Chamber Manifesto 2017
Together We Grow Stronger Influential. Global. Connected. Competitive. Working. A business manifesto for North East England in 2017
The North East England Chamber of Commerce is a powerful advocate and champion of businesses in our region. With our members we campaign tirelessly to improve the business environment in North East England. The Chamber’s Manifesto clearly sets out the changes our members believe will make the biggest positive impact on business success in our region. It also commits the Chamber to campaigning for these changes throughout 2017.
Further afield, we must aspire to be a Global North East. New and existing exporters must be supported to expand into markets across the globe and our region must attract the brightest international talent and more overseas visitors.
Last year saw some dramatic shifts in the political landscape. The outcome of the EU referendum, the appointment of a new Cabinet and further devolution to parts of the region have each presented new challenges and opportunities.
A Connected North East is one where our businesses have easy access to markets and where people and products can move freely around the region without gridlocks.
These developments have all shaped the content of this Manifesto. We know North East England is a great place to do business, but we want it to be the best. This document is our clear vision and campaign blueprint on how this can be achieved. We want to see an Influential North East. The region must punch its weight on the national stage and be given the ability to shape its own economic destiny.
Developing a Competitive North East will involve meaningful collaboration between the public and private sectors to drive local prosperity. Finally, the success we want to see will only come about if we make the transition to a Working North East. Our business success is built on people. We must invest in skills and ensure all young people are able to build a career in the North East. This Manifesto outlines the activity the Chamber will undertake in 2017 to help the region achieve these ambitions. It has been
developed following extensive consultation with members and has been approved by the Chamber’s Council. Our success relies upon the support and dedication of our members. I would like to thank everybody who has contributed to the development of the Manifesto and I encourage all of our members to participate in our campaigning activity throughout the year. Together, we grow stronger.
Mike Matthews MBE Chamber President
Influential North East
The Chamber is a powerful advocate for North East England. We are proud to be in business in the North East and know that the region is capable of further outstanding growth. To achieve this, we must expand our influence and secure the right powers to make it happen. Louise Hunter, Director of Corporate Affairs at Northumbrian Water
The Government remains committed to devolution as a means of regional economic development. Several statements have also been issued reaffirming support for the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ initiative. North East England stands to benefit from both of these policies, providing the region can effectively articulate its offer and its needs. In 2016, progress on the issue of devolution in the North East has been patchy. We are extremely pleased with the strides being made in Tees Valley and will continue to work with the Combined Authority to ensure a meaningful business voice is placed at the
heart of decision making. In the north of the region, we are dismayed at the inability of the North East Combined Authority to agree a deal and have expressed this disappointment both privately and publicly. We remain committed to the principle of devolution and will continue to push for more decision making powers to be brought to the North East. We are also acutely aware of the need to raise the profile of North East England. We know this is a great region in which to do business and will do all we can to ensure that message is heard far and wide.
In 2017, the Chamber will: Continue to champion devolution to the North East and communicate its benefits
Ensure the greatest possible use of business expertise in devolved decision making
Challenge and support local political leaders outside devolved areas to deliver on growth aspirations
Advocate the North East’s role and potential as a vital and distinctive part of the Northern Powerhouse
Raise awareness of the North East as a great place to do business
Global North East
As a digital media company based in Billingham, we have been exporting for ten years. Support from the Chamber has given us the confidence and ability to grow through export, which contributes almost half our income. We now regard exporting as a natural part of our business. Lesley Moody MBE, Managing Director, AES Digital Ltd
Throughout 2016 North East England has retained and built upon its reputation as a national leader in exports and overseas trade. However, the outcome of the EU referendum has led to a great deal of uncertainty over our future relationship with our biggest trading partner. Maintaining a positive trading relationship with countries in the EU is essential for the future of so many of our exporters. This issue must now be de-politicised to ensure that our businesses can continue to trade freely with those in Europe. Our desire to grow trade also extends beyond the EU.
The Government must uphold its promise to strike new deals with countries across the globe and provide far greater support to encourage businesses to explore overseas markets. We must also maintain broad horizons when seeking to attract the best global talent and overseas visitors to our region. Migration rules which place the North East at a competitive disadvantage will only harm our economy, while our efforts to promote the region as a wonderful place to visit must be redoubled.
