Customs Procedures Still Holding Back UK Exports

13th November 2024

Customs procedures continue to be the main export hurdle for UK companies, according to a major new survey of businesses by the British Chambers of Commerce Insights Unit, published during International Trade Week. Over 1,300 businesses took part in the online survey during July and early August. Top perceived...

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SME Divide Revealed on Environmental Targets

11th November 2024

Ahead of COP 29, the UN Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) research has found a clear divide among SMEs on environmental targets. The survey, by the BCC’s award-winning Insights Unit, shows around half of firms with more than 50 employees say they have a...

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Rate Respite for Businesses after Tough Budget

08th November 2024

Responding to the latest interest rate decision by the Bank of England, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “As businesses continue to digest the difficult implications of last week’s Budget, a further interest rate cut is some good news for firms. “The cost...

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New taskforce launched to map out North Sea energy transition

07th November 2024

A new independent taskforce will be launched to map out an orderly transition for the North Sea that will safeguard tens of thousands of jobs and help secure its long-term future as a critical national asset. The North Sea Transition Taskforce will be led by Philip Rycroft, a former...

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Tough Budget For Business

30th October 2024

Reacting to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “This is a tough budget for business to swallow but the Chancellor has looked to ease the pain by holding out a promise of better days ahead. “While some protection for smaller firms is welcome,...

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Government Action Needed to Boost Vital £32bn Visitor Economy

29th October 2024

Strong industry-Government partnerships are key to ensuring the UK’s visitor economy continues to thrive, according to a new report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts. To help grow the tourism, hospitality, events and attractions industries, the report makes a series of...

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Tax Reform Can Ease Workplace Health Crisis 

28th October 2024

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging the Chancellor to ease the workplace health crisis by reforming the tax system. Its two calls ahead of the Autumn Budget are: BCC research has found that only one third of businesses (36%) currently offer staff well-being or occupational health support...

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‘Brand Britain’: Down, But Far From Out. New Report Unveils Its Enduring Distinctiveness. 

24th October 2024

Brand Britain is still valued by both business and the public, despite an increasingly competitive global landscape, according to a landmark report by global branding agency Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR) and market research organisation Ipsos, in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). The ‘Be Distinctive Britain’ report...

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SME Exporters Fighting To Make Headway

22nd October 2024

The Trade Confidence Outlook, conducted by the BCC’s Insights Unit, is a survey of just under 2,000 UK SME exporters.      It shows the percentage of SME exporters reporting increased exports has fallen back in Q3 by five percentage points after an uptick in Q2. Overall, 22% of SME exporters...

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Labour Market Remains In Flux

15th October 2024

Responding to the latest ONS labour market statistics, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  “With vacancies continuing to fall and the pace of wage rises slowing, it would appear there are further signs of the labour market loosening. “It’s good to see...

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