General election: Businesses in Gloucestershire tell us what they really want
As we rumble towards the general election and political messages fill the airwaves it’s hard to work out what Gloucestershire business wants. So we asked the its three key chambers of commerce.
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Thursday’s edition of The Raikes Journal. We hope your week is going well.
If you are reading this when we send it, the question might be ‘why are you not watching the England v Denmark game instead? We’re glad you chose Raikes (afterall, there is always catch-up!).
This week we had the pleasure of visiting one of the most influential and exciting leaders of the construction sector in the county and beyond, even if she doesn’t realise it yet!
That’s a story we’ll be writing up very soon.
In the meantime, we have today’s big read. In a time when it is hard to escape what political figures want us to think about the forthcoming general election we thought we’d ask county businesses what they want. We have their answers below and think they make for interesting reading - and we thank all of the chambers of commerce for taking part.
We’ve also managed to include two or three short stories for you, and a piece highlighting a forthcoming seminar on immigration and how to make that work for your business. No, it’s not another election piece!
And being a Thursday, this is a members’ edition - which means we have paywalled the main story to help make this community interest company sustainable and to be able to deliver you some quality journalism, which we think you deserve.
Please do consider helping our cause! As you’ll see below, you can become a member for as little as £2.30 a week - or £1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once.
Maybe we’ll write about you if you come on board too!
As always, we hope you enjoy what we do. Please do spread the word.
Please do send us your story ideas to andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk. Or telephone 07956 926061.
* Everything you read on The Raikes Journal is made possible by our incredible Founding Partners: QuoLux, Willans LLP, Gloucestershire College, Merrell People and Randall & Payne; our sponsors Hartpury University and Hartpury College; our Founding Members and all our wonderful paying subscribers. If you upgrade to paid too, you’ll be able to see beyond the paywalls we place on many of our second and third email editions of the week and that lock our archive after two weeks. You will be able to view our rolling Top 100 Businesses in Gloucestershire series, comment on our stories and you’ll be helping to make possible this community interest company dedicated to supporting the county, its businesses, charities and education and training providers — all for just £2.30 a week - or £1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once.!! For commercial opportunities visit our About us page or email andrew.merrell@raikesjournal.co.uk.
The Raikes Journal is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our mission, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Your briefing notes
🗑️ Urbaser, which looks after Gloucestershire’s waste and owns the controversial landmark Javelin Park incinerator near Junction 12 of the M5, has sold its UK business interests. Which means all those services it runs across Gloucestershire are now owned by FCC Servicios Medio Ambiente, which is 75 per cent owned by Spanish conglomerate FCC and 25 per cent owned by the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). It looks like it will be business as usual here in the county and for the controversial £633 million incinerator and its 40 staff. The facility burns more than 90 per cent of the county’s household waste producing enough electricity to power around 25,000 homes each year.
📉 The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has today made its latest decision on interest rates – keeping them at 5.25 per cent despite inflation falling to two per cent in May. Apparently the committee voted seven-to-two in favour, with only Dave Ramsden and Swati Dhingra suggesting it was time for a 0.25 per cent cut. Overall, the message from the MPC is that inflation could rise slightly in the second half of 2024.
👨🏫 Randall & Payne has opened the door to a special session it is due to stage for Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce members to all business people from the county. The session will help business managers look more closely at their leadership style to improve their impact on both the business and their relationships within it. Will Abbott, a business advisory partner at the Shurdington-headquartered firm, will lead the ‘Everything DISC’ learning experience, which will seek to identify your personality type and how best you can harness your qualities. It’s free and due to take place on 16 July from 9am to 11.30am. You can find out more here.
Immigration: Ensure you make the right arrangements for overseas staff
Business are facing key changes to immigration rules around hiring overseas staff, but luckilly Willans is on hand with a free webinar to help firm’s navigate a process that could leave them with a stiff financial penalty if they get it wrong. Not to mention still needing staff!
In sectors as diverse as care and construction, labour from abroad remains vital and in increasing demand. In the tech sector (a growing area for Gloucestershire) more than a quarter of UK businesses have already hired candidates from overseas or in the process of doing so.
Along with the changes fines for companies employing an illegal worker have increased substantially, with first offence penalties now in the region of £20,000 for each member of staff wrongly employed and maximum fines rising to £45,000 and £60,000 per worker.
