Policy Update 2nd July 2024

Welcome to this week’s policy update. ?

As ever please do get in touch with me, [email protected], if you’d like to discuss the following, or other, business issues, put forward your views and/or provide real life examples that we can use in advocacy activity. ?

Last week was the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Global Annual Conference, with speakers such as Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and?Jonathan Reynolds, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, and breakout sessions including People & Work (in partnership with Simply Health), Green Innovation (in partnership with Heathrow), Global Britain (in partnership with BP), Digital Revolution and Local Economy of the Future (in partnership with NatWest). We’ll be sharing a highlights video next week.

At the event we launched Chambers’ Future of the Economy Manifesto, setting out the five key business priorities for immediate action. You can read it here: Future of the Economy Manifesto - British Chambers of Commerce.

Other recent BCC activity includes, for example:

• Jane Gratton,?Deputy Director for Policy,?speaking on how to improve health through place-based approaches to employment and skills at the Health Foundation Conference.
• Alex Veitch,?Director for Policy and Insights, speaking at the Fair Civil Justice Conference, discussing what the implications of the rise in collective action litigation means for the wider business community.
• Jane and Alex also met with David Hughes, CEO of the Association of College, to discuss the skills landscape and Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).
• Jonny Haseldine,?Policy Manager,?and William Bain,?Head of Trade,?meeting with Benjamin Angel to discuss international taxation developments. Benjamin Angel is Director for Direct taxation, Tax coordination, Economic analysis and Evaluation from DG Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission.
• BCC attending a roundtable discussion with Jonathan Reynolds and Anneliese Dodds at a stakeholder event during the Labour Party manifesto launch in Manchester.
• Anne-Marie Martin,?Director of Membership UK and International,?attending the EuroChambres Congress 2024, where key discussions focused on improving EU competitiveness, regulatory reviews, and addressing skills and labour shortages through private sector-funded programmes. Innovations from various European Chambers included; digital platforms for tech collaboration, sustainability solutions, and leadership programmes, highlighting efforts to adapt to evolving business needs. Significant conversations included potential collaborations and insights on the global Chamber landscape and trade.
• The BCC Policy team submitting consultation responses on the National Living Wage, National Standards for Personal, Social and Employability (PSE) Qualifications, Sustainable Aviation Fuels, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

BCC Workplace Equity Commission – Final Call For Evidence. Chambers are now reaching the end of our 12-month inquiry into how to support SMEs on creating fairer workplaces. The report will be launched on 10th September?in the House of Commons. We want to include as much reflection, data and case study evidence from across the UK Chamber Network as possible. So if you have any final thoughts please let me know by close of play on Monday 29th July so that I can feed in on your behalf before BCC’s deadline.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is reminding businesses about obligations to report packaging data under the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging regulations. The deadlines for obligated organisations to submit their packaging data have now passed. So if you haven’t already please check whether you are obligated under the new scheme and if so, to submit your data with immediate effect. A dedicated helpline, 0300 060 0002, is available to support businesses through the process. You can see the key information producers need to submit their packaging data here: defracollectionandpackagingreform.cmail20.com/t/t-e-edtldx-trjrkdss-z/.

Incorporating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into business operations offers significant benefits.?To showcase current measures and encourage corporate action on Agenda 2030, the UN Global Compact Network UK invites all Chamber Members to join the largest European study on business sustainability. Professionals from all sectors and company sizes are encouraged to participate, including self-employed individuals, SMEs, and large corporations. ? Participants will receive the final report, inspiring more ambitious corporate action to achieve SDGs. You can find out more and complete the survey here: European Global Compact Networks SDG Study - (unglobalcompact.org.uk).

The next meeting of the BCC Trade Policy Committee is on 23rd July. If you have anything you’d like to feed in, please let me know, [email protected]

How fantastic was Dave Day? This super film by John Rennie really captures the amazing scenes in Barrow on 8 June and the joy and excitement of the motorcycle ride and events in the town centre. Lots of people have asked about the possibility of some lasting Dave Day legacy for Barrow. Westmorland & Furness Council have listened to those calls and they’re currently having discussions with partners including Barrow BID, along with Dave Myers’ family and Si King, about ways to keep the Dave Day spirit going…we’ll hopefully be able to share more details soon! John Rennie would like to thank everyone who sent footage and special thanks to those whose footage made the final edit: Steve Nicholson, Scott Thomson, Ian Andrew Irwin, John Walker, Diane Cullen, John Phillips and Jarvis Yoghourt. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy re-living Dave Day by watching the film: Dave Day (youtube.com).

As highlighted in detail in previous weeks, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils are recruiting local business leaders and representative bodies to join the brand-new Cumbria Economic Growth Board. This is part of the new arrangements which resulted in both local authorities assuming the functions and responsibilities of the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP). The newly formed Economic Growth Board will provide a strong business voice in strategy development whilst ensuring that decisions are taken in the best interests for people and places in Cumbria. This is a fantastic opportunity to represent the?views of local businesses as part of regional decision making, and help deliver our vision for Cumbria and shape its future. You can find out more and apply at: Job profile (cumbria.gov.uk) The deadline for applications is 7th?July.?

Entries for the King’s awards for Enterprise 2025 are now open. Businesses have until 12th September to get their entries in. You can find out more about the awards and enter here The King's Awards for Enterprise: Apply - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). If you’re interested in applying, either this year or potentially in the future, do get in touch so that we can link you into relevant support.

Suzanne Caldwell, Managing Director