Policy & Lobbying

The British Business Bank has launched its new Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II), a £660m fund set to cover the entire North of England. The Fund will continue to be available for businesses operating in Lancashire. Since the launch of the first Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund in 2017, it has delivered over £570m of direct and private sector [...]

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Forecast has slightly upgraded growth expectations for 2024 and 2025, as the recession lasts just two quarters, but strong growth will remain elusive. UK Economic Outlook The UK economy is expected to grow every year until the end of 2026 but will continue to lack momentum. While 2023 ended with a technical [...]

British Business Bank:Inspirational Disabled Woodworker Chosen as Start Up Loans Ambassador for The Northwest Leo Winstanley, founder of Hand-i-Craft in Formby announced as North West Ambassador Start Up Loans recognises 12 small businesses from across the UK as leading and inspiring examples of UK start-ups supported by the programme The programme has delivered more than £122.5m of funding to [...]

Commenting on the news of the agreement on UK participation in Horizon Europe, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  “The BCC has been making the case for some time that the best future for investment and international collaboration in our key sciences, higher education and research sectors is with Horizon Europe.   “If [...]

The British Chambers of Commerce has marginally upgraded its 2023 GDP forecast to 0.4%, but reports that economic activity will remain very weak throughout 2024 and 2025. Reflecting on today’s update from the BCC, Miranda Barker OBE, Chief Executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Today’s forecast and subsequent reporting paints quite an unpromising economic outlook, but this [...]

Reacting to the latest ONS labour market figures, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director, Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The figures showing pay growing at a record annual pace highlight the unrelenting workforce pressures businesses are facing. In a tight labour market, employers are struggling to contain wage inflation as the expectations of their staff and job candidates continue to rise. “BCC research published earlier this month, shows only a slight fall in the [...]

Reacting to the latest inflation data from the ONS, Alex Veitch, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Today’s news that consumer price inflation continued to ease in July is encouraging. However, this comes off the back of months of high prices which have hit business hard. Many firms have yet to see the cost of [...]

The Lancashire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) report has been approved by government – paving the way for more understanding into recruitment and provision in the county. Following an insightful nine months of discussion and debate, the LSIP will now continue into its next phase which will attempt to see further collaboration between Lancashire's employers and education providers. East [...]

The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO), a survey of 4,800 UK firms of all sectors and sizes by the British Chambers of Commerce reveals there is still no easing in the record high difficulties in finding staff. Government must fix people problem to ease inflation and take pressure off interest rate rises 79% of businesses surveyed (92% of whom are SMEs) attempting to recruit have faced challenges, with hospitality [...]

Commenting on the Bank of England’s latest rise in the interest rate to 5.25%, Vicky Pryce, British Chambers of Commerce, Economic Advisory Council member, said: “Businesses across the UK will be fervently hoping that today’s rise in interest rates is the last they will see. “While many firms will have already factored this increase into their plans, it is clear from the recent rise in insolvencies that the economic environment is becoming [...]