And there have been changes to rules covering dependents for health and care workers, on visas, around CQC (Care Quality Commission) registration, on the introduction of a minimum salary threshold for skilled workers (up from £26,200 to £38,700) and changes to sponsorship licence renewal.
“We will cover things like the ‘right to work check’, sponsors licenses, how to recruit from abroad, what the fees are, business visas and internships,” said Klára Grmelová, part of Willan’s expert employment law team due to stage the webinar.
“A lot of clients we have helped have IT backgrounds. But they might be from the care sector, health care including doctors, hositality or another area. It is really broad.
“We can give an overview in these seminars, but we can then get to know clients and offer a personal service to suit their needs. Everyone will want something different.
“It might be that firms want to offer placements to staff abroad, or to rotate people between offices.
“Or it might be that a firm needs to sponsor someone because of their skillset. Perhaps they have found it difficult to find someone in the UK talent pool, but there is someone abroad and they need that skillset to help the company.
“Or they have someone they really like who works for them who they know will benefit from some time in another office or culture to continue to develop and stay with the business.”
The webinar is due to take place on Tuesday 25 June from 9.30am to 11am. It is aimed at directors, senior executives with responsibility for HR and risk management, business owners, HR professionals and in-house legal advisors. You can find out more here.
General election: Businesses in Gloucestershire tell us what they really want
As we rumble towards the general election and political messages fill the airwaves it’s hard to work out what Gloucestershire business wants. So we asked the its three key chambers of commerce. Here’s what they said…
By Andrew Merrell
One of the benefits of facing a new era, in this case a new UK Government, is that it focuses minds and if the right conversations are had and people think they are being heard, it can give everyone that key ingredient – hope.
We’re in a period where politicians are keen to tell us what it is we want and what the country needs, perhaps because they have been listening to us first, perhaps because they haven’t, but the only way to find out what someone wants is to ask them.
Which is what we did. Keen to find out what business in Gloucestershire want we asked the four key chambers of commerce that represent hundreds of businesses Gloucestershire-wide - in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud and Cirencester (we also asked the Forest of Dean Economic Partnership, but it declined to comment).
We’re not going to win any prizes for the questions, but we think the answers are illuminating, and shed a little light on what it is those who represent many of our small and medium-sized firms county-wide want to see post 4 July.
What do your members/business in your area want most of all from the next Government?
Steven Murray, president of Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce, and partner and head of IP and technology disputes at law firm HCR, said: “A stable, straight-talking cabinet, that deliver on their promises.
“In reality, the next government will be largely restrained by the decisions and structures already in existence, but if ‘UK Ltd’ is to thrive, the government has to act the same way successful business owners do – using common sense to address obstacles and get creative to achieve their goals.
“But above all, honesty about the reasons for actions taken.”
Luke Lutman, president of the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce and co-founder and director of Phoenix Consultants, said: “Businesses have endured huge adversity over the last five years of turbulence in government, a pandemic and rising prices of goods and services.
“The inbound government needs to bring the country back to a stable and more predictable status to foster optimism and encourage business innovation and development.”
Adam Vines, president of the Cirencester Chamber of Commerce and a director at Lounge Designs, said: “Businesses in our area primarily seek a stable economic environment, with an emphasis on reducing regulatory burdens and providing clear, consistent policies.
“Key areas of focus include tax: The simplification and reduction of business taxes to foster growth and investment.
“Local procurement: Reward businesses who buy local to improve local economy, environment and social value
“Skills and Training: Support for workforce development, including investments in education and vocational training to address skills shortages.
“Support for SMEs: Tailored support for small and medium-sized enterprises, including access to finance and export opportunities.”
Tony Davey, chairman of Stroud Chamber of Commerce and Mayor of Stroud, said: “There are many areas that Stroud District businesses tell me they need resolved or improved.
“Outside of solid economic growth and raising consumer confidence through rebalancing interest rates and inflation, the most common ask is to deliver a new business rates system - one of the five point plan suggested by the British Chamber of Commerce.
“The current one disproportionately favours big business and out-of-town sites, whereas a fairer system could be aligned more towards sales - so the more sales the more is paid.
“Recent business rate revaluations have also impacted some where commercial units nearby have been changed to residential dwellings, which then artificially inflates a commercial property worth. This can impact our town high streets significantly.”
Knowing the county has lost its voice of business, GFirst LEP, we also asked the three leaders what they thought of the British Chambers of Commerce Election Manifesto, which goes heavy on the importance of business having a powerful, united voice at the table of the next government?
