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. Today the BCC and Indeed also release The Hiring Handbook to help businesses find and recruit the best people. Hal...

Ambitious plans for business growth, more jobs and sustainable transport links in the Somer Valley area have been given a boost with additional investment from the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). WECA approved the outline business case for the £12m Somer Valley Enterprise Zone and awarded £746,000 to Bath & North East Somerset Council to support the £1.151m development phase for...

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 he believed inflation would remain muted and close to the Bank of England’s 2% target. He said: “The easing in consumer prices in May is further evidence that the current trajectory for inflation remains mute...

Are my plans for expansion more important than my investment in staff training? I’ve only been in business six months, is it worth me entering? So, what makes an outstanding achievement? If you’re thinking about entering the Somerset Business Awards 2019, these are just some of the questions our expert panel will be able to help you with at our popular Somerset Business Awards: The Benefits o...

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today (Monday) released its latest economic forecast, upgrading its growth expectations for the UK in 2019 to 1.3% (from 1.2%). However, the leading business group has downgraded its growth forecast for 2020 to 1.0% (from 1.3%) and to 1.2% (from 1.4%) in 2021. The BCC slightly upgraded its growth forecast for 2019, driven by the exceptionally rapid stock...

The media focus may be on who is in the running for the leadership of the Conservative Party, but outside of the spotlight, Chambers of Commerce across the country are still working with both members and the British Chambers of Commerce to prepare for Brexit and the current ongoing uncertainty. Since the referendum in 2016, the Chamber of Commerce Network has been working with members to identify...

The A303 and A358 should be upgraded as a single project, not in piecemeal developments, to ensure businesses feel the full benefit, according to Stephen Henagulph, Chief Executive of Somerset Chamber of Commerce. Mr Henagulph said he remained frustrated the A303 and A358 upgrade was being looked at as eight individual schemes with just three earmarked to be progressed in the current funding roun...

Somerset Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Executive, Stephen Henagulph, joined civic dignitaries, business leaders and directors from London-based Merchant Banking business Salamanca Group for the official turf cutting ceremony at the Gravity site at Junction 23 of the M5. The 635-acres former Royal Ordnance Factory site near Bridgwater is being developed by Salamanca into a ‘clean growth’ enter...

 SOMERSET Chamber of Commerce Marketing Executive, Scarlett Scott-Collins, was among a select group of ‘rising stars’ from across the Chamber network who were chosen to attend the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace at the end of last month. Each year, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) puts forward a handful of Chamber representatives from across the country to attend the Ga...

A FAMILIAR face will be returning to host the Somerset Business Awards this year – but at a new venue and with new categories, while the prestigious awards themselves have a completely new look, website and logo. Organised by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, the annual awards, which are free for all Somerset businesses to enter, were officially launched at a reception for past winners and awar...

THERE was mixed news for businesses at Somerset Chamber of Commerce’s annual Somerset Economic Update event yesterday (Thursday, May 23) when details of a £1bn investment in the South West was tempered by warnings of the negative impact of the continuing Brexit uncertainty. Around 80 business leaders were given a critical insight into the state of the Somerset economy and forecasts for the fut...

Responding to the announcement that Theresa May will step down as Prime Minister, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “We wish the Prime Minister well and thank her for her decades of public service. “Businesses must be reassured that a change at the top in Downing Street does not simply usher in a longer period of posturing and gesture politics. W...

More UK exporters are reporting a decrease in orders in the opening quarter of the year, with cashflow and confidence dipping too, according to the latest Quarterly International Trade Outlook from the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with DHL.  The report based on the responses of over 3,400 exporters shows that one in five manufacturers (23%) and service firms (20%) saw their expor...

More than 140 business leaders from across the county attended the launch of an initiative which will boost high-growth businesses across Somerset as part of a new partnership between Somerset Chamber of Commerce and support organisation Inspire. Inspire has already been running successfully across the border in Wiltshire, spearheaded by Wessex Chambers and that knowledge will now be brought to S...

Mental Health Awareness Week runs until 19th May and Somerset Chamber members can benefit from the expertise provided by the national BCC scheme Quest which offers members access to a wide range of HR, Legal and Health & Safety support. Quest’s team can offer advice on managing and supporting mental health at work, including training schemes for employers and how to encourage employees to d...