Business Rates Anxiety Hits Record High 

09th January 2026

The BCC is calling on the Treasury to rethink its plans for business rates as anxiety about changes to the system in April reaches record levels.  In the BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) Q4 2025, a third of firms (34%) said they are worried about business rates. This is...

Read more

Budget Must Kickstart Sluggish Economy

13th November 2025

Reacting to the latest GDP data published this morning by the ONS, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said:  “With a backdrop of weak business and investment confidence, sluggish Q3 growth of just 0.1% is unsurprising.  “But the data suggests the cyber-attack on JLR hit...

Read more

September Trade Slump Rounds Off Weak Q3 

13th November 2025

Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said:  “September was a poor month for UK trade. Goods exports fell to the US, EU and the rest of the world. The impacts of the JLR cyber-attack were clearly felt in a slump in...

Read more

Festival of Business 2025 – An Unprecedented Success!

13th November 2025

Wednesday 5 November 2025 was truly a day to remember as the Essex Chambers returned to Chelmsford City Racecourse for our fourth Festival of Business, and what a spectacular day it was. Anticipation for this year’s premier business event had been building for weeks. The whole Essex Chambers team...

Read more

UK Exports To US Hit 3-Year Low

14th August 2025

UK Exports To US Hit 3-Year Low Commenting on the latest ONS trade data, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said: “Tariff effects are clearly being felt by companies exporting to the US. Total goods exports across the Atlantic for Q2 2025 were 13.5% lower than a year...

Read more

MPs Urged to Back Key ERB Amendments 

25th July 2025

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on MPs to support key amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, when it returns to the Commons. Several changes to the legislation, which were proposed during this week’s Report Stage in the House of Lords, have the backing of the BCC....

Read more

Summit Marks New Beginning 

19th May 2025

Responding to the deal agreed at the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:   “Today’s summit marks a turning point in UK/EU relations which puts our trade relationship at the forefront of our partnership going forward.  “For four years, businesses have fought...

Read more

EU Reset Must Cut Shackles From Business

19th May 2025

The British Chambers of Commerce is calling for Monday’s EU reset summit to mark a sea change in the UK’s trade relationship with Europe so business can prosper.  The BCC wants to see seven vital changes made to the Brexit deal which are based on its four years of...

Read more

Labour Market Update: Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners – February 2025

19th February 2025

Yesterday, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released the latest labour market data including insights on the unemployment rate, economic inactivity, vacancies, and pay growth. Recruitment experts, Pertemps, have produced a summary of the data for small businesses. Overall trends – February 2025 Market Overview: Between October and December...

Read more

Essex Chambers of Commerce are Proud to Announce Essex County Council as Headline Sponsors for the Festival of Business 2024

27th September 2024

The Essex Chambers of Commerce are excited to announce Essex County Council as the headline sponsor of this year’s Festival of Business. Taking place at Chelmsford City Racecourse on Wednesday 13 November, the event will bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts from across the county and beyond,...

Read more