In 2017, the Chamber will: Campaign for a new trading relationship with the EU that provides our exporters with unbureaucratic and low cost access to the single market
Demand far greater support for new and existing North East exporters through trade missions and overseas exhibitions
Push for clarity from the Government throughout the Brexit process and insist upon business expertise at the heart of trade negotiations
Campaign for flexible migration rules which allows the North East to retain and compete for highly skilled overseas talent
Establish mechanisms to ensure the whole business community can maximise opportunities from the visitor economy
Chamber activity in 2016
Throughout 2016 the Chamber has campaigned on a range of issues, leading to real changes that will improve the business environment within North East England. Some of our achievements included;
Devolution agreement reached for Tees Valley Government commitment to dual the A66 and improve the A69 Backing for successful NewcastleGateshead bid to host Great Exhibition of the North in 2018 Support for the development of a third runway at Heathrow
Connected North East
Investment in infrastructure will deliver a significant boost to the North East economy. This infrastructure must also include investment in technology which can deliver significant short-term improvements in making our transport assets work better. In turn this will make people’s lives better and business more effective. Trevor Platt, Business Development Manager, Nicander Ltd
In recent years the Chamber has successfully campaigned for a number of infrastructure improvements to help our members access their markets. The recently completed works on the A1 Western Bypass, planned improvements to the A66 and Government backing for expansion at Heathrow demonstrate how powerful the business voice can be in securing infrastructure investment. We will publish a refreshed statement of the region’s transport priorities and will campaign throughout 2017 for these schemes to be delivered. We will also produce a report on the future of public
transport in our region in early 2017 and will work with both operators and business users to develop a more coherent and efficient network. In recognition of the increasing importance of digital networks to business we will listen to our members to understand how this infrastructure can be improved. The North East must also position itself as a solution to national resource issues. With an abundance of water, space for development and world-leading expertise in new and traditional power generation, our region must be considered an essential part of the UK’s approach to tackling future energy needs.
In 2017, the Chamber will: Campaign for major investment in the regional rail network, including a firm commitment to the delivery of High Speed Rail to the North East
Push for new air and sea links to support our export and investment aspirations, and oppose any policies which harm this connectivity
Call for the development of a much more responsive and cohesive public transport network in the region
Insist upon the rapid delivery of infrastructure projects already in the pipeline including further work on both the A1 and A19 and trans-Pennine road improvements
Make the case for investment in North East England as a prime location for UK energy generation
Competitive North East
At a time of uncertainty in the economy, it is essential that the region works together to maximise inward investment, and the North East England Chamber of Commerce, and its members, have a key role to play in delivering the development which will drive our future prosperity. Jonathan Wallace, Senior Director, Head of Newcastle Office, Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners
The ongoing success of our members show what a great place the North East is to set up and grow a business. Yet we know there is so much more we can do to create the best possible ecosystem in which to grow world beating firms and to provide a quality environment that attracts people to set up home in our region. The lending environment in the region has improved significantly since the financial crisis, but far too many businesses lack knowledge and expertise of all the ways in which they can secure external funding for growth. Public bodies in the region can still
improve how they spend their money with local firms. We must also ensure the region’s business support infrastructure is not harmed by the withdrawal of EU funds. Improving the competitiveness of our business environment will require effective partnerships between all players in the regional economy. Private, public and third sector interests all have an interest in improving our productivity and performance. We will work with a range of organisations to open up new economic opportunities for our members.
In 2017, the Chamber will: Work to raise awareness of all available business finance options in the region
Enable the North East to deliver more through changes to European funding
Work with the public sector to deliver smarter procurement outside of EU restrictions
Highlight the value of the cultural sector for the wider business community
Campaign for more housing development and support for young people to get onto the housing ladder
Call for greater use and strengthening of local powers to improve town centres and the retail environment
Work to develop business support options that reduce the barriers faced by female entrepreneurs
Working North East
With the introduction of apprenticeship reforms it is important for businesses to understand how this will impact their training strategy and ensure they attract the best talent. By engaging with education providers we can have an impact on careers guidance and create a talent pipeline for our future workforce. Catherine Boland, HR Manager, printed.com
The North East labour market continues to perform well. Proportionally, our region saw the greatest fall in unemployment of anywhere in the country in 2016. Significant credit for this must go to our businesses, who continue to invest heavily in skills and talent. The recruitment of apprentices in the North East is a shining example of this commitment, with the number of new starts per head in the North East far outstripping other regions. Despite the positives, we know that more must be done to reach those who are too far removed from the labour market. Our businesses are in constant need of new skilled
staff, yet support for retraining those who have left other industries is extremely limited. We must also ensure that the Apprenticeship Levy does not undermine business confidence in the training system. As we look to the future, we must ensure our young people have a fully developed understanding of the regional economy and the opportunities open to them. This can only be achieved through a significant improvement in the provision of careers advice and a step-change in levels of engagement between businesses and education.
In 2017, the Chamber will: Ensure that North East businesses and training providers are able to benefit from apprenticeship reforms and increase take-up of higher and degree apprenticeships
Call on all schools in the North East to improve careers guidance, building on the work of the Gatsby pilot
Lead a campaign to significantly increase business engagement with education
Work with employers and regional universities to improve levels of graduate retention in the region
Campaign for new funding models to support the retraining of experienced workers and open up opportunities for the unemployed
T. 0300 303 6322 W. neechamber.co.uk @neechamber Aykley Heads, Durham DH1 5TS