Strengthening connections to government T e essence of eff ective lobbying is connection to the decision- makers who matter – and creating new forums to expand and strengthen those connections is key. September 2023 saw the creation of the Business Council to
achieve exactly this – and the connections came thick and fast. The first meeting was joined by the Rt Hon Michael Gove
MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, and Rachel Reeves MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer. T e second meeting, held in December, was attended by the Rt Hon Mel Stride MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and Liz Kendall MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Current Business Council members include BP, Heathrow,
Intuit, NatWest and the Open University, amongst others – big names that endorse the Chambers’ ability to infl uence the thinking in high places.
Not just lobbying, but winning Needless to say, the Chambers’ lobbying activities are extensive and varied, and between October and December 2023 alone, Chamber representatives had seven meetings with Government ministers and Secretaries of State, eight meetings with MPs, and attended no less than 157 policy group meetings or briefi ngs. But, as ever in business, whilst eff ort is to be applauded, it’s
ultimately the outcome that counts – and here, too, our lobbying has left its mark. T e Chamber network policy wins recently include, amongst others:
■ T e creation of an adjustment costs fund to benefi t fi rms involved in Windsor Framework compliance.
■ Instrumenting a European Commission proposal to extend the application of current rules of origin on electric vehicles until January 2027, favouring the UK’s EV industry.
■ Full expensing made permanent, enabling many firms to signifi cantly reduce their tax liability.
■ UK government agreement to create a more beneficial UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to apply from 2027.
In the network’s quarterly performance report, we call all these activities and achievements ‘Voice’ – and that’s precisely what they are. By becoming a Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce member,
you get to express your views on all the things that are important to your business, your people and your community, we get to take them to BCC, and through BCC we get to argue the case at the top table in Westminster. It’s a voice we’re proud to shout about.
There’s optimism afoot Earlier, we mentioned the many macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges that are impacting businesses currently, and how these, together with other issues, are refl ected in the QES. Addressing these hurdles head-on is, of course, critical – but we
mustn’t ignore the green shoots of recovery and innovation pushing up through the earth. T e latest QES reports that business confi dence improved in Q4
last year. A sentiment that has continued to grow in 2024, as reported in our own conversations with local businesses, both start-ups and more established players this year, where it has emerged that many of them are ahead of where they thought they would be on fi nancial performance at this point. The opportunities, as well as the challenges, are out there.
Lobbying enables us to repeatedly bring both within earshot of those in Government who are paid to listen.
For more information on how we infl uence the Government’s agenda to benefi t businesses like yours, or to become a Chamber member if you’