Local Support, International Reach
Confidence among firms remained fragile at the start of 2026, despite some small shoots of recovery, according to the UK’s largest business sentiment survey. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey also shows labour costs continued to be the biggest cost concern for businesses in Q1, followed...
Read moreThe Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) will today (Thursday March 26) rally businesses to respond to rising geopolitical instability by deepening trade rather than retreating. Shevaun Haviland will tell delegates at the BCC’s Driving International Trade Conference in central London that: “The global economy is...
Read moreResponding to the latest inflation data, published this morning by the Office for National Statistics, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “For businesses across the UK, today’s inflation data represents the calm before the storm. “CPI of 3% in February shows an economy yet...
Read moreReacting to the publication of the UK Government’s Steel Strategy and its decision on new import quotas and tariffs from 1 July, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “The Steel Strategy provides businesses with a clear vision on the government’s aims for competitiveness and resilience...
Read moreReacting to the latest interest rate decision, by the Bank of England, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The geopolitical kaleidoscope has been dramatically shaken since the Bank last met to set the interest rate. Today’s decision to hold rates at 3.75% was...
Read moreReacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “With unemployment at 5.2% for the quarter, and expectations it will continue to rise, there are clear signs that pressure is growing on the labour market. Our latest forecast expects it...
Read moreMore than half of UK firms (54%) are now actively using AI, according to new research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), in partnership with Atos, showing a major jump in tech adoption. Previous BCC research found that 35% of firms were using AI in 2025, up from...
Read moreReacting to today’s speech by the Chancellor at the Mais Lecture, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “The three key priorities in the Chancellor’s speech will resonate with many businesses as they fight to get on the front foot. “Investing in our regional economies, promoting AI and...
Read moreThe board of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has unanimously elected Michael Hayman MBE DL as the new Chair of the organisation. Michael, who joined the BCC board in October last year, succeeds Sarah Howard MBE who has served as Chair for the last six and a half...
Read moreCommenting on the first trade data release of 2026 by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Goods exports trade with the EU and the rest of the world, excluding the United States of America, showed solid growth...
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