BCC Director General calls for ‘new settlement with our closest neighbours’

BCC Director General calls for ‘new settlement with our closest neighbours’

Director General Shevaun Haviland calls on the Government to push for a new settlement with the EU to support British businesses to expand and drive growth.  More than 400 businesses are expected at the British Chambers of Commerce’s 2025 Driving International Trade Conference in Central London. Haviland is speaking ahead…

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Growth Suffers As Firms Face Choppy Waters Ahead

Responding to the latest GDP data released by the ONS, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “With businesses facing an impending avalanche of cost pressures, it’s unsurprising that growth is in trouble. With GDP shrinking in January and an expansion of just 0.2% for the…

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Surgical Red-Tape Cuts Can Boost Business

Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech on regulation and civil service reform, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses want regulation which supports rather than hampers them – and we’re encouraged by the Prime Minister’s speech today. “A pledge to cut red tape and unnecessary…

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US Tariffs Hit UK Business

Reacting to the introduction of 25 percent tariffs on exports of UK steel and aluminium to the United States, William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, said: “This is a difficult day for trans-Atlantic trade and plunges businesses, in both the US and UK, into a new age of uncertainty.…

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Planning and Infrastructure Reform Must Benefit Business

Responding to the unveiling of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the BCC, said: “It’s encouraging to see the Government has heeded our calls to tackle the problems of the UK’s worn-out infrastructure to fire up growth. “These reforms have great potential to…

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UK Must Transform Archaic Infrastructure

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on the Government to tackle the problems of the UK’s worn-out infrastructure to fire up growth. Among the recommendations in a new report, published today, the BCC is calling for ministers to: Improve road and rail capacity and electrify key sections of…

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Fresh Uncertainty On US Tariffs

Reacting to the latest remarks by the US President on tariffs, William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, said: “Businesses have been plunged into more uncertainty around the future of tariffs on UK goods after the President’s announcements last night. “The signals from the White House, last week, had suggested…

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BCC Economic Forecast: Growth Downgraded as Firms Struggle to Invest and Export

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Forecast (QEF) has revised down growth expectations for 2025, as firms deal with a raft of rising cost pressures.  Business investment and exports are likely to suffer this year because of the impact of the National Insurance rise and global uncertainties. Inflation…

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Encouraging Signals On US Trade

Reacting to tonight’s remarks by the US President and UK Prime Minister on tariffs and trade deals, William Bain, BCC Head of Trade Policy, said: “The signals from the White House tonight would suggest this was a successful meeting from a UK trade perspective. “Businesses will be encouraged by the…

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National Insurance Creating ‘Powder Keg’ of Costs

82% of firms surveyed say the National Insurance (NI) rise will impact their business Most responding businesses say the increase in NI will impact recruitment (58%) and prices (54%)  Over three quarters (79%) of businesses do not feel the government has properly assessed the impact of its new policies The…

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