AI Investment Vital For UK’s Economic Future 

24th October 2026

Reacting to Government plans to boost the UK’s AI capabilities and defences, Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “This is a strong package of measures to support the UK’s AI resilience and spread its benefits more widely in every postcode. We are already...

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Red Tape Cuts a Welcome First Step

23rd October 2026

Reacting to Government plans to cut the thicket of red tape that businesses face, Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses have spent too long battling a rising tide of paperwork and costs when they should be focused on customers, investment and growth....

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Hiring Pain Persists for the Majority of Firms

23rd October 2026

Seven in ten businesses are still reporting recruitment difficulties, despite some easing of hiring conditions over recent months, according to the latest data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). The BCC’s Quarterly Recruitment Outlook shows 71% of firms attempting to hire in Q3 faced difficulties, compared with 73%...

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Inflation Continues to Cast a Shadow over Firms

21st October 2026

Responding to the latest inflation data published by the Office for National Statistics, Caterina Batog, Research and Economics Analyst at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Ahead of next week’s Budget, today’s data showing CPI rose to 3.5% in September is a stark reminder of the growing price pressures...

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Budget Must Help Ease Jobs Market Pressure

20th October 2026

Reacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS, Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:    “While it’s welcome that unemployment eased slightly in the three months to August, the jobless figure remains stubbornly high at 4.7%. “With the number of vacancies...

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Exports Lagging As Economy Grows 

16th October 2026

Reacting to the latest ONS trade data, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “July’s improved export performance was not sustained in August, and for goods trade it almost completely reversed. Looking at the three-month picture, goods exports also fell, with the EU...

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Growth Welcome But More Breathing Space Needed

15th October 2026

Responding to the latest GDP data, published this morning by the Office for National Statistics, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said:  “Ahead of the budget, growth of 0.7% in the three months to August is welcome and a positive indicator of business resilience despite...

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Exporters Remain Under Pressure

14th October 2026

The latest research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Insights Unit, involving over 1,800 exporters, shows the balance of overseas export orders remains in negative territory. The survey, carried out between Tuesday 18 August and Tuesday 15 September, found that 21% of exporters reported an increase in export...

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UK-EU Summit Must Deliver

13th October 2026

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s announcement on a date for the Leaders’ Summit, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “Businesses will be relieved that we have a date for this crunch summit, but the focus must now shift to getting real delivery from this meeting....

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Turnover Confidence Improves But Investment Still Struggling

08th October 2026

Nearly half of firms expect turnover to rise over the next 12 months but investment intentions are stuck at a post-pandemic low. The latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey also shows that, with the Budget just weeks away, inflation remains firms’ top concern, followed by taxation....

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