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

Across Bedfordshire and beyond, the conversation around skills has never been more urgent.

A recent report by Business Matters highlights what many local employers already know all too well: the UK is facing a critical skills shortage, particularly in trades and technical sectors. Despite strong demand, businesses are struggling to recruit qualified people, and this shortage is putting the brakes on growth and productivity.

With the UK employment skills shortage extending across over 30 domains, according to the Government’s own figures, colleges and other institutions have a critical role to play in identifying where skills fall short and what needs to be done about it.

The nation is in the midst of a serious skills shortage, and it’s costing UK businesses an estimated £6.3bn every year, according to a report by The Open University.

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.

Attempted recruitment in services firms at lowest for 25 years

The British Chambers of Commerce’s quarterly economic survey – the UK’s largest private sector survey of business sentiment, and a lead indicator of UK GDP growth - shows little to be cheerful about as growth flatlines and business confidence weakens.

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.

Luton Council have built a new skills platform, and are now at a stage to add your organisation (if you wish) on to the system.

Luton continues with its ambitious plans to transform the town with the launch of its new skills programme for young people.

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:

Six months after its introduction, businesses remain in the dark about how best to utilise the Apprenticeship Levy, according to a survey released today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), in conjunction with Middlesex University London.

Half of UK businesses have faced skills or labour shortages in the last year, but only a minority are actively looking overseas to fill vacancies, according to a survey released today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), in partnership with Middlesex University London. 

Digital skills are increasingly important to the operation of businesses in the UK but companies are facing a shortage of skills in their workforce

• BCC launches report on ways to boost the number of women entering well-paid, science & technology and engineering careers on International Women’s Day
• Findings based on BCC and Government Equalities Office scheme that worked with more than 1,400 female pupils, 38 businesses and 37 schools across England

‘I found it great as I didn’t have much idea what to do but I have lots of ideas now’

Two-thirds of businesses (69%) believe that secondary schools are not effective at preparing young people for work, according to a major new UK-wide survey of over 3,500 business and education leaders published today by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), just hours before the latest national employment figures are published.

To coincide with the start of the new school term, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has unveiled an ambitious plan to put thousands of young people in England directly in touch with local businesses, to improve the quality of careers advice they receive.

Are you a manufacturing or engineering company based in the LU postcode?  If so, would you be interested in a fully funded student working with you with no financial outlay?

Giving his reaction to the Queen’s Speech delivered today, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

• Manufacturing output rose 1.2% between August and September 2013, while total production increased by 0.9%
• In the three months to September 2013, manufacturing output rose 0.9% over the previous three months, but when compared with a year earlier, there was only a minimal increase (0.1%)

As the Conservative Party Conference gets underway in Manchester, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is today (Monday) issuing a clear message to the Prime Minister and his colleagues to ‘get moving’ on the delivery of pro-growth policies that will benefit the nation as a whole.

Commenting on today’s GCSE results, John Wastnage, Employment and Skills Adviser at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

Commenting on today’s A-Level results, John Wastnage, Employment and Skills Adviser at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:

Ahead of A-Level results, the BCC calls for greater contact between young people and business to help pupils make better informed career choices. The business organisation set all MPs the challenge of finding first hand from employers what prevents them from hiring young people.

Commenting on the announcement of the new framework for delivery of traineeships by Skills Minister Matthew Hancock, Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy and External Affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:

Hypnosis and sales are words rarely seen in the same sentence but Gary Foster, a specialist in sales psychology, can show you how to use some great techniques that will allow you to boost your selling skills.