East Midlands Chamber will host a live Twitter chat on Wednesday (November 23) giving instant reaction to Chancellor Phillip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement, as part of an event organised by the Chamber and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.
Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy and External Affairs, will lead a panel of regional business leaders – representing a range of sectors from across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire – as they give their immediate reaction as measures are announced.
Organising the event, the Chamber and the D2N2 LEP will be available throughout to give broader analysis from a business, political, economic and regional perspective.
The event will be held at construction consultant Turner and Townsend’s Nottingham offices (last year’s Autumn Statement event is shown above, with Chris Hobson standing and D2N2 LEP CEO David Ralph seated right). This year’s live Twitter feed will be hosted on the Chamber’s website between 12noon and 2pm. Businesses can join the debate using the hashtag #EMCAS2016 or Twitter @EMChamberNews or @D2N2LEP. The Twitter feed can be watched at http://bit.ly/2fxkxbG
Members of the business ’roundtable’ on the day will include representatives from:
- East Midlands Chamber
- D2N2
- Turner and Townsend
- PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
- Purpose Media
- Legendary Games
- Fairgrove Homes
- Compendium Living.
The Chancellor is being asked by the Chamber and D2N2 to deliver progress for business in his Autumn Statement.
In a letter to Mr Hammond, Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles called on him to:
- deliver a world-leading infrastructure
- help local firms reach the rest of the world, post-Brexit
- boost business investment
- provide a day-to-day environment conducive to good business.
The wish list is based on information collated by the Chamber through its Quarterly Economic Survey and from meetings throughout the year, with businesses of all sizes and across all sectors.
The letter to Mr Hammond said: “The geography the Chamber covers represents the spine of UK advanced manufacturing and engineering, is home to the UK’s largest pure freight airport and has been growing and creating jobs in recent years at a rate faster than anywhere else outside of the South-East.
“In many respects the East Midlands represents a microcosm of the wider-UK economy. Policy that supports success for our members will also support success for the UK.”
It added: “Following the vote to leave the European Union, businesses have reported continued growth in both domestic and overseas markets, albeit with added levels of uncertainty for what the future may hold.
“What businesses tell us they now want from Government is a clear vision for what a successful UK economy outside of the EU will look like. And with their experience, knowledge and verve for growth, they want to be involved in shaping a great future for the UK and stand ready to overcome uncertainty and realise new opportunities.”
Chris Hobson said: “Our submission puts forward four simple but bold asks which, if taken forward, will not just result in immediate growth but will also help define key elements for long-term success, sending a clear signal to business at home and overseas that the UK is a great place in which to invest and to do business.”
With nearly 4,000 members across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, East Midlands Chamber is the largest business-representative body in the region.
Peter Richardson, Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “What we want to see in the Autumn Statement is greater Government commitment to enabling businesses to meet the skills challenges of the future, filling the ‘skills gaps’ in their workforces which restrict growth.
“We also need measures which give businesses the confidence to invest in themselves, in both the short and longer term. Clearer direction from Government on its plans for the economy, including how it will handle the effects of Brexit, would inspire that confidence.”
The private sector-led D2N2 LEP’s activities focus on business growth, skills and training and key sector support for SME expansion to promote economic growth in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
The interactive event will take place at Turner and Townsend’s offices, at Pearl House, Friar Lane, Nottingham, NG1 6BT, from noon on Wednesday.
Media contacts for the Autumn Statement event are:
Andy Hibberd, East Midlands Chamber Media and Communications Manager, on 01246 207207 ex.2007 and mobile 07764 431028, email: andy.hibberd@emc-dnl.co.uk AND Sean Kirby, D2N2 LEP Communications Manager, on 0115 957 8749, mobile 07816 762564 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
