Business

Manifesto
APRIL 2015

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce

Foreword

In the run up to the general election, the Bedfordshire

Chamber of Commerce has been engaging with partners,
politicians and influencers to ensure Bedfordshires
business voice is heard on a number of key issues.

The Chamber asked its local business leaders their

opinions on what the priorities were for their business postelection. The results allowed us to focus on the three main
priorities facing business and discuss the issues at hand.

The three priorities were:

Priority 1: Skills
Priority 2: Transport & Infrastructure
Priority 3: Stable Government

The outcome of these discussions were captured and are

presented in the following paper.

Priority 1: Skills

Priority 1: Skills
Businesses can only perform as well as the people that start, run and work in them. To thrive,
they need access to the right skills, in the right place at the right time. A quality pipeline of
young people entering the labour market for the first time is essential, as are the tools to
improve the skills of existing employees.
Businesses often report that young people are inadequately equipped with the soft skills and
knowledge needed to make a smooth transition from education to the workplace. Weve seen
and heard that local businesses are often hampered by mismatches between the skills they
need and those available in the local area.
You have told us that your business needs schools and colleges to prepare young people for
employment; that work with employers to address the skills shortages and equip the next
generation with the skills needed to support your business.

The Tabled Issues:

A greater emphasis on vocational skills is needed and to ensure that sector specific
skills are not lost.

Schools should not just be focusing on teaching to test, but also developing the
employability and life skills needed to get into and get on in the workplace.

Employers want more influence over the funding of skills and simplified routes to
funding. The need to align funding streams to match continuous learning and
development at all ages.

Employers want to improve the perception of apprenticeships and influence the

curriculum to meet the needs of local business. A genuine equality of esteem must be
placed on vocational education and not seen solely as an option for those deemed to
be less academic.

More focus is required on STEM subjects in primary schools to ensure the local skills
gap is narrowed.

Local career opportunities need to be introduced earlier in schooling and clearer

pathways communicated on what is required to achieve aspirations.

Priority 1: Skills

Whats currently happening nationally?

The British Chambers of Commerce are lobbying government to guarantee universal

experience of work in all schools UK-wide to improve employment prospects.

Chambers of Commerce are seeking a business governor in every school to increase

business engagement in education.

The British Chambers of Commerce are proposing to government that secondary

schools are assessed on employment outcomes to better prepare young people for
work.

Whats currently happening locally?

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce is making sure schools are more aware of local
business needs and supporting schools to develop healthy relationships with their local
business community. We currently work with 15 schools and colleges to help them
engage with local businesses but our challenge is to increase this engagement
throughout Bedfordshire.

We have held a number of business events in conjunction with a local college to bring
employers from various sectors in to inspire students with the opportunities that exist
locally.

A Chamber member has provided an annual bursary of 15,000 since 2010 to assist a
student from Luton to attend University studying Engineering. We are currently judging
entries for the 5th award.

Attendance at local schools career events and providing support for their students with
interview skills.

What next?
As a result of the survey Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce will intensify their focus on:

Becoming champions for vocational options in education. Bridging the gap between
education and business to ensure there is a clear link between the curriculum and the
current and future demands of the labour market.

Educating & inspiring young people to consider apprenticeships as a powerful route to

employment.

Increasing the number of schools and colleges we work with and becoming a catalyst
for education and business to work together.

Improving the perception of Apprenticeships in the SME business community and

helping them to invest in apprenticeships and workplace training.

Priority 2: Transport & Infrastructure

Priority 2: Transport & Infrastructure

A world class economy needs world class infrastructure. Businesses rely on transport
networks to move goods and people and failure to invest in capacity and maintenance is
hampering business growth and costing jobs.
Without significant efforts from government to accelerate the pace of infrastructure delivery,
the UKs ability to compete internationally will be undermined.
You have told us that for Bedfordshire to remain competitive we must not aim just to make do
but to always focus on the long term growth of the county.

The Tabled Issues:

To ensure emphasis is always on delivering long term growth for Bedfordshire and that
infrastructure requirements remain at the forefront of policy when considering the
future needs of the county.

Improvements in the quality of local roads must be addressed.

Town Centre congestion

Planning policy has to be reformed.

Infrastructure projects suffer from delays in decision-making, planning and delivery

resulting in increased costs and the holding back of economic growth.

Whats currently happening nationally?

The British Chambers of Commerce are pushing the government to deliver on

promised investments in road and rail schemes of national importance.

The Chamber network is petitioning at Westminster to create a new independent body

to set the UKs infrastructure requirements - so that decisions on infrastructure are
based on expert analysis and the long term strategic interests of the UK, rather than
short term politics.

The British Chambers of Commerce are promoting nationally the need to reform the
planning system to free up more land for much needed new homes.

Priority 2: Transport & Infrastructure

Whats currently happening locally?

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce will continue to be an active stakeholder in the

East West rail link and represent Bedfordshire businesses in lobbying for the
completion of the central section of the line.

The Chamber has been active in the support for the Oxford-Cambridge dual
carriageway links and is nearing completion with the Caxton Gibbet section soon to be
undertaken.

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce has been long supporting the additional river
crossing for the Batts Ford Bridge in Bedford.

What next?
As a result of the survey Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce will focus on:

To continue to lobby for all significant developments to have the right infrastructure in
place before any housing, retail or industrial commitments are made.

To locally influence a long term strategy that encourages business growth supported
by effective infrastructure and a skilled workforce.

