Welcome

The British Chambers of Commerce is now finalising plans for our 2011 policy and lobbying work on behalf of British business.

What's clear to us is that 2011 must be a Year for Growth - with barriers to business growth swept aside in every town and city across the UK.

As part of our plan to highlight these barriers, and to campaign for their removal, the BCC will be holding its Annual Conference at Church House, Westminster on Thursday 7th April 2011 - with the central theme of 'Delivering a Year for Growth'.

This will be a major opportunity for businesses to come together and influence the senior decision-makers choices in order to unleash the strength and confidence of the private sector during 2011.

We all want to see stronger companies, more new start-ups, and more employment. Our conference will be a major opportunity for businesspeople to set out the changes needed to make that growth happen - so please register your interest today.

Dr Adam Marshall
Director of Policy and External Affairs


 

Vicky Pryce, Senior Managing Director, Economics, F T I Consulting

With the economic recovery still fragile, we have no choice but to make 2011 a year for growth. With the Government and consumers continuing to make cut backs, business will have to lead the way and create wealth and growth through investment and exports.

As a business advisory firm, FTI Consulting is aware of the obstacles that businesses face, such as the uncertain state of demand in the UK and Europe and threats of future interest rate increases, not to mention issues around tax, regulation, skills and planning. With these challenges in mind, I look forward to a lively debate on what practical changes are needed to deliver real growth for the UK economy at the BCC’s Annual Conference in April.
 

John Bridge, Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce

Intense pressure may be being placed upon the private sector to deliver growth, but the pressure has never been greater for the government to create a business-friendly environment.

Increasing national insurance contributions, arduous red tape, restrictive planning procedures, inadequate transport infrastructure. The voice of business has never been louder and there’s only so long that the government can continue pretending not to hear.

Across the UK, Local Enterprise Partnerships have been given the green light, presenting an opportunity for business to play a key role in identifying major barriers to growth and drive forward solutions that will have a measurable, positive impact.

Meanwhile, on a national level, business has the right to stand up and insist on a genuine pro-growth strategy that will enable it to complete the task being demanded of it. Business is already expected to create jobs, wealth and growth – why should it have to do all that while running uphill?

I am confident that Thursday 7 April will bring the BCC’s most crucial conference to date, and indeed the Cambridgeshire Chamber will be sending its largest ever contingent. Together, we will ensure that the voice of business is louder than ever before, giving the government no choice but to understand that business needs really matter if 2011 really is to succeed in delivering a Year for Growth.
 

Tessa Coombes, Director of Policy and Strategy, GWE Business West

‘Localism’ and ‘Big Society’ are the catch phrases of this new government - very much at the heart of their philosophy and approach. The questions for business are: ‘how does it relate to us?’ and ‘what role does business have to play in these agendas?’

In Bristol we have coined the phrase ‘Business Localism’ to try and engender more recognition for the very real role that business plays in local communities and local places. We are keen to emphasise that local communities are not just residential - they are business communities too.

After listening to the government’s rhetoric about private sector job creation, there is a real opportunity for businesses to step up to the plate. If many of the barriers to growth are removed, we can carry on less hindered by regulatory burdens and unnecessary bureaucracy.

In reality, what we are faced with is the loss of any real face to face support for business and a constant tinkering with employment regulations that serve to confuse us all. Potential changes to the planning system will make development even more difficult to secure, with greater costs attached to permissions and additional powers for local communities to stop any development they don’t like.

The challenge is there for local chambers of commerce to seize the localism agenda as a business agenda – business localism is the way forward.
 

 Elliot Moss, Director of Business Development, Mishcon de Reya

2011: A Year for Growth. We certainly hope so. Talk of austerity, recovery and other portentous nouns reflect the fact that the business environment has been challenging. It would be foolish to say it will not continue to be so. However, if we can galvanise the business community, private, public and otherwise, to act together in addressing the most fundamental issues, we can build platforms for growth in 2011 and beyond. But what are those issues? Many of our clients are entrepreneurs so we asked them. 

In late 2010, we commissioned the Entrepreneurship Report in conjunction with the London Chamber of Commerce. It found that funding was, by far, their largest concern. The report highlighted the ways Government and the private sector could create a more fluid approach to funding, to broaden the existing opportunities not necessarily by investing more, but by communicating clearly and listening to the needs of their communities. 

