Policy Update 30th May 2023
Welcome to this week’s policy update. As ever please do get in touch with me, [email protected],?if you’d like to discuss any of the following, or other business issues. We’re also keen to receive any real life examples you’d like to put forward as they really do help in lobbying activity.
The 2023 Cumbria Local Skills Improvement Plan has now been submitted to the Department for Education (DfE). We’ll be publishing it on the LSIP page of our website as soon as we get the go ahead from DfE (June or July). In the meantime, Irene is working on a full update of the Priorities and Actions table, adding the actions from the latest plan and any further actions in supporting documents. This will be updated on the LSIP website page as soon as it’s ready. But there are lots of actions so it is quite a task! Thanks again to everyone who contributed.
We will be continuing with business groups and survey activity during the year so please watch out for further opportunities to get involved. For information around the LSIP please contact [email protected].
Join our Chamber Network lunch with?Tim Farron MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale. The Belsfield Hotel, Bowness on Windermere on Friday 9th June. ￡37 +vat (member rate) ￡49 +vat (non-member)
Today, 30th May, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is launching a new podcast series, "Where Business Belongs".?For the first episode, Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE is behind the scenes at our Global Annual Conference, chatting with some of the speakers, including Jeremy Hunt MP, Andrew Bailey, and host Ayesha Hazarika MBE. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and episode 1 is supported by Arden Strategies. Listen here.
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If you haven’t completed it yet then please take a few minutes to fill in our Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2023 is now collecting responses. The survey plays a vital role in informing the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee, government, and others, and has real impact on things like interest rate decisions. You can access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/33VYS67.
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Invitation to a UK Export Finance Reception on Wednesday 28 June, 2-5pm. Tim Reid, CEO UK Export Finance (UKEF), is hosting a reception in London with Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP. The reception will be attended by representatives of UKEF, the Department, MPs and Lords. Chambers have been invited to put forward a shortlist of businesses from which a number will be selected by the Department for Business and Trade and UKEF. They would welcome suggestions of firms with interesting export stories to tell, particularly those who have engaged with UK Export Finance in some way. If you’re interested please let me know by Friday 26th June latest.
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As usual BCC have been busy on your behalf with government. For example last week members of the BCC team met with :
And Director General, Shevaun Haviland, met with Department for Business & Trade Minister Hollinrake and the Prime Minister’s Business Advisor.
You may also have seen Shevaun with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday morning.
A while ago we wrote to Robert Halfon, Minister of State at DfE, about concerns around the landbased T levels due to be introduced, and related changes, and asked BCC to take this issue up too. BCC raised this at an Education Select Committee, and Shevaun will be raising this again when she meets the Education Secretary and Permanent Secretary shortly.
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Bilateral trade between the UK and UAE is worth more than ￡21bn per year and our investment links have never been stronger. The current trade negotiations have the potential to strengthen trade and investment in key sectors such as aviation, automotive and life sciences. Coming up in June are a couple of great opportunities to hear more about a large consumer base, popular trade lanes, and a shifting transformation to a forward-thinking and visionary population, that make the UAE a hugely interesting market to do business in:
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Last week the BCC engaged with the German Embassy over a range of issues affecting UK businesses in trade with Germany.
The first National Semiconductor Strategy has been unveiled by the UK government. You can read the strategy here: National Semiconductor Strategy - CP 838 (publishing.service.gov.uk) and Chambers’ response here: Semi-conductor Strategy ‘A Welcome Start’ (britishchambers.org.uk).
Following debate by MPs on the House of Lords amendments to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, the Bill returns to the House of Lords for further consideration on 6th June.
The deadline for submissions to the UK government call for evidence on carbon leakage policy is 22nd June. You can get involved here: Addressing carbon leakage risk to support decarbonisation - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The next BCC Trade Policy Committee meeting takes place on 28th June. Please let me know by 26th June is you have any issues or questions, [email protected].
UK government officials briefed the Chambers Network last week on the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme, due to take effect on 19th June. You can find out more here: Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS): new policy report - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
On 7th June, the UK Saudi Business, Trade and Partnership Forum will review the progress of Saudi Vision 2030 implementation since its launch in 2016 and the opportunities for further UK/Saudi trade, investment and expertise exchange. It will discuss the scope for increased private sector engagement in the already strong cooperation between the two Kingdoms in financial services, infrastructure, creative industries, technology and education/skills. This event is at Mansion House, City of London. You can find out more and register here: Home | UK-Saudi Business, Trade and Partnership Forum (uksaudipartnershipforum.co.uk).
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On 22nd June, the German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce and NRW. Global Business GmbH invite you to a seminar on Entering the German Market: Business Opportunities in North Rhine-Westphalia, at St Ermin’s Hotel, London. The event is aimed at British companies seeking to reinvigorate business ties and keep up to date with business opportunities in Germany. Participation is free but places are limited. For further information contact Sven Riemann.
The DLUHC consultation on High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA), a new measure within the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill that will empower local authorities to address long-term vacant shops on our high streets?closes on 23 June. This is a technical consultation where they are seeking views from a range of stakeholders that will inform several areas of the policy. Full details can be found in the High Street Rental Auctions consultation document here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/high-street-rental-auctions. All consultation responses must be completed on Citizen Space: https://consult.levellingup.gov.uk/urban-policy/hsra.?The consultation closes on 23 June 2023.?
Last, but absolutely not least, the public consultation on Active Travel Infrastructure in Barrow is taking place until 9th June, seeking views on proposed designs for two routes prioritised in the Barrow-in-Furness Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). These routes are:
Drop-in events providing the public with the opportunity to view and discuss the proposals with members of the project team, include one on 6th?June, 12noon to 4pm at The Roundhouse, Biggar Bank, Walney, LA14 3YE. The project website will host all consultation materials as well as providing a link to an online version of the consultation questionnaire:?Cycling and walking | Westmorland and Furness Council. Following the consultation period, responses will be analysed, and all views considered to further develop the preliminary design for each route.
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Suzanne