Commenting on the announcement that the UK and EU negotiators have come to an agreement, Dr Adam Marshall of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “Business communities will recognise the huge efforts by UK and EU negotiators to reach an agreement. Understandably, many businesses will reserve judgment until they see the detail.      “Businesses need a chance to analyse precisely...

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has automatically registered 95,000 VAT-registered businesses for its simplified import procedures allowing most traders up to six months to pay import duties and submit customs declarations, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal on 31 October. The scheme, known as Transitional Simplified Procedures (TSP), will make importing after Brexit on 31 October much simpler,...

Commenting on the Queen’s Speech opening a new session of Parliament, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Our message to Government is simple: put the economy at the forefront of your agenda. These are unnerving times for businesses facing Brexit uncertainty, global headwinds and a UK economy in stasis. The Government’s economic plan must be grounde...

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Bibby Financial Services (BFS) have revealed that uncertainty around Brexit, tariffs and exchange rate volatility are holding back the potential of many UK exporters. A recent survey of 1,140 internationally active UK businesses found that general uncertainty around Brexit was considered the top barrier to export, listed by almost half (47%) of businesse...

HALF of the respondents to Somerset Chamber of Commerce’s broadband survey said their poor internet connections were already restricting their businesses – almost 10% said they had no broadband coverage at all, with some firms in Mendip and West Somerset relying on 4G and those in South Somerset turning to satellite provision. The survey, run in partnership with ultra-fast broadband provider ...

Experts from the world of technology and digital innovation gave a fascinating insight into current and future trends at Somerset Chamber’s Digital Trends and Innovation event held at Strode College on Wednesday, 2 October. Guest speakers included representatives from Strode College, ultra-fast broadband provider Truespeed, law firm Clerksroom and demand economics specialists Kaiasm. The audie...

Screening and seating experts Incatext Ltd, of Beacon Works, Main Road, Weston-super-Mare, were the winners of the Chamber’s prize draw to win a hamper packed with Somerset goodies. Jenn Chidley-Sanders, the Chamber’s Member Engagement and Policy Manager, presented the hamper to Vicki Sinclair, Director and Matt Hill, Sales Director. Incatext Ltd was chosen at random to win the hamper from t...

THE finalists have been announced in this year’s prestigious Somerset Business Awards, with companies, charities and individuals from across the county vying for the honours. Judges faced a tough time whittling down a record-breaking number of entries in this year’s awards, which are run annually by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce. The 2019 finalists come from all corners of the county, fro...

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 31 October.    The leading business group has found that, at the time of publication, 31 of 36 business-critical areas are still marked amber or red, indicating that firms have incomplete or insuffici...

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 overriding impacts of staff absences are operational (88%) and on staff morale (76%) according to the results of the survey of over 1,000 businesses of all sizes and across all sectors....

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has today (Monday) released its latest economic forecast, downgrading growth expectations for the UK in 2019 to 1.2% (from 1.3%) and to 0.8% (from 1.0%) for 2020. The GDP growth forecast of 1.2% remains unchanged for 2021. While the BCC expects the UK economy will avoid a technical recession and return to modest growth in the third quarter, downgrades to its...

The British Chambers of Commerce has published new research demonstrating some of the potential real-world consequences of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on the 31 October. A survey of over 1,500 companies by the leading business group - covering of all sizes and sectors of business, across the UK - found that in the event of a ‘no deal’ exit on 31st October, nearly a quarter of firms s...

A THIRD of Somerset businesses which have already responded to a Somerset Chamber of Commerce broadband survey experience daily drop-outs in their internet service. Buffering causes major problems for many, while almost a quarter of the respondents, so far, reported problems simply sending or receiving emails. Half of those who had completed the survey, to date, said their existing internet speed...

The economy is still weak and while a recession looks set to be avoided in this quarter, the outlook remains challenging, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said today. Commenting on the latest UK GDP statistics, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Suren said: “Although there was a rise in GDP between June and July, the zero-growth recorde...

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. The survey of over 1,500 firms from across t...