Policy Update 6th February 2024
As ever please do get in touch with me, [email protected] , if you would 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.
Local Skills Improvement Plan Survey 2024. We’re currently surveying employers, repeating some of last year's questions as part of tracking and monitoring progress. Whether you participated in our LSIP Survey last year or not, click the link below to access the survey. As ever your input is greatly appreciated and makes a real difference! Take the survey
Cumberland Economic Summit will take place in Carlisle on?Thursday 29th February. The Rt Hon Ed Miliband, Shadow Secretary of State of Climate Change and Net Zero has been confirmed as the keynote speaker. He will be joined by additional speakers including Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, Carlisle MP, John Stevenson and Cumberland Council’s Chief Executive, Andrew Seekings. Click here for more info.
We’re continuing to work with Cumbria Tourism and the FSB on challenges for Cumbrian businesses related to changes in immigration rules and we’ll be updating you on the next phase of this soon. ? The team at British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) continue to be busy working on your behalf. This week:
Last week the BCC had conversations this week with Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds about our proposals on improving trade with the EU. They also spoke with Shadow Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds about trade priorities with India, and the Chair of the House of Commons Select Committee on Business and Trade, Liam Byrne about EU trade.
Recently the BCC took part in a roundtable with Business Minister Nus Ghani MP on the effect of Red Sea crossing disruption on container availability and costs as well as supply chain delays. A further meeting will be held soon. ?
The next meeting of the BCC Trade Policy Committee will be on 27th February. If you have any particular issues you’d like raising please let me know, [email protected] .
The Chambers’ Our Future of the Economy programme is looking at the biggest challenges, and opportunities, the country is facing.?Over the next quarter BCC will be launching policy recommendations to the UK government on our five core areas. Last week they launched the first of these five reports - the Green Innovation Challenge report, ‘Building Sustainable Futures for UK businesses’, at?the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland. The report outlines a series of proposals for policymakers, to help accelerate the UK’s transition to Net Zero. Among the recommendations in the report are:
You can read the report here: BCC Publishes Blueprint To Drive Net-Zero Transition? - British Chambers of Commerce .
The first phase of inbound border processes on many food and plant products from the EU into Britain began last week. You can read BCC’s comments here: Clarity On New Border Checks Is Vital? - British Chambers of Commerce . Head of Trade Policy William Bain also appeared on BBC News speaking on this topic. You can find out more here: Government takes major step in improving biosecurity and preventing diseases - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ) ?
Also last week the UK government published a Command Paper, PDF-2.pdf ( publishing.service.gov.uk ) , alongside new legislation? on the Windsor Framework providing some clarifications, changes to processes around regulation and the creation of a UK Internal Market lane for certain goods moving from GB to NI. You can read the legislation here SI/SR Template ( publishing.service.gov.uk ) and BCC’s reaction here BCC Welcomes Windsor Framework Command Paper - British Chambers of Commerce . ?
The European Commission has extended by 30 days the deadline for the initial reporting period for some businesses in scope of reporting requirements in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and experiencing difficulties in making their declaration. Affected firms and their EU customers may seek delayed submission. You can find out more here: Technical issues related to the CBAM Transitional Registry and Import Control System 2 (ICS2) - European Commission ( europa.eu ) . ?
The UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is exploring the development of a new facility – the Climate Innovation Pull Facility (CIPF).?Through pull finance, this facility will support innovation, scale-up and market-building for climate change mitigation solutions for developing country contexts, focusing on innovative clean energy technologies and business models in a small number of specific applications/sectors. The planned facility is up to ￡185m, and subject to approval. This contract is focussed on the provision of monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) services for the CIPF. You can find out more here: Climate Innovation Pull Facility (CIPF) - Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Partner - Contracts Finder . DESNZ is hosting an online presentation on?29th February, 13:00 -14:00 to share further details and respond to questions. To attend this presentation, register your interest by 13:00 on?28th February: Climate Innovation Pull Facility Market Engagement Event - MEL - 29 Feb 2024 ( office.com ) . ?
Join innovators, industry trailblazers, investors and inspiring start-up founders redefining the manufacturing sector at the third edition of the Sixth Sense Summit on 7th February,14:30-19:00, with an online option. Sixth Sense is Hexagon's open innovation platform to help connect ambitious advanced manufacturing start-ups with world-class companies and enable them to scale. The third cohort is now underway and eight companies are preparing their demonstrations for the Summit, where each will pitch to a panel of expert judges to demonstrate the use case for their solutions, using Hexagon’s industry-leading technology. You can find out more about the Sixth Sense programme and register for the summit here: Hexagon | Sixth Sense . ?
A?major new independent review into addressing and overcoming the inequality faced by disabled-led businesses was launched on 1st February with backing from the UK Government. The Lilac Review?will aim to identify, and seek to break down, challenges faced by disabled entrepreneurs. Issuing an action plan to drive greater change across entrepreneurship it will call for organisations across the UK to commit to a series of goals. Jointly chaired by the Minister for Small Business, Kevin Hollinrake MP, the Minister for Disabled People, Mims Davies MP and Victoria Jenkins, CEO and Founder of adaptive fashion brand?Unhidden, The Lilac Review will commence for an initial two-year period. Following research and consultation with a wide variety of stakeholders - particularly disabled entrepreneurs - interim research findings will be shared later this year, with a final report and recommendations set for the end of 2025. You can find out more here: The Lilac Review . ?
If you haven’t yet responded to Chambers’ Workplace Equity Commission call for evidence please do so now as you’re key to providing vital insights and on-the-ground knowledge about the issues and successes that SMEs are experiencing.?This invites views and insights on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) best practice in business, as well as any challenges firms are facing, and where support is needed. The Commission aims to produce practical recommendations for employers and Chambers. There will also be policy recommendations for government. The call for evidence closes on 16th February. You can find out more and get involved here Workplace Equity Commission - British Chambers of Commerce . ?
Disposable vapes will be banned in the UK as part of government plans to tackle the rise in youth vaping and protect children's health.?As well as benefitting children’s health, the ban will have a positive impact on the environment. Five million disposable vapes are thrown away each week, up from 1.3 million from last year. Over a year, this is equivalent to the lithium batteries of 5,000 electric vehicles. You can read more here: ?Disposable vapes banned to protect children's health - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ) . ?
The Indonesian Government is introducing new halal certification and labelling requirements from 17th October. Certain?agriculture, food?and drink products for human consumption sold in Indonesia will require halal certification adhering to updated Indonesian standards, or be?explicitly labelled as non-halal. You can find out about the actions current and prospective exporters will need to take here:?Halal_Comms_E_B.01.pdf ( mcusercontent.com ) . ?
The UK fresh produce sector: review of the supply chain is open until 22nd February. You can get involved here: The UK fresh produce sector: review of the supply chain - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ) . ? The consultation on removing the 16-week derogation period in egg marketing standards legislation is open until 5th March. You can get involved here: Consultation on removing the 16-week derogation period in egg marketing standards legislation in England and Scotland - Defra - Citizen Space . ?
The consultation on electrical waste: reforming the producer responsibility system is open until 7th March. You can get involved here: Electrical waste: reforming the producer responsibility system - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ) . ? The survey on trader readiness for new GB import controls remains open: Trader Readiness for new GB Import Controls ( qualtrics.com ) . ?
Suzanne Caldwell?
Managing Director?