Chamber News

  • Initial Comment On General Election Outcome
    13th December 2019

      Congratulating the Prime Minister on his election victory, as reported at 7.00am, BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said: “Restoring business, investor and consumer confidence – and firing up the economy – must now be the Prime Minister’s top priority. “Campaign slogans must give way to

  • Weak GDP Growth Forecast For 2020 As Business Investment Falls
    9th December 2019

      UK economic growth in 2020 is forecast to slow to its weakest rate since the financial crisis as higher government spending struggles to offset falling business investment, weakening net trade and sluggish consumer spending.  GDP growth is forecast to

  • British Firms Hit By Power Cuts Even As Electricity Demand Set To Rise
    29th November 2019

      Businesses are hampered by an unreliable electricity supply according to a survey of more than 1,000 business leaders published today by British Chambers of Commerce and Drax. One third (33 per cent) of UK businesses have experienced electricity outages in

  • UK road and rail networks not meeting business needs
    26th November 2019

      Business satisfaction rates fall, underlining need for parties to make good on infrastructure  promises     UK businesses are even less satisfied with UK infrastructure than they were a year ago, according to research published today by the British Chambers of

  • British Chambers of Commerce response to Conservative Party manifesto
    25th November 2019

      In his initial response to the publication of the Conservative Party manifesto, BCC Director General, Dr Adam Marshall said:    “While the Conservative manifesto strikes some of the right notes, business communities across the UK will be looking to see

  • Initial BCC response to Labour Party manifesto
    22nd November 2019

      Responding to the Labour Party manifesto, Director-General Dr Adam Marshall said: “No government can deliver the prosperity that people and public services depend on, or achieve net-zero, without a true partnership with business. When business thrives, people and communities thrive too. “Millions of businesspeople care deeply about their employees and their communities and they need

  • BCC responds to Conservative Party business proposals
    21st November 2019

      Responding to proposals unveiled by the Conservative Party, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Dr Adam Marshall said: Business rates: “We have continually highlighted the damaging impact that upfront business costs are having on companies across the UK – and Chambers

  • BCC/Totaljobs: Skills shortages impacting businesses as labour market remains buoyant
    21st November 2019

      The percentage of UK firms facing recruitment difficulties has returned to previous highs, while one in four businesses expect to increase headcount according to the UK’s largest survey of employers.  Over half (54%) of British businesses recruited in the

  • A majority of UK manufacturing exporters are reporting a stark worsening in sales and orders, with indicators showing a substantial drop compared to 2017 and 2018 levels.
    21st November 2019

      The Quarterly International Trade Outlook for Q3 2019, released by British Chambers of Commerce and DHL today, reveals that indicators for exporting manufacturers in Q3 2019 have undergone large declines, with several key indicators for orders and cashflow now in

  • BCC comments on today’s GDP statistics
    11th November 2019

    Commenting on the GDP statistics for Q3 2019, published today by the ONS, Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:    “While there was welcome confirmation that the UK avoided recession in the third quarter,

  • BCC comments on ONS gender pay gap data
    29th October 2019

      Responding to ONS gender pay gap data published today, Jane Gratton, Head of People Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It’s right that more women in senior roles are being fairly rewarded, but we need more action to ensure women of all ages receive

  • BCC comments on the Queen’s Speech
    15th October 2019

      Commenting on the Queen’s Speech opening a new session of Parliament, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:  “Our message to government is simple: put the economy at the forefront of your agenda. These

  • HMRC accelerates 95,000 firms onto simplified import procedures
    15th October 2019

      HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has automatically registered 95,000 businesses for its simplified import procedures allowing most traders up to six months to pay import duties and submit customs declarations, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal

  • BCC and Bibby Financial Services: Uncertainty around Brexit, tariffs and exchange rates holding back UK exports
    11th October 2019

      The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Bibby Financial Services (BFS) have revealed that uncertainty around Brexit, tariffs and exchange rate volatility are holding back the potential of many UK exporters. The recent survey included 1,140 internationally active UK

  • BCC comments on No-Deal Readiness Report and temporary tariff regime
    9th October 2019

    Commenting on the publication of the No-Deal Readiness Report, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “It’s good that government has got its shoulder to the wheel, but it’s going to have to push a

  • BCC Quarterly Economic Survey Q3 2019: Economic conditions weaken as manufacturing slump continues
    4th October 2019

      The British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey – now in its thirtieth year as the largest UK private sector survey of business sentiment and a leading indicator of UK GDP growth – found that UK economic conditions weakened in the third quarter amid

  • BCC responds to Chancellor’s speech
    1st October 2019

      Responding to the speech by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It’s good to hear the Chancellor committing to significant

  • BCC responds to Jeremy Corbyn’s speech
    25th September 2019

      Commenting on Jeremy Corbyn’s speech at the Labour Party Conference, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:    “While most businesses will welcome Mr Corbyn’s commitment to try to avoid a messy and disorderly Brexit, and this

  • BCC comments on Shadow BEIS Secretary’s speech
    24th September 2019

      Responding to the Shadow Business and Energy Secretary’s speech at the Labour Party Conference, Claire Walker, Co-Executive Director of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  “It’s right for the UK to aspire to be a global leader when it

  • BCC responds to Shadow Chancellor’s speech
    23rd September 2019

    Responding to the Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell’s speech at the Labour Party Conference, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  “Labour and business share key goals, but often differ on how to achieve them. “At

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