Skills Crucial To Economic Growth

Skills Crucial To Economic Growth

Responding to the launch of Skills England, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the BCC, said: “The UK economy has a pervasive skills and productivity problem that stretches back long before the pandemic and Brexit. “Skills shortages ramp up pressure on firms, damaging their ability to operate profitably…

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Most SMEs Still Struggling to Embrace AI

The majority of SMEs are still not using artificial intelligence, despite a growing acceptance by businesses that it will help boost productivity.      Research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce Insights Unit in partnership with specialist recruiter Pertemps Network Group, shows:    • 43% of firms have…

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Delivering On Skills Must Be A Priority

Responding to the latest labour market data published by the ONS this morning, Jane Gratton Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The labour market is continuing to cool but high wage growth is still bearing down heavily on businesses. Our research shows labour costs…

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King’s Speech: Industrial Strategy Can Release Business Ambition

Responding to today’s King’s Speech, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:     “The commitment to an industrial strategy could put in place a framework to unleash the pent-up ambition of British business to grow the economy.    “If we use it to make green innovation…

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Inflation Holding Steady

Reacting to the latest ONS data on inflation, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said:    “Today’s data indicating a 2% increase in the CPI rate shows the UK is exiting its three-year inflation crisis and makes a bank rate cut more likely.    “Our own indicator, tracking…

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Quarterly Recruitment Outlook: Construction Suffers As Hiring Difficulties Rise

• Businesses report recruitment was more difficult in Q2, with more firms facing problems hiring staff • 74% of firms that attempted to recruit over the past three months faced challenges hiring • Construction and engineering firms are the most likely to be facing recruitment problems (82%) • 59% of…

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UK Growth Better Than Expected

Responding to the latest GDP figures published this morning by the ONS, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:    “The UK has had a strong start to the year and today’s data showing 0.9% growth in GDP in the three months to May is better…

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BCC: READY TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LABOUR GOVERNMENT

Director General of the BCC, Shevaun Haviland, has congratulated Labour on its decisive general election victory and pledged to work in partnership with the new Government to boost the economy.       She made the promise after Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, officially conceded the election result this morning, and said:     …

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BCC DIRECTOR GENERAL SHEVAUN HAVILAND: STOP TREADING ON EGGSHELLS AROUND EU TRADE

Director General of the BCC, Shevaun Haviland, has urged the next Government to stop treading on eggshells around trade with the EU if it wants to grow the UK economy. She will make the plea at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Global Annual Conference 2024 on Thursday June 27.…

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Scottish firms less likely to report skills shortages compared with UK, but businesses lack confidence in AI and green technologies

· While over half (56%) of organisations in Scotland continue to struggle with skills gaps, this is lower than UK average of 62% · Around half of businesses lack the confidence to adopt either AI (56%) or green technologies (47%) · Martha Lane Fox, Chancellor of The Open University, and…

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