Chambers East

📢 The latest East of England insight from our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) responses make for stark reading this week, with business confidence at the lowest level since the 'mini-budget' in 2022. ➡️63% of businesses now 'concerned' about tax - highest since 2017 ➡️55% of firms expect to raise prices within 3 months ➡️Only 20% increased investment in the last 3 months The QES is the largest independent business survey in the country and for 35 years it's regularly taken the pulse of business, using the insight to influence policy makers and inform decisions at the highest level. Used by Bank of England, European Central Bank and HM Treasury, this feedback really does have an impact. Read the full story on the BCC website: https://lnkd.in/epchFzte #EastOfEngland #AutumnBudget #QuarterlyEconomicSurvey #ChambersEast Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Essex Chambers of Commerce & Industry Norfolk Chambers of Commerce Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Iain McNab Connor Butler Toby Warren Jack Weaver

📢 Government unveil planning changes that can boost investment 🤔 But why should businesses in the East of England take note? It's fair to say businesses across the East have been feeling rightly anxious since October's budget. So, we welcome a more progressive and investment-focused announcement of long-overdue planning change. This week's NPPF document goes some way in introducing more ambition and common sense to a system that's been stalling economic growth for too long. BUT, a new Framework won't change things overnight. We need government to actually create the conditions for the building of more homes in the right places through better land use and connection of infrastructure, without rowing back on net zero targets - combined with more resource for planning teams. Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce Essex Chambers of Commerce & Industry Norfolk Chambers of Commerce Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Toby Warren Connor Butler Iain McNab #EastOfEngland #ChambersEast #PlanningReform #NPPF Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government https://lnkd.in/gcgVt9Ec

Fantastic to see Charlotte Horobin and Connor Butler banging the drum for business in the East of England in Westminster. Our region feeds, powers and connects the United Kingdom and government need to work with our business community to get the growth we so desperately need. Together as Chambers East, Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce, Essex Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce & Suffolk Chamber of Commerce are poised to work with local, regional and national government to bring that opportunity to the region and do our bit for UK PLC. #EastOfEngland East of England Local Government Association #Growth

Huge thank you to The Portuguese Offer - International Trade Exchange CIC for inviting Chambers East to their first symposium event. Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce CEO Charlotte Horobin and Norfolk Chambers of Commerce COO Jack Weaver gave keynote speeches on the importance of deeper trade relations with the EU, the positivity about East-Rail, the rapid growth of cities like Cambridge, Peterborough and Norwich and the scale of opportunity between Portugal and the East of England. Congratulations to Joe Barreto, Carla Barreto and the rest of the TPO CIC for this event. As the voice of business in the East, we're poised and ready to work with partners to improve business growth and international trade for our region. Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Essex Chambers of Commerce & Industry Koyas Miah MBA Amanda Ankin Mariana Vieira da Luz #EastOfEngland #ChambersOfCommerce British Chambers of Commerce Iain McNab Connor Butler

Chambers East reaction to Chancellor’s Budget Statement of 30 October "This is a high-risk Budget which we hope will pay off in time, even if there is short-term pain. If we get good, supportive trade and industrial strategies alongside effective devolution and public investment in infrastructure then business confidence may be boosted in time." Read more: https://lnkd.in/efSh4TpX #TheVoiceofBusinessInTheEast Norfolk Chambers of Commerce │ Suffolk Chamber of Commerce │ Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce │ Essex Chambers of Commerce & Industry

Following the new Labour government’s first budget on 30th October, join us for a webinar alongside our colleagues at the British Chambers of Commerce to examine what this budget means for the region's business community. Hear from Jonny Haseldine, Policy Manager at BCC, and representatives from each of the four Chambers in Chambers East. Find out more and sign up below ⤵️ #TheVoiceofBusinessInTheEast