DG of the British Chambers of Commerce Shevaun Haviland visits region

Tenacity and appetite

Q. What is your opinion of how North East businesses are coping with economic uncertainty?

A. Business Confidence across the North East has been on the up this year but more recently it’s stalled as the fears around inflation and the future path of interest rates have choked off investment.

"Talking to firms in the North East I get a real sense of their tenacity, and their eagerness to innovate and find new solutions to the problems our economy is facing.

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"But what’s also clear is that there is a real appetite to shape the region’s own future by making full use of devolved powers in the North East and the Tees Valley."

The impact of AI

Q. What sectors do we need to focus on to build a long-term future?

A. "The North East has strengths in so many areas, and these align with those that the BCC is looking to push at a national level. Firstly as a nation we need to export more. Around 60% of Chamber members trade overseas but only 10% of businesses overall.

"If we want to grow our economy then more firms need to get involved, and we are working hard to remove some of the barriers and costs, especially with the EU. We also need to look at how we harness the Digital Revolution.

"AI means we’re at another level of exponential change. We need to know how we can use it to revolutionise how we operate and to safeguard against the downsides, and we need to ensure people aren’t getting left behind.

"Next we have to make sure that green innovation has a central role in our plans. It is a huge opportunity for UK plc.

John McCabe, North East England Chamber of Commerce chief executive; Shevaun Haviland, BCC director general; and David Hodgson, Cummins business account manager. (Image: NEECC)

"We need to look at how we are building new products and services for this emerging market. It’s a massive opportunity. Finally, we need to think about the issues around skills and labour shortages.

"Four fifths of firms are telling us they still can’t get the staff they need to grow so we need to look at how we bridge that gap, which is where Local Skills Improvement Plans can be a massive help."

Education and skills

Q. Is enough being done to link education and jobs?

A. "I think Government, the education and training sector, and business have all recognised that this is an area that is ripe for transformation. And if we get it right, it will make a huge difference. Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), are a 'systemic game changer' for the UK.

"It’s vital that business and the skills system work together to ensure people are training for genuine, well paid career opportunities that exist in their local areas. LSIPs will help transform how we assess, agree and plan for skills and tackle the pervasive skills shortages that put a brake on business productivity and growth."

Overseas trade

Q. What are we doing wrong, that needs improvement?

A. "Overseas trade is an area where I think a lot of businesses are missing out on the opportunities available. The NE Chamber tells me they are now processing more trade documents than any other region of the UK, but we still need to do more.

"The BCC has recently published a new Trade Manifesto which sets out all the help that Chambers can give firms to export. It also sets out the policy changes we need to see to make it easier for everyone to do."

The Downing Street connection

Q. What direct pressure can the Chambers bring to make a difference?

A. "We recently had a very productive meeting with the Chancellor at No11 Downing Street, where we sat down with a number of Chamber CEOs, including John McCabe, and businesses from their areas to talk about the problems facing the UK economy.

"The Chancellor heard the Chamber network’s calls on three main issues; utilising planning for growth, sorting out the national grid queuing system and tackling the UK’s tight labour market.

"Every day I, our President Martha Lane-Fox, or members of my team are meeting with Government Ministers, Shadow Cabinet members, political advisors and civil servants to press for the changes businesses need to help them grow.

"The beauty of our network is that we can take the grass-roots issues affecting firms in different parts of the country and place them right in front of the people making the decisions."

Shevaun Haviland (Image: PA)

North East links

Shevaun recently attended a number of events in the region to give North East businesses a chance to have their say.
The events provided Chamber members with the opportunity to shape the BCC’s policies and initiatives, directly influencing on matters that impact the region’s businesses and the broader economy.

Shevaun said: “I hear from businesses incredible optimistic and entrepreneurial attitudes. That is what we need to use to turbo charge businesses and make Britain the best place to do business.

“At the BCC we are able to leverage the incredible power of local presence, our national voice and international network. We connect, share best practice and provide new opportunities. We are huge advocates for business as a force for good.”

She continued: “We know the power of the collective is really strong. Whoever you are, be a start-up or a huge, global business, being part of your Chamber is where you need to be."

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She took the opportunity to update businesses on the Where Business Belongs campaign. The BCC has established the Business Council as part of this work, which was launched to convene and discuss the major trends and challenges facing business and industry to guide their policy work.

Shevaun was asked to Chair the government’s independent statutory Climate Change Committee, highlighting the Chamber’s influence in green innovation.

She said: “Our green innovation work stream is about how businesses can do more to get to net zero but also what government needs to do to unlock that for businesses. We need to help businesses moving along this curve and we, as a Chamber, have been really involved across the network in this.

“Green revolution is a huge opportunity for UK plc. We need to look at how we are building new products and services for this new market. It’s a massive opportunity.”

On global Britain, as well as working to increase exports, Shevaun said inward investment is key: “We want global businesses to invest in the UK. We have the best business environment, talent and Chamber network.”

John McCabe, chief executive of the NEECC, said: “It’s always great to welcome Shevaun back to the North East where she still has close family ties.

“The relationship between our Chamber and the BCC is incredibly important and it’s never been stronger. As a result we’re able to ensure businesses in the North East are part of the conversation with the highest levels of government, opposition, the Bank of England and other key national decision makers.

“Shevaun’s visit came just one month on from that made by BCC president, Martha Lane-Fox, another example of the influence and significance of the North East Chamber in the national and international network.”