BCC WELCOMES NEW ERA OF ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY

20th March 2025

Reacting to a speech by the Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, at the BCC’s Driving International Trade Conference, Director General, Shevaun Haviland, said: “The Foreign Secretary’s announcements on a closer working relationship with UK business will be music to their ears. “Quarterly meetings, trade roadshows, better intelligence sharing, and a...

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Bank Continues Along Monetary Policy Tightrope

20th March 2025

Reacting to the latest interest rate decision by the Bank of England, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Today’s widely expected interest rate hold highlights the tightrope the Bank is walking, in the face of mounting global uncertainty and rising cost pressures. “Our...

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Labour Pressures Continue for Businesses

20th March 2025

Reacting to the latest labour market data, published by the ONS this morning, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The labour market remains a significant challenge for employers who are struggling with skills shortages, higher wage costs and the imminent hike in...

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BCC Director General calls for ‘new settlement with our closest neighbours’

20th March 2025

The Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Shevaun Haviland, is urging the Government to accelerate efforts to reset UK/EU relations to quickly remove trade barriers for businesses. She will make the plea at the BCC Driving International Trade Conference 2025 on Thursday March 20 in Central...

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Growth Suffers As Firms Face Choppy Waters Ahead

14th March 2025

Responding to the latest GDP data released by the ONS, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “With businesses facing an impending avalanche of cost pressures, it’s unsurprising that growth is in trouble. With GDP shrinking in January and an expansion of just 0.2% for...

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Essex Chambers are Proud to Announce Ambitious Essex as the Main Sponsor for the Festival of Business 2025

13th March 2025

The Essex Chambers of Commerce is delighted to announce Ambitious Essex as the main sponsor for this year’s highly anticipated Festival of Business 2025. Join us at Chelmsford City Racecourse on Wednesday 5 November, for our flagship event and highlight in the regional business calendar, bringing together leading enterprises...

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Surgical Red-Tape Cuts Can Boost Business

13th March 2025

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech on regulation and civil service reform, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses want regulation which supports rather than hampers them – and we’re encouraged by the Prime Minister’s speech. “A pledge to cut red tape and unnecessary...

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US Tariffs Hit UK Business

12th March 2025

Reacting to the introduction of 25 percent tariffs on exports of UK steel and aluminium to the United States, William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, said: “This is a difficult day for trans-Atlantic trade and plunges businesses, in both the US and UK, into a new age of...

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Planning and Infrastructure Reform Must Benefit Business

12th March 2025

Responding to the unveiling of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the BCC, said:  “It’s encouraging to see the Government has heeded our calls to tackle the problems of the UK’s worn-out infrastructure to fire up growth.  “These reforms have great potential...

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UK Must Transform Archaic Infrastructure

10th March 2025

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on the Government to tackle the problems of the UK’s worn-out infrastructure to fire up growth. Among the recommendations in a new report the BCC is calling for ministers to: The report has been produced by the BCC’s Local Economy of...

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