The business community needs to focus on addressing this issue. We need one voice. Lord Coe, head of the 2012 Olympic bid and now chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, said: “A campaign needs a clear narrative and an uplifting vision… both delivered with clarity, conviction and consistency”. If we achieve this, then it won't just be a successful 2011; but also a successful 2012, 2013, 2014 and beyond.

 

James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive, North East Chamber of Commerce

The Coalition Government has clearly laid down the challenge to the private sector to deliver growth for the UK economy. The business community relishes such a challenge but, in return, demands that the optimum conditions for wealth creation are in place and maintained. Success will be measured in increasing GDP and higher employment levels across all sectors in every part of the country.

At the North East Chamber of Commerce we call on the Government to: safeguard assets and policy positions which are critical to maintaining the recovery; reform areas of policy to bolster the competitiveness of North East businesses and UK plc; and invest in priority areas where this will unlock economic growth.

The BCC’s Annual Conference will give us all a superb opportunity, early in the year, to hear from senior political players and business leaders and take stock on the progress made so far. If you want to ask the Coalition Government to take heed of issues affecting your industry – this is your chance. If you want the Chamber of Commerce network (which represents every business sector across the whole of the UK) to champion your cause – this is your chance.

Please join us and help us to help your business win more business, create wealth and drive up employment.
 

George Cowcher, Chief Executive, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce

Private sector growth will be a key theme for business over the next 12 months. The Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber echoes the BCC’s calls for Government to make 2011 a year for growth, and I would urge businesses of all sizes to support this campaign by attending the annual conference in April.

Business is more than willing to drive the recovery forward, but Government must also play its part by removing any obstacles which hamper firms in their efforts to create jobs, invest and export.

The private sector here in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire is in much better shape than it was 12 months ago and whilst the experiences of individual businesses will have varied greatly, 2010 was a year of slow but steady growth. This gives a good platform to build on in 2011, as the recovery continues.

The outlook is positive, but there are still a number of danger points which need to be addressed. Government still needs to do much more to cut through the sheer weight of red tape that stifles many businesses, whilst access to finance and skills and training remain firmly on the agenda.

However, whilst firms should exercise some caution, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about 2011.
 

Clive Memmott, Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce 

Confidence was once defined as meaning, “non-paralysis, a willingness to act, and act decisively, to start new things and cut failing ventures off.”

With the UK business community emerging from recession but still facing some of the most trying conditions in recent years, it is no surprise that the BCC has decided to focus on business confidence and the role this will play in boosting economic growth at its Annual Conference in April.

The economic outlook for 2011 continues to signal growth, albeit at a slower pace than originally thought. To be able to sustain this growth, it is vital that central and local government and key private and public sector players develop a strategy that will give business the confidence to invest.

No other organisation can boast the variety and diversity of members that we have in our Chamber Network, which spans the whole country and covers all sizes and sectors. We have an important role to play in ensuring we work together to create the best conditions to encourage business confidence and growth.

The BCC’s Annual Conference will be an excellent opportunity for businesses, policymakers and politicians to come together and share ideas on how we drive business growth throughout the crucial months and years ahead.
 

DON’T FORGET TO SPEAK UP FOR BUSINESS.

Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

The legendary Austrian Economist, Joseph Schumpter, first introduced the theory of ‘creative destruction’ to describe the conditions immediately following the collapse of markets or bubbles. He argued that these were necessary adjustments which should be welcomed, because they led, in turn to long-term stability and growth.

It’s difficult to argue with the macroeconomic theory. The recession has now led to a period of modest growth - and it’s right that the BCC’s conference should focus on the opportunities this presents for our members.

When you’re running a business in testing conditions though, attending a conference to hear how that growth might be fostered could easily slip down the priority list. You may think Chamber networks are really there to facilitate a bit of networking and policy representation when things are going well, right? Well, wrong, actually. If we don’t fight for business interests right here and now in the recovery period, we could put businesses and jobs at risk.

There is no better time to come together and speak up for business. We must lobby the Government hard, both locally and nationally, to bring the message home. Without conditions in which businesses can prosper, there will be no recovery.