Hiring On Hold

18th June 2026

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:      “While unemployment fell slightly to 4.9 per cent, the expectation is that it will rise as businesses remain cautious about hiring. Our latest forecast suggests it could reach 5.2 per...

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Time Running Out On Steel Quota Cliff-Edge

17th June 2026

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 BCC wrote to the Business and Trade Secretary, Peter Kyle, in May, to raise its concerns about the plans. The letter said the...

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‘Growth Delivery Test’ Can Turn Ambition into Action

15th June 2026

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. A major new report, co-authored by Andy Haldane, says the UK can break through its decades long economic growth ceiling by focusing on...

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Trade Holding Up As Fuel Imports Shift

12th June 2026

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:   “Rising fuel prices due to the Iran War are now clearly influencing international trade. April was another quiet month for UK services trade with export volumes growing 0.2 per cent. “There was...

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Firms Resilient As Global Headwinds Rise

12th June 2026

Responding to the latest GDP data published by the Office for National Statistics, Stuart Morrison, Research Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Growth of 0.7% in the three months to April shows the UK economy maintained good momentum from the start of the year, as businesses again...

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A Wonderful Evening of Networking at The Warren

03rd June 2026

Our Client Relationship Manager, Nick Brown, recently told guests at a networking event that, during his seven and a half years with Essex Chambers, he has occasionally arrived at an organisation and immediately sensed that it was a business that truly gets it. A company where staff are happy...

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US Tariffs Set To Continue

03rd June 2026

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: “It is no surprise that the US is taking action, before its temporary section 122 measures expire, to make its...

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BCC Economic Forecast: Growth To Remain Subdued as Business Investment is Hit

02nd June 2026

The latest British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Economic Forecast suggests growth will remain subdued in 2026 and 2027, as the reverberations of the Middle East conflict continue to be felt. The BCC is predicting weak business investment, higher inflation and falling exports. The key points in the forecast are:...

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Milburn Review ‘Must be a wakeup call’ 

28th May 2026

Responding to publication of the Milburn Review interim report, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The Milburn report must be a wakeup call for policymakers about the crisis of young people not in employment, education and training. “Unless urgent comprehensive action is taken a...

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Essex Chambers of Commerce Reveals Fundraising Total for Open Road

27th May 2026

For the past 12 months it has been an immense pleasure to raise awareness and funds for our nominated charity of the year, Open Road. Through our teams’ efforts, we are proud to announce we have raised an incredible £3,900! The campaign of collaboration and support for Open Road...

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