Latest Updates From Surrey Chambers CEO – July 29th 2021
29th July 2021
Complicated Skills and employment situation As Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, it may seem surprising that Chamber member businesses across most sectors and regions are reporting widespread staff shortages and recruitment difficulties. The pervasive skills shortages that employers experienced before the
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BCC: Business still unable to prepare fully for a no deal Brexit
7th September 2019
New research from the British Chambers of Commerce shows a concerningly high number of UK firms aren’t ready for a no deal Brexit. Business has consistently called on government to avoid a messy and disorderly exit but in light of
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Business Would Welcome Removal Of REUL Sunset Clause
3rd May 2023
Reacting to reports that the sunset clause might be removed from the Retained EU Law Bill, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “Over the past few months, the BCC has consistently put forward a strong
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Smith & Williamson’s Guildford Office raises over £10,000 for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices in two-year partnership
18th September 2020
The Guildford office of Smith & Williamson, the financial and professional services firm, has announced it has raised over £10,000 for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices since partnering with the local charity in September 2018. Shooting Star Children’s Hospices supports
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BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker: Two-thirds of respondents awaiting funds from furlough scheme as payday approaches
16th April 2020
Results from the third BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that the majority of businesses responding to the survey have now furloughed a proportion of their workforce, and are awaiting funds from the government’s Job Retention Scheme to enable them to pay staff. 66% of survey respondents have furloughed staff in anticipation of scheme going live More
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Latest Updates From Surrey Chambers CEO – June 2nd 2021
2nd June 2021
There have been some very happy faces on social media recently as hospitality venues have welcomed customers back into their premises. The number of weddings planned in the next few weeks is massive! Meanwhile, we continue to feedback to government
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Local Celebrities, Eddie Izzard and Sally Gunnell OBE, Support YMCA DownsLink Challenge to End Youth Homelessness
25th May 2021
(Photo Caption: Comedian, Eddie Izzard and Olympic Gold Medallist, Sally Gunnell OBE, encourage people to join the YMCA DownsLink Challenge on Saturday 17th July 2021. Money raised from this new fundraising
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Businesses Representing All Areas Of UK Economy Offer Government Help Designing New Immigration System
24th January 2020
Open letter to Home Secretary published days ahead of Migration Advisory Committee report The UK’s five largest business organisations (BCC, CBI, FSB, IOD & MakeUK) – and around 30 trade associations, from hoteliers to universities, employing millions of people –
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British Business in China Assess the Impact of the Coronavirus on Business Operations
21st February 2020
10 February 2020, Beijing—Last week the British chambers of commerce in China surveyed our members on the impact of the novel coronavirus pneumonia on their operations in China. The survey was conducted between Wednesday 5th February and Friday
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Slowdown Hits UK Goods Trade as Impact of Cost Pressures Grows
11th November 2022
Reacting to the ONS Trade data for September 2022, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “The effects of higher inflation and reduced consumer spending globally on UK trade are growing clearer as both imports and exports
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BCC responds to April GDP figures
12th June 2020
Commenting on GDP statistics for April 2020, published today (12 June) by the ONS, BCC Head of Economics Suren Thiru said: “With a monthly fall in UK GDP over thirty times the average month on month decline during the global
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Small Business Confidence Rising but Fears Overs Future Lockdowns Remain, Finds BCC/Funding CIircle Survey
7th June 2021
Growth: 63% of firms surveyed confident in their growth prospects over next 12 months Restarting: 53% already operating at pre-pandemic capacity; 80% expect to be by October Barriers: 38% cited further lockdowns as a barrier to re-opening, while 37%
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The Forest Bathing Institute plays host to BBC2’s ‘Stories of Us’
10th August 2020
The Surrey Hills have built up a reputation for being an area of outstanding natural beauty. Surrounded by rolling hills and ancient woodland, Newlands Corner, near Guildford is at the heart of Surrey. With its stunning landscape and unspoilt beauty,
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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
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Could hotel service robots help the hospitality industry after COVID-19?
6th May 2020
A new research study, investigating how service robots in hotels could help redefine leadership and boost the hospitality industry, has taken on new significance in the light of the seismic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on tourism and business travel.
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Final call to vote in the Experience Guildford Customer Service Awards
18th July 2022
Voting in the Experience Guildford Customer Service Awards 2022 is now coming to an end, with under a week until the voting lines close. Make sure your voice is heard and your favourite businesses are recognised by placing your vote
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A Market Fuelled by Stimulus and Biases
20th July 2020
It should, by now, be clear that the present risk rally – that has been ongoing since the market bottomed in late-March – has been propelled by both unprecedented amounts of stimulus, and by hope that science will eventually come
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UK’S First Published Research Paper Into Health Benefits Of Forest Bathing
5th February 2021
A Pragmatic Controlled Trial of Forest Bathing Compared with Compassionate Mind Training in the UK: Impacts on Self-Reported Wellbeing and Heart Rate Variability In 2019 The Forest Bathing Institute in partnership with researchers from the University of Derby, led
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University of Surrey appoints Kerry Matthews as new Chief Student Officer
28th June 2022
Following an extensive search process, the University of Surrey has appointed Kerry Matthews as its new Chief Student Officer, with responsibility for the delivery of the services and support necessary to provide an outstanding student experience, from enrolment to graduation.
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BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker: Firms begin to reopen but one in ten cannot implement government guidance safely
19th May 2020
Results from the latest BCC Coronavirus Business Impact Tracker reveal that the majority of firms surveyed are in a position to partially restart operations as lockdown restrictions are eased: · 83 per cent of respondents report that they know some or a lot of details about government guidance on working safely · 37 per
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