Priority 3: Stable Government

Priority 3: Stable Government

Business is the lifeblood of the economy, creating wealth, employment and opportunities.
Thats why it is vital that we create the right environment for small, medium and large sized
firms to invest, grow and create new jobs.
Businesses need predictable, reliable and stable policy to generate confidence in the market
place and one that creates an environment that supports business to plan and invest in the
long term.
You have told us that placing business at the heart of policy and creating a stable government
with a long term vision rather short term politics is essential to the growth of your business.
There was also a clear view that the government must drive down business taxes, especially
those that stifle investment and business rates that are the highest in Europe.

The Tabled Issues:

Ministers concentrate on short term politics rather than long term UK strategies when
considering policy. A cross party/expert body focused on business growth and
infrastructure in the UK is essential for future prosperity.

There is a concern that a lack of progress is often made due to the shuffling of
ministers in government.

A stable tax regime needs to be established to encourage long term planning and
capital investment.

We would like to see faster, more decisive government decision making.

There is a need to generate confidence in business rather than generating the fear of
uncertainty.

That the decision regarding the EU position needs to be clarified.

A review of the business rate system must be used to implement a clearer and fairer
system.

Priority 3: Stable Government

Whats currently happening nationally?

The British Chambers of Commerce are representing business to call for a business
property tax system that is fair to all firms and no longer a drag on investment and
growth. Calling for a freeze on business rates for all companies until
2017 and delivering a full revaluation of premises.

The Chamber network is lobbying central government to establish a tax system that is
transparent, supports business growth and allows business to invest and create jobs.

The Chamber network is petitioning at Westminster to create a new independent body

to set the UKs infrastructure requirements - so that decisions on infrastructure are
based on expert analysis and the long term strategic interests of the UK, rather than
short term politics.

Whats currently happening locally?

Although these areas of concern are seen as national issues the Bedfordshire
Chamber of Commerce will continue to represent business in Bedfordshire through the
British Chambers of Commerce to ensure your voice is heard.

What next?
As a result of the survey Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce will continue to look to:

Capturing your business concerns and better understand your barriers to growth so we
can feed your views to local and central government.

The Other Issues

The Other Issues:

Although there were clear winners on the three main priorities facing your business postelection additionally there were the following local themes that came from the survey.

Raising the visibility of Bedfordshire and making it a destination rather than a drive
through county.
Simplifying and co-ordinating of grant availability and business support.
The three local authorities need to speak with a united voice and have a combined
vision.
There is a need to reduce red tape and make planning easier with ready access to the
right people to make a difference.
UK Visa and immigration regulations are handicapping international student
recruitment.
Lack of co-ordinated and readily available support on exporting to new markets.

Whats currently happening locally?

The Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce is working with a number of stakeholders to

ensure that the county and what it can offer is recognised on a national and
international platform.

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce is a key delivery partner for SEMLEP and is

helping to provide business support in Bedfordshire. Through the Velocity Business
Support programme SMEs can call on one-to-one support with a Growth Adviser and
access grants that assist their business growth aspirations. To date Velocity has
engaged with over 300 businesses locally and Advisers have helped them to access
grants/funding of over 400k with the project helping to create or safeguard 163 jobs.

The Chamber is working with the three local authorities and SEMLEP across a number
of themes to establish a long term vision for the county.

As a Chamber we have assisted a number of businesses with planning issues and will
continue to be the strong voice of support where economic benefits and business need
are at the heart of the debate.

The export team at Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce has helped businesses export
over 130 million worth of goods outside of the EU in the last 12 months and has a
strong relationship with UKTI so exporters can access the right information, at the right
time to make your business truly global.

The Other Issues

What next?

Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce is looking to strengthen its business support

service and build on the early successes of the Velocity Business Support programme.

We are looking to create the right platform and channels to ensure your business is
receiving up-to-date market and commercial information that is relevant to you.

The Chamber wants to strengthen its network and increase our voice so that
businesses in Bedfordshire are at the heart of all local and central government
decision making.

We want to further our first stop offering for your business to access the right support
at the right time and help your business to build relationships, stay connected, go
global and ensure your message is heard.

The Question of the European Union

Businesses are pragmatic about Britains future place in the EU. They are keen to
take advantage of the opportunities, but are also vocal about the costs and burdens
created by policies that hamper their competitiveness and that of the UK as a whole.
Expectations from businesses are that the government must ensure that in the long
term the UK is not disadvantaged by the ever evolving Eurozone.

We posed the question?

With the possibility of an in/out referendum on the EU post-election what
would you like to see happen?
Overwhelming, 85% of respondents, wanted to remain in the EU, but with specific
powers transferred back from Brussels to Westminster.
Its clear from the survey that businesses see the EU as an opportunity to grow their
business but not at any cost. There was a strong message that we must remain in the
EU but on renegotiated terms.

Whats currently happening nationally?

The British Chamber of Commerce is petitioning for the government to deliver a new
settlement in Europe. We want to see secure and binding safeguards in place for the
UK in future EU decision making so we can retain a key role in the Single Market.

Focusing the EU on securing global free trade for it members. Reducing barriers to
trade and investment for UK businesses around the world, by focusing resources on
trade liberalisation rather than burdensome internal regulation.

Delivering the Manifesto

Delivering the Manifesto

Growth will be driven by business, with policy the enabler. The business community
stands ready to partner with local and central government in these areas and is
committed to ensuring that business remains at the forefront of governments plans in
preparing for the long term.
This manifesto is not a standalone document but will be part of Bedfordshire Chamber
of Commerces ongoing dialogue with politicians and decision makers and used to
place your business priorities at the heart of everything we do.