South Cheshire Business Reports & Information
Keep up to date on the issues affecting your region
We have collated the latest business reports and information on the various areas affecting local businesses. Read and download the reports below.
Recruitment
Quarterly Recruitment Outlook Q2 2023
The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook, a survey of 4,800 UK firms of all sectors and sizes by the British Chambers of Commerce, reveals there is still no easing in the record high difficulties in finding staff.
Read the press release here.
Business Barometer 2023
The annual report, published by The Open University and the British Chambers of Commerce, provides a temperature check on the UK skills landscape
Read the report here.
Occupational Health: BCC Deadline for responses 29 September
The Government has issued 2 consultations on employers’ use of occupational health to help get more people back into work–and help them stay in work when they experience a health condition. The first Occupational Health: Working Better seeks views on how to increase employer use of Occupational Health (OH) Services.
The second, “Tax Incentives for Occupational Health”, explores the role of tax incentives in boosting occupational health provision by employers.
Call for Evidence: Non - statutory Flexible Working: - BCC Deadline 26 October
Following commitments made in the Government response to the consultation making flexible working the default and the Chancellor’s Spring Budget statement, DBT is seeking views from businesses and individuals on their experiences of non-statutory flexible working and how it operates in practice.
- Ad hoc arrangements: Why employers provide this type of flexibility, how it is used by individuals and any barriers to take-up.
- Regular arrangements: what arrangements employers offer and how and on what basis they are agreed.
If you would like to provide your views on flexible working, please contact us on info@sccci.co.uk and we will pass these onto Department for Business and Trade.
Finance
Find A Grant
Find a Grant is a UK government service that allows individuals and organisations to find and apply for general government grants.
Find government grants and check if you are eligible to apply here.
Cheshire East Council's Grants & Finance
Check out Cheshire East Council’s current and planned business support grant programmes. If you’re interested in applying or would like some assistance, please let us know.
See the available grants here.
Net Zero
BCC Net Zero Survey - North West Data
BCC recently completed the fieldwork for their 2023 International Trade Survey which ran between 9 October and 3 November 2023. A briefing session for Chambers was held on 9 November.
Here is the summary dataset for the North West, which received 217 responses. As a general rule, questions with fewer than 100 responses should be ignored.
Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)
Employer Skills Survey
Responses to the latest Employer Skills Survey help us create the report below. The results of this survey will inform the development of a Local Skills Improvement Plan for Cheshire & Warrington.
Read the report here.
Emerging Priorities
The Emerging Priorities report was carried out by South Cheshire Chamber to determine the gap between skill demand and supply in the local labour market. It highlights the challenges but also opportunities in the region.
Read the report here.
UK Business Landscape
The Power of British Business: A Framework for the Future
The British Chambers of Commerce has published a framework for the future to fully unlock ‘The Power of British Business’. Their report outlines key policy asks on economic growth, skills and employment, trade; and net-zero.
Read the report here.
BCC Quarterly Economic Forecast Q3 2023
The QES is the UK's largest independent Investment survey of business sentiment. Thank you to everyone who filled out our QES survey. Your input contributed to BCC's overall report.
Read the full report here.
Three Key Fixes Needed For SME Finance
The British Chambers of Commerce has called for action to improve the availability of finance for SMEs as accessibility, awareness and a lack of competition continue to hold firms back.
Read the press release here.
International Trade
BCC Trade Manifesto 2023
The British Chambers of Commerce oversees a dynamic Network of 53 accredited UK Chambers with affiliates in over 75 international markets committed to creating a platform for businesses to shape the economy for the better.
Read their latest Trade Manifesto here.
RED TAPE, REGULATION & COSTS HOLDING BACK EXPORTS
A survey of almost 650 UK businesses by the BCC, has shown that customs checks, tariffs and regulation are the top three barriers to exporting.
Read the BCC press release here.
If you would like to contact us regarding local issues, you can do so on info@sccci.co.uk.