US tariffs: Keir Starmer vows to ‘keep cool head’ in face of ‘economic impact’ April 3, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “keep a cool head” in the face of the “economic impact” of Donald Trump’s 10 per cent tariffs on UK exports to the US, amid fears of a wider trade war. The Prime Minister spoke to business chiefs in Downing Street this morning in the wake of sweeping global [...]
UK needs new settlement with EU, business group boss urges March 20, 2025 The UK’s businesses need a new settlement with the EU, the boss of one of the biggest business groups is urging. Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), is calling for growth-driven improvements to the UK-EU relationship. It comes ahead of the organisation’s 2025 Driving International Trade Conference in central London, on [...]
Week in Business: Who will Rachel Reeves blame for higher taxes in Spring Statement? March 6, 2025 City AM Editor Christian May looks at the biggest business stories in his weekly video, today focusing on the UK economy and upcoming Spring Statement.
UK growth outlook slashed amid tax and trade ‘double whammy’ March 5, 2025 The Chancellor’s growth agenda was dealt a fresh blow on Thursday after the British Chambers of Commerce slashed its forecast for the UK economy due to the tax and trade “double whammy” afflicting UK businesses. The business group now expects the UK economy to grow by just 0.9 per cent in 2025, a hefty downgrade [...]
Fewer firms expanded headcount following the Budget, BCC says January 14, 2025 Fewer firms increased their headcount in the final quarter of last year, a new survey showed, as businesses prepare for the impact of the national insurance hike.
Boost ‘growth prospects’ with reset, Reeves to tell EU finance meeting December 8, 2024 Rachel Reeves will argue that a more business-like relationship with the EU can help Britain boost its “growth prospects”, at a meeting with the bloc’s finance ministers. Reeves will on Monday address the European Union’s financial heads in Brussels, becoming the first Chancellor to do so since Brexit, ahead of her next overseas visit to [...]
Labour pulls back from ‘day one’ protections as it unveils workers’ rights overhaul October 10, 2024 Labour has pulled away from its pledge to give employees protection from unfair dismissal from the first day in a job, according to reports, as it unveils its long-awaited package of employment reforms today. The Employment Rights Bill, which Labour promised to introduce within its first 100 days, is set to be laid before Parliament [...]
Businesses ‘clearly anxious’ as budget approaches, survey shows October 8, 2024 The BCC's quarterly economic survey showed that 48 per cent of firms cited taxation as a worry, up from 36 per cent the quarter before.
‘Time is of the essence’: Government urged to push ahead with planning changes September 26, 2024 The government has put forward a major set of reforms to the planning system, which is widely seen as one of the major barriers to economic growth.
UK unlikely to move into ‘fast lane’ despite surprisingly strong growth this year September 5, 2024 The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has lifted its growth forecasts for the economy this year, but remained doubtful that the UK would move into the “fast lane” any time soon. The business group’s latest quarterly projections suggest the UK will grow 1.1 per cent this year, an upgrade on its previous estimate of 0.8 [...]