Member News

Reacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS, Patrick Milnes, Head of Policy for People and Work at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:      

If you've been deprioritising direct mail in favour of digital channels, the latest figures from JICMail might make you rethink your approach.

Responding to Andy Burnham’s first speech as Leader of the Labour Party, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

Responding to the latest GDP data, published by the Office for National Statistics this morning, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said:

As organisations become increasingly reliant on digital technologies, cyber security has moved well beyond the IT department. It is now a boardroom issue, influencing business continuity, customer confidence and the resilience of entire supply chains.

New research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Insights Unit, involving over 2,400  exporters, shows overseas exports have fallen dramatically in the second quarter. 

Commenting on the latest trade data released by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:   

Reacting to the UK-India trade deal entering into force, Steve Lynch MBE, Director of International Trade at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:   

Responding to the Chancellor's Mansion House speech, Kate Shoesmith, Policy Director at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

Reacting to news of an upgraded free trade agreement with Switzerland, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:

The engineering and technology sector faces a severe talent shortage that’s limiting business growth. Recent data shows 76% of engineering employers struggle to recruit for key roles, with technical and specialist skills in shortest supply. For Sussex businesses, this isn’t an abstract national problem. It’s a direct recruitment crisis that affects growth, project delivery, and competitiveness.

As part of its community impact work, Carpenter Box, part of the Sumer group, took part in the Love Local Jobs Foundation’s Dare to Dream programme, supporting and mentoring 15 Year 9 students from Davison CE High School for Girls in Worthing through a series of interactive sessions. The programme also included year-group assemblies delivered by footballer Rhian Cleverly to more than 250 students.

Less than a quarter (23%) of firms are expecting to increase the size of their workforce over the coming months, according to the latest data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

A pioneering scheme for business-led skills planning in England has been given the green light for another three years by the government, today.

Learn how effective governance, leadership and board-level oversight can help organisations manage work-related road safety risks.

Sussex-based technology provider Factory Internet has announced the launch of SOC Lite, a new managed cyber security service designed specifically to help small and medium-sized businesses strengthen their cyber resilience without the cost and complexity of a traditional Security Operations Centre (SOC).

Wealden councillors have written to government ministers seeking assurance that the scale and urgency of the water supply challenges facing communities in Wealden are fully understood and being addressed.

The proportion of firms planning to increase investment has fallen to its lowest level since the pandemic, according to the latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey. The UK’s largest independent business sentiment survey also shows confidence weakened in Q2, with fewer firms increasing sales and inflation re-emerging as the leading concern.

Crawley Borough Council has launched a six-week public consultation on Crawley 2040: A new Economic Vision and Growth Plan, setting out a long-term ambition for the borough’s future growth.

Reacting to the release of the Defence Investment Plan, Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 

Reacting to today’s EU announcement on new steel quotas for UK exporters, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: 

Responding to today’s speech by Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:

A new Administration must back business if it wants the UK to prosper, Director General of the BCC, Shevaun Haviland, is set to warn. 

As Brexit approaches its 10th anniversary, the British Chambers of Commerce says the government must set out a clear plan to ease the burdens it has placed on business.

Higher Education institutions should rethink their role in society and become essential contributors to the places they serve.

Young people in Hastings will play a central role in shaping more inclusive local pathways into education, employment and training thanks to a new programme led by CXK and supported by The National Lottery Community Fund.

The University of Chichester has secured top marks for the quality of its teaching and lecturers.

Responding to the Bank of England interest rate decision, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 

Reacting to the latest labour market data from the ONS, Patrick Milnes, Head of Policy for People and Work at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  

Microsoft 365 Copilot for business helps organisations across the South East turn AI into practical productivity gains by embedding support into the tools teams already use. Rather than treating it as a novelty, successful businesses approach it with clear use cases, structured adoption, and the right guardrails....And the value is tangible.

For many Sussex business owners, the company is the pension. Years of reinvesting profit and building real value point towards a single moment: the day you step back and the business funds the rest of your life. Too often this is treated as a transaction to arrange when the time comes, rather than a plan built over several years.

The British Chambers of Commerce is calling on the government to change course on new steel quotas and tariffs which could decimate swathes of SMEs.

The President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling on policymakers to introduce a ‘growth delivery test’ to help businesses turn ambition into action.

Commenting on the latest trade data released by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  

Responding to the latest GDP data published by the Office for National Statistics, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

Across the UK, thousands of hectares of land are undergoing some form of recovery, restoration or regeneration. Former quarries are being transformed into ecological habitats, brownfield sites are being prepared for redevelopment, landfill sites are entering long-term restoration programmes, and previously industrial landscapes are being reintroduced into the natural environment.

Reacting to the announcement of new US tariffs under section 301 of the Trade Act 1974, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: