CHAMBER NEWS
Response to Prime Minster’s announcement
Responding to the announcement that Theresa May will step down as Prime Minister, Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “We wish the Prime Minister well and thank her for her decades of public service.
“Businesses must be reassured
that a change at the top in Downing Street does not simply usher in a longer period of posturing and gesture politics. Westminster has already squandered far too much time going around in circles on Brexit. “As our global competitors get
sharper and more strategic, Britain is still mired in indecision and uncertainty. Drift and lack of direction have real-world economic consequences, brought home to many of our communities not just by high-profile business closures, but by the quiet and growing loss of contracts, investments and jobs. “The UK is already paying the
price for a political system at war over Brexit. “Our hard-earned reputation as a
great place to do business has been tarnished. And for too long, Government has been distracted from working with business to fix
L-R: Dr Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chamber of Commerce, and Prime Minister Theresa May
the fundamentals here at home, particularly around skills and infrastructure. “Any leadership contest must be
swift. The clock is still ticking down to 31 October, regardless of who is in Downing Street. “A new Prime Minister must work
to avert a messy and disorderly exit from the EU. At the same time, preparations must continue to ensure that Government, its agencies
and our communities are ready for all possible eventualities.” Scott Knowles, Chief Executive
of East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) added: “For the past three years businesses have had to deal with uncertainty surrounding the country’s exit from the European Union. It is essential that the forthcoming leadership campaign within the Conservative
Trend shows rising figures of employment in the region
The number of people in work in the East Midlands has risen for five out of the past six months according to figures released recently. Latest data from the Office for National Statistics showed an increase of 44,418 to 2,348,333 people in work across the region for the three months to the end of January. And the number registered unemployed in the East Midlands fell by 22,685 to 98,489 for the same period. Since December, only March saw a small rise (2,000) in the number of people out of work in the region. That month also saw an
unexpected and unexplained rise in the region’s unemployment rate to 4.7% compared with a national figure of 3.9%, although the figure realigned itself in April.
‘These figures and the overall pattern over the past six months show the region is performing better than might be expected given the ongoing concerns over Brexit’
The figures show regional
unemployment at four per cent, which, with the exception of March, has remained relatively consistent over the period. The figure for England is 3.9% and for the UK is 3.8%. Scott Knowles, Chief Executive
at the Chamber, said: “These figures and the overall pattern over the past six months show the region is performing better than might be expected given the ongoing concerns over Brexit. “It should be noted the figures
cover the period leading up to the first Brexit deadline and we
wouldn’t have been surprised to see the lack of business confidence reported to us at the time reflected in a rise in unemployment during those three months. “The fact that regional
employment increased shows the strength of the local economy and the desire of businesses to get on with the task of creating jobs and wealth despite adverse trading conditions. “But this must not be seen by
Government as an excuse to sit on their laurels – business still needs to know as soon as possible what our route out of the EU will be,
Scott Knowles, Chief Executive at the Chamber
always assuming that Brexit happens.” Despite the rise in regional
employment, the monthly figures for the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in April compared with March showed a rise of 1,545 across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
business network June 2019 39
party be swift and followed urgently by a clear plan to break the impasse. “The Chamber thanks Theresa
May for her decades of public service. It is essential now that businesses see real progress on Brexit and a renewed focus on creating an exciting, outward facing economy that encourages investment, creates jobs and supports prosperous communities.”
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