We pressed them on the importance of the Western Gateway. Just how significant is it for Gloucestershire?
And we asked them if there was anything they would like to add? And their answers might just well surprise you!
To read the rest of the article and see beyond all our paywalls you have to become a member, something you can do for the equivalent for £2.30 a week, or £1.80 a week if two or more people sign up at once. You’ll not only get access to this and many more articles - articles you won’t get anywhere else - you’ll be helping make sustainable this community interest company, dedicated to delivering informative journalism for the county and to helping build pride, community and connections here in Gloucestershire.
We’ve been looking at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Election Manifesto. How important is it that business has a powerful, united voice at the table of the next government?
Murray said: “It’s vital to have a powerful united voice. It is not possible to please all of the people all of the time, but it becomes impossible to please any of them if they are not clear about what they want and how they see it can be achieved.
“By working with all the chambers, who in turn have canvassed the views of their members, the BCC can corelate what businesses need and would like, and then present that to government for consideration.”
Lutman said: “It is extremely important that business has a seat at the table to rejuvenate the UK economy in a sustainable way and advise the government in the best way to do so. There are two points on the British Chambers’ manifesto that stood out.
1. Business rates reform is a big issue to bring businesses back to the high street and rebuild our city centers.
2. Improved relations with the European Union to cut the costs for businesses, to reopen markets in Europe to share resources, services and products.”
Vines said: “It is crucial that businesses have a powerful, united voice in government discussions. A unified business representation ensures that the collective needs and concerns of the business community are effectively communicated.
“British Chambers of Commerce and FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) do this well collectively, but local MPs don’t engage much with local business groups.”
Davey said: “It’s important for business to have a voice at all levels of government - central government and local government alike.
“No single area is the same as another and whilst there are nationally-driven changes needed, there is plenty to be achieved through local collaboration and dialogue.”
We also have the seemingly growing momentum of the Western Gateway. Is this a welcome addition - or a distraction for Gloucestershire - and should we be getting behind it?
Murray said: “Need to consider this further as the Western Gateway has many opportunities for Gloucestershire and, so long as interests are aligned, it is something which we should remain involved in.
“Better to be at the table than not, at least there we’d have an opportunity to consider what is happening and influence it before it presents an issue for Gloucestershire”
Lutman said: “The Western Gateway is a great asset and gives this area a combined voice allowing Gloucestershire to utilise its key position in the surrounding area and building strong links.
“The push for better travel connection and sustainable energy is very important and part of a bright future for the region.”
Vines said: “The Western Gateway represents a significant opportunity rather than a distraction for Gloucestershire.
“However, it maybe the case that the county misses out on investment in favour of other areas in the gateway with a ‘stronger voice’. Time will tell.
“While some concerns about local priorities might arise, aligning with the Western Gateway can position Gloucestershire to leverage broader regional strengths and opportunities.”
Davey said: “Any organisation or collective that can look to get investment and grow the economy in a region should be a positive thing, but we must not lose sight of the role areas outside of the major cities play.
“Where there is alignment with Gloucestershire’s economic strategy, and that strategy includes supporting the outlying areas too, it should not be a distraction.”
Is there anything you would like to add?
Murray said: “It can be isolating running a business and each of our members, whether they are businesses or sole traders, will feel the impact of any change of government differently.
“Should anyone reading this want support from their local chamber, reach out – we are there to support you and your business.”
Lutman said: “Economic uncertainty is stifling innovation and expansion of larger businesses as well as deterring startups, putting on hold ideas for new ventures in favor of a safer approach.”
Vines said: “It is essential for businesses to stay engaged with ongoing political and economic developments.
“Regular dialogue between businesses, local government, and broader regional initiatives can ensure that policies are responsive to the needs of the business community.
“Additionally, fostering innovation and sustainability should remain a priority, aligning with both national and global trends to maintain competitiveness and drive future growth.
“The Together Gloucestershire project aligns with this perfectly but gaining investment from local authorities takes time.”
Davey said: “The BCC highlights, in its five-point plan, the urgent need to reverse some of the damage that Brexit has caused to businesses and supply chains. This is a common ask.
“We undoubtedly need improved trading relations with our closest trading partner, as the rises in costs and restriction of goods just fails to make economic sense and fails to serve the well consumer either.”