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...

Recruitment intentions were strong in the first quarter of the year but nearly 75% of firms reported a shortage of suitable candidates, according to the landmark publication of the Quarterly Recruitment Outlook released today (Wednesday) by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in partnership with Totaljobs. Over half (53%) of UK businesses attempted to recruit new hires in the first quarter of ...

The UK economy grew 0.5% in the first three months of 2019, according to the latest figures released today by the Office for National Statistics. The figure was up 0.2% on the previous quarter – but the ONS said the figure had been driven by manufacturers rushing to deliver orders before the original Brexit deadline of 29 March. Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerc...

The Somerset Education Business Partnership (EBP) Awards 2019, attended by over 130 guests from schools, businesses and education providers across Somerset, were held at The Canalside in Bridgwater. The awards recognised businesses, employees, teachers and students from Taunton, Yeovil, Minehead and across the county, who are committed to developing a skilled local workforce, inspiring young peop...

Local businesses are being invited to celebrate the new-look Somerset Business Awards 2019 at the official launch at the Museum of Somerset later this month. As well as a glass of bubbly and a gourmet buffet, the evening on 30th May will include the chance to network with sponsors, previous winners and other finalists and entrants. It will also see the official launch of the new Somerset Busines...

Business believes that the UK tax system is fundamentally unfair and wants more support to stay compliant, according to new research released today (Tuesday) by the British Chambers of Commerce. The BCC survey of over 1,000 firms from across the UK, found that nearly three-fifths (58%) of respondents thought that the UK tax regime was unfair to businesses like theirs. The findings largely signal...

SPEAKERS from the Bank of England and Merchant Banking business Salamanca Group will be joined by Hinkley Point C and British Chambers of Commerce representatives to give a critical insight into the state of the Somerset economy and forecasts for the future at a half-day event in May.The Somerset Economic Update, organised by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, is aimed at decision-makers an...