Policy Update 4th June 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.

If you haven’t yet don’t miss the opportunity to have your say on behalf of your business in our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES)! The QES receives widespread local, national and international press coverage, and is briefed extensively across the UK government and Bank of England. Take 5 minutes to fill out the survey here:?https://buff.ly/3V2T2wY?.

Last week the BCC launched Chambers’ Future of the Economy' Election Manifesto, outlining a five-point plan, for immediate action from the government. The manifesto includes the biggest ideas from our series of extensive policy documents. These were published in consultation with the Chamber Network, our Business Council, external stakeholders and academics this year, focusing on key economic challenges. These include: Green Innovation, People and Work, Local Economy of the Future, Global Britain and the Digital Revolution.?We want to see:?

• An Industrial Strategy with green innovation at its heart.?
• Better skills planning, bringing businesses and training providers together.?
• Business rates reform to encourage growth and investment.?
• Improved relations with the European Union to cut costs for business.
• A Government appointed AI champion for SMEs to spearhead uptake of new technology.?

You can read the report here: Business Council - British Chambers of Commerce.

In a policy win for Chambers, on 25th April, the UK government committed to a target of 10% of all jet fuel in flights coming from sustainable sources by 2030. The government’s commitment to a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate is welcome and vital to support a greener aviation industry in the UK. The BCC’s recent Green Innovation report?recognises the potential of domestic production of SAF for the UK. The government and industry should continue to work closely together to support the development of a UK SAF industry to ensure that its full potential can be met. You can read our Green Innovation Report here: Green Innovation - British Chambers of Commerce. ?

The team at BCC continue to be busy working on your behalf. This week:

• Alex Veitch, Director of Policy and Insights, is speaking at the Fair Civil Justice conference.
• Jane Gratton, Deputy Director Public Policy, is speaking at the Health Foundation conference in Manchester.
• Jane is also meeting with David Hughes, CEO of the Association of Colleges.
• William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, David Bharier, Head of Research, and Jonny Haseldine, Policy Manager, are meeting Benjamin Angel, Director for Direct Taxation, Tax Coordination, Economic Analysis and Evaluation, from DG Taxation and Customs Union, European Commission, for a discussion on international taxation developments.

Last week:

• The BCC took part in a joint meeting of the UK and EU Domestic Advisory Groups on the economic and trade relationship, raising the issue of identifying priorities for strengthening of the trading links between the EU and UK.
• The BCC also held discussions with the economic and trade team from the US Embassy, on key trade policy issues of common interest such as subsidies, tariffs, and the Atlantic Declaration.

As a reminder of some recent policy activities:

• Alex Veitch,?Director of Policy and Insight, attended a roundtable to discuss improving AI skills in SMEs with the Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP,?Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
• The Business Council hosted Sir Ed Davey MP for a discussion on the Liberal Democrat’s offer to businesses.
• Liam Smyth,?Director of Trade Facilitation, and William Bain,?Head of Trade Policy, joined a delegation to discuss UK-Swiss Trade relations.
• BCC Chair, Sarah Howard MBE, attended an Industry Forum Roundtable with Stephen Kinnock MP, Shadow Minister for Immigration. This roundtable focused on the immigration system. Sarah’s contribution highlighted the call from our People and Work report on making sure it works for business.
• Anneliese Dodds MP,? Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities and Party Chair of the Labour Party, joined a meeting of the Equity Commission, as Government Advisors did earlier in the year. This was an opportunity for the group to present their interim findings ahead of the 10th September launch, and for Anneliese to share insights into Labour’s priorities for this policy area.
• A BCC representative attended a DWP roundtable hosted by Rt Hon Mel Stride,?Secretary of State, on employer engagement with job centres as the Government launched a major campaign.
• Shevaun Haviland,?Director General,?and Jane Gratton,?Deputy Director, Public Policy, hosted a roundtable with Shadow Minister for Business, Employment Rights and Levelling Up, Justin Madders MP. This meeting formed part of our ongoing engagement with the Labour Party regarding the New Deal for Working People.
• Alex Veitch,?Director of Policy and Insight, attended a roundtable with Labour Party Shadow Cabinet Members and chaired by Jonathan Reynolds MP,?Shadow Business and Trade Secretary. The agenda focused on digital tech adoption so was an opportunity to share an early, confidential insight into the soon to be published Digital Revolution report.?
• Jane Gratton,?Deputy Director, Public Policy, represented the network at the APPG for Further Education & Lifelong Learning’s discussion on the Skills & Post-16 Education Act - 2 years on. Jane was invited to discuss the impact of Local Skills Improvement Plans, but also shared broader thoughts on the Act and what is needed next on the skills reform agenda.
• Jane Gratton,?Deputy Director, Public Policy, attended a roundtable of the Lifelong Loan Entitlement steering group, hosted by Minister for Skills, Luke Hall MP.

The EU adopted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive last week. When fully in force, it will apply to larger third country corporates directly, but there may be some downstream impacts upon UK SMEs involved in value chains with larger suppliers exporting into the EU Single Market. ?

The next meeting of the BCC Trade Policy Committee is on 25th June. If you’d like anything raising please let me know, [email protected].

Holtec Britain has announced a shortlist of four sites that have made it through to the final stage of its competition to find a new factory and production site to build a fleet of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which will be used in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. The inclusion of Kingmoor Park in Carlisle is great news for Cumberland. The chosen location will benefit from an initial investment of ￡1.3billion, reflecting Holtec’s budget for construction. The development and operation of the 20 hectare site is anticipated to directly generate thousands of jobs over the next 15 years. SMRs are viewed as being essential to help the UK meet its net zero and energy security ambitions with a government target of 24GigaWatts of nuclear capacity by 2050. You can read more here: Cumbria LEP and Cumberland Council welcomes Holtec Britain’s SMR Manufacturing Site Shortlist | Cumberland Council.

The Big Help Out is a nationwide campaign, launched as part of The Coronation last year, that helps millions of people (including companies and staff) volunteer via a website and app populated by tens of thousands of charities. Most activity takes place on or around?7th to 9th June,?but the BHO platform remains open until?31st August. You can find out more and get involved here: The Big Help Out | Home.

The BCC is working with a group of organisations to assess the extent to which businesses use and value management degree apprenticeships. If you employ management apprentices and you’d like to get involved then please complete this survey: survey.zohopublic.eu/zs/tNThHP.

Tickets are running low but there are still some left for the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC's) Global Annual Conference 2024!?Our work over the past year has sought answers to how Britain can boost sustainable economic growth, not just nationally but at local and regional levels. Join us at our Global Annual Conference where we will be launching our Manifesto, ahead of the general election, which will cover our five key Challenges:?People and Work,?Green Innovation,?Global Britain,?Digital Revolution?and?Local Economy of the Future. ?If you haven’t yet, book your tickets? now. The Conference is on 27th June at the QEII Centre in London. You can find out more and book here: GLOBAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024 - British Chambers of Commerce. Tickets are ￡120 + VAT for Chamber Members and ￡250 + VAT for Non-members.