

BCC forecast: UK economy remains subdued despite uplift from strong global growth

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.

Read More

BCC reacts to Chancellor’s Spring Statement

Commenting on the Spring Statement, delivered today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Read More

Adam Marshall: Ambitious growth plan for UK more important to business than Brexit

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.

Read More

BCC launches Chamber Business Awards at London Stock Exchange

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) launched its flagship Chamber Business Awards at the London Stock Exchange. London Chamber of Commerce & Industry members AnyJunk, last year’s winner of the ‘Business of the Year’ award, has the honour of opening the day’s trading.

Read More

BCC: Transition must deliver clarity and certainty for trade

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:

Read More

BCC: Labour market remains strong but skills shortages start to bite

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:

Read More

BCC Quarterly Economic Survey: Skills shortage biggest risk for business

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

Read More

BCC forecast: Uncertainty constraining UK economic growth

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.

Read More

BCC: Currency volatility compounding cost pressures for many businesses

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.

Read More

BCC: Planning system must work better for business

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.

Read More

BCC/DHL: British exporters keep calm and carry on

The British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with DHL, today publishes its latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook, based on survey and documentation data from UK exporters.

Read More

Budget 2017: Full BCC reaction

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

Read More

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