Defence Spending Vital To Economy

01st July 2026

Reacting to the release of the Defence Investment Plan, Kate Shoesmith, Director of Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  “The release of this spending plan is long overdue. Businesses have been patiently waiting to get a better understanding of the government’s priorities and how these dovetail with...

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EU Steel Quotas – The Final Jigsaw Piece

30th June 2026

Reacting to today’s EU announcement on new steel quotas for UK exporters, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:  “Today’s announcement on EU quotas is the final piece of the jigsaw to reveal the new landscape for the UK’s steel producers and users going forward. “Confirmation...

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Burnham’s Long-Term Plan Must Work for Business

29th June 2026

Responding to today’s speech by Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “Firms need consistency, clarity and stability from policymakers, if business confidence is to be improved. “Businesses will judge Andy Burnham’s plans on whether they deliver the boost to...

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Procurement Overhaul Key To Boosting Regions

25th June 2026

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is urging government to transform public procurement and infrastructure delivery to unlock growth. At its Global Annual Conference, today, it has launched a new report – A Smarter Way to Deliver Infrastructure: The Great British Supply Chain – setting out how this can...

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BCC DIRECTOR GENERAL SHEVAUN HAVILAND:  BACK BUSINESS TO DELIVER GROWTH   

25th June 2026

A new Administration must back business if it wants the UK to prosper, Director General of the BCC, Shevaun Haviland, is set to warn.  At the BCC’s Global Annual Conference, Haviland will outline how successive governments have hobbled Britain’s business prospects and the three drivers of growth through which the damage can be...

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Brexit Burden Must Be Cut

22nd June 2026

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. BCC research shows over half of UK exporters (54%) think the current trade deal with the EU is making it...

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No Surprise As Interest Rate Held

18th June 2026

Responding to the Bank of England interest rate decision, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  “Holding the interest rate at 3.75% is the common-sense call, given yesterday’s better-than-expected inflation data and falling oil prices after the USA and Iran signed a peace deal. “The...

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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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