Despite encouraging signs of more firms exporting, the findings also highlight a number of barriers that prevent companies from selling overseas. One in five businesses (20%) say poor transport connections are a barrier to trading internationally. Exporting plays a vital part in rebalancing the economy and ensuring a lasting recovery, so we would urge the government to boost transport connections to help businesses take their products and services to new international markets.

Transport connections support supply chains and are essential for moving goods to market. According to the BCC’s survey, businesses in the UK believe that the cost and quality of these connections are vital to trade. Time is money, and if firms can’t access markets quickly enough, they end up holding more stock, which hits their bottom line.

Overall, a fifth (20%) of firms see poor transport connections as a barrier to export; increasing significantly for businesses based in Scotland (34%) and Northern Ireland (32%). But more than quality, businesses are concerned with the cost of transport when exporting. 41% say that the cost of trade connections is also an obstacle. Almost half (49%) of firms that would consider exporting are concerned by the cost of trade connections – a worrying finding as the government looks to encourage firms to consider exporting for the first time. It is not just international connections that create problems for exporters. Nearly a quarter of UK businesses (23%) said that domestic transport links are a concern.

Support international trade by improving transport connections

Based on the findings, the BCC is making a number of recommendations to the government, including:

A comprehensive aviation strategy for the UK: Politics and short-termism must not be allowed to hamper efforts to build a world-class system of airports and connections. That means alleviating the South East’s capacity crunch, ensuring regional airports have strong international connections, and maintaining good links between regional and hub airports.

Measures to encourage private sector investment in infrastructure: In addition to implementing the National Infrastructure Plan, the government must encourage more private sector investment. That could include the introduction of a national infrastructure bank or fund that co-funds local and national infrastructure projects.

Accelerate the implementation of road tolling: This would provide funds for new capacity at pinch points, such as the A14 between the Port of Felixstowe, Cambridgeshire and the Midlands. In the longer term, a more comprehensive, nationwide system of tolling or pricing along trunk routes could improve the effectiveness of the UK’s road network for business.

Commenting, Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said:

“Encouraging more British firms to export should be the government’s number one priority. Exports are vital to creating and sustaining an economic recovery. More businesses are exporting in 2012 compared to last year which is good news, but many still face barriers when looking to trade overseas.

“We need to unlock the potential of our existing and future exporters by improving transport links, both locally and nationally, and by slashing burdensome regulation that deters companies from taking their business abroad. Delivering a clear aviation strategy, improving access to sea ports and committing to investment in infrastructure projects would help to tackle some of the major transport issues businesses face when trying to move their goods not just around the UK, but globally. Furthermore, scrapping damaging increases in airline taxes would go a long way to reducing the transportation costs many companies say is a major concern when looking to export. British businesses must also be able to treat Europe as their home turf. Making it easier to trade in these countries is a must.

“We have fantastic companies in Lancashire  with products ready for export. The government needs to get behind these businesses so they can penetrate new markets, and feel confident when taking their goods and services overseas.”

The growing uncertainty in the eurozone, following the Greek and French elections and the bail out of Bankia in Spain, has complicated the MPC’s job. As the pound continues to grow in value against the euro, while the austerity plan dampens domestic demand, the competitiveness of UK exports has been impaired. Recent increases in mortgage interest rates due to high bank funding costs could also reinforce the clamour for more QE later in the year. But the minutes following April’s meeting showed a shift of opinion in the committee against adding to QE.

The Monetary Policy Committee must look to make better use of the existing levels of Quantitative Easing, and to make sure viable businesses are able to access the finance they need. The government must consider the creation of a business bank, which would address the problems faced by firms trying to get credit. The MPC can help to address the problems with lending to businesses by agreeing to purchase private sector assets rather than focusing exclusively on purchasing gilts as it does at present. Such a move will make the banks less risk averse and will help to improve the flow of lending to credit worthy firms.

But they may be excellent Solicitors, Accountants, Sportspeople, Shopkeepers, Salesteams, Beauticians, even Vicars!  

The Guild Cook-off is inviting teams of three people from a related field to come together and show off their Master Chef skills (or lack of them!) in a cookery programme with a difference to be featured on Lancashire One and Sky Channel 192 during Guild Week.

Each team will be coached initially by a professional Chef and will be given the opportunity to compete in a professional kitchen, creating a dish which will be demonstrated by the Chef and all ingredients will be provided.

Cost of entry is just £300 per head and each company featured will have a high profile, not only being broadcast on Sky Channel 192, but also featuring both on Lancashire One’s own site and the Lancashire One HD You Tube Channel.  Companies will also receive a copy of the programme for their own promotional use and a certificate for each of the participants. The entry is restricted to 32 teams of three.  Programmes will be recorded in the early summer.  Demand is expected to be high so contact Lancashire One as soon as possible!

To take part contact:

Nigel Sharples nigel@lancashireone.com, with details of your company/organisation, names of participants, contact details and tell us why you want to be involved.

The event saw contributions from Secretaries of State Vince Cable (Business), Eric Pickles (Communities and Local Government) and Justine Greening (Transport), with opening addresses from LEP Network Chair David Frost, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise Mark Prisk, and head of the civil service Sir Bob Kerslake. Read BIS’s press release on the event here.

That said, however, one thing is clear: whether we’re in technical recession or a period of incredibly weak, zigzag growth, Britain’s economy remains fragile, and stagnation is the real threat. This inherent fragility affects both sentiment and investment intentions, meaning that our call for special capital allowances, a stop to business rate rises, and improved access to finance at the time of the Budget looks all the more prescient. We said, at the time, that action to support growth was as important as action to cut the deficit – and that remains the case today.

Aside from the GDP figures and the insufferable media navel-gazing around the Leveson Inquiry, there is some positive news to report. Prompted in part by the work of the British Chambers of commerce  government ministers renewed their pledge to improve public procurement – and to achieving an ambition of 25% of central government contracts going to small- and medium-sized firms.

They’re already more than halfway there, having gone from 6.5% to 13.7% in a short space of time. While this doesn’t yet cover local government, the local NHS or some other bodies, it does mean that the tens of billions of pounds in public procurement handled by central government will be clearer, smarter, and easier to access – all to the good of the business community

Increasing globalisation will make it essential that our workforce is flexible and that the necessary training is in place so that our employees can obtain the skills to ensure that our businesses evolve successfully.

But national surveys tell us that too many vacancies are difficult to fill due to a shortage of the right skills; that too many of our small businesses cannot introduce new products or processes because their employees do not have the right skills for the jobs that they hold; and that poor basic skills remains a real problem in the workplace.

We need to know if this is the case in Lancashire.  Our latest skills survey will show just that…

The survey will take around 10 minutes of your time.  It will provide us with invaluable information that we’ll use to prepare an evidence base that we can use to support our dealings with Government, with training providers, and with you.  We’ll make the results available to all of you so that you can use the findings to help in your recruitment activity.

We’ll close the survey at the end of May and publish the results towards the end of June. 

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

From this month microgeneration permitted development rights will also apply to non-domestic properties, allowing businesses to install the following equipment on their premises without the need for planning permission:

• wall mounted or roof top solar PV
• solar thermal equipment
• stand-alone solar panels
• ground source heat pumps
• flue forming part of a biomass heating system or combined heat and power system

Conditions and limitations will apply in most cases, designed to minimise impacts on neighbours and the wider environment and there are more stringent rules in sensitive areas such as conservation areas.

These rights do not directly replicate the permitted development rights for domestic property owners who have additional rights to install air source heat pumps and wind turbines. Although the Government had proposed to introduce similar permitted development rights for non-domestic premises, it has decided to postpone this, pending a review of any technical issues arising from their domestic application.

This is good news for those businesses who are keen to improve the environmental performance of their premises and to reduce their energy costs.

With the government’s deficit cutting measures squeezing domestic demand, a sustained UK recovery relies on exports, business investment, and replacing imports with domestically-produced goods. Given the renewed debt problems in the eurozone and difficulties in the global economy, British exporters will face challenges in maintaining their position in international markets.

The government must act to address these issues by giving small- and medium-sized firms in particular extra support in key areas such as trade finance, insurance, promotion, market knowledge and skills. It is crucial to enable British firms to compete on equitable terms.

While low interest rates and a competitive pound will help to reduce our deficit, British exporters must reinforce their efforts to break into faster growing markets such as China, India and Brazil.

With economic pressures facing the UK and ongoing problems in the eurozone, the figures as seen above are  broadly positive, showing that unemployment fell and employment increased.

But there are certain features which are causing concern. Youth unemployment, though slightly down, remains above one million, and the number of people working part-time because they can’t find a full-time job reached a new peak.

Although the rise in employment is welcome, we can’t ignore the fact that part-time jobs have risen while the number of full-time jobs has fallen. The overall message from these figures is encouraging, however, as they show the ability and willingness of the private sector to drive recovery at a time when the public sector is likely to shrink further.

But the challenges facing the labour market cannot be overlooked. As the deficit-cutting plan forces the government to reduce employment, it is likely that the unemployment total will increase over the next year. Every effort must be made to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and increase the flow of lending to credit worthy firms so the private sector can create new jobs.

Considerable numbers of local businesses are expected to provide screens for customers and staff to enjoy landmark Olympic moments in local shops, offices, pubs and hotels.  But this reminder comes as research conducted by TV Licensing shows that many small business haven’t  adequately planned ahead to make sure that they stay legal.

• Research shows that 80% of us plan to watch some of the Olympic coverage, but only 11% of small businesses have discussed if and when they will provide TV screens for staff or visitors.  
• More than half haven’t made special allowances for providing screens staff and customers can watch.

Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said small businesses in the region could benefit from showing weekday live events and sporting finals.

“We welcome the boost the Olympics can bring to our businesses and communities.  Research shows that only 1 in 10 have planned to set up an area to watch.  Providing screens for customers, staff and visitors can be a great way to attract attention from potential customers and lift staff morale.”

Jenny Wilkinson, spokesperson for TV Licensing said

“We know that businesses like to share big national events with their staff and customers.  By getting a licence for £145.50 owners and managers will give themselves peace of mind ahead of this amazing Olympic and Jubilee year and avoid the risk of a visit from an enquiry officer.

“We would always rather people pay for their TV Licence than risk an embarrassing prosecution and fine of up to £1,000.”

TV Licensing Enquiry Officers will be visiting unlicensed premises throughout the summer.  Anyone found watching TV illegally risks a court prosecution and fine of up to £1,000 per offence, plus costs. Officers use a database of almost 30 millionUKaddresses to identify premises where they suspect individuals and business owners are using TV illegally.

It has never been easier to pay, just visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk to find out how to register your business for a TV Licence.