IMPORTANT eCERT UPDATE

07th May 2026

Please be advised that, when submitting documentation via eCert, applications created prior to 1st May 2026 MUST NOT be reused or copied. All submissions must be completed as NEW applications. Additionally, please note that Box 6 (Certificates of Origin) and Box 8 (EUR1 forms) are no longer divided into...

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King’s Speech Must Fix Broken Business Rates

07th May 2026

The BCC is calling on the Government to grab the chance to fix the UK’s broken business rates system in its legislative agenda for the King’s Speech.  It is raising the alarm as anxiety about business rates rose to 41% in its Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) for Q1 2026....

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Bank Facing Interest Rate Dilemma

30th April 2026

Responding to the latest Bank of England interest rate decision, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Holding the interest rate at 3.75% was the sensible call given the current geopolitical situation. The MPC is right to emphasise that monetary policy can not address...

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Conflict Cuts Middle East Trade By One Fifth

29th April 2026

New data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has revealed a 20% drop in export activity to the Middle East as conflict escalated in March. The findings are based on the number of certificates of origin issued by Chambers of Commerce. These are a key customs document required,...

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UK’s Economic Security At Risk

27th April 2026

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging Government to prioritise the UK’s economic security, after 10 years of geopolitical shocks have repeatedly damaged growth. Businesses in the UK have been left permanently bruised by the Pandemic, Brexit, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, supply chain chaos and...

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Hospitality & Heritage at Genting Casino Westcliff

24th April 2026

Our business community recently had a fantastic opportunity to experience the luxurious surroundings of the newly refurbished Genting Casino Westcliff. We were delighted to welcome so many valued businesses to connect and enjoy the exceptional hospitality of the casino team. We’ve hosted several networking events at Genting Casino Westcliff...

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Iran Conflict Deepens Inflation Concerns

22nd April 2026

Responding to the latest inflation data, published this morning by the Office for National Statistics, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s 3.3% inflation figure for March is an early signal that the Iran conflict is feeding through into official data and impacting...

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Skills Planning Vital To Tackle Gen Z Drift

20th April 2026

A new report on a pioneering scheme for business-led skills planning in England has identified a pressing need to better engage Generation Z with the workplace.   The analysis of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) found they have engaged thousands of people and employers in the training and education that firms...

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National Living Wage Consultation

16th April 2026

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) has opened its annual consultation on the National Living Wage (NLW) and wider minimum wage policy. This year, the LPC is seeking evidence on the impact of the April 2026 increase, the effects on youth employment, and the outlook for apprenticeships. Full information on...

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Exports Remain Flat As Economy Grows

16th April 2026

Commenting on the latest trade data released by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “February was a weak month for UK exports, even before the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. The one high point was increased goods sales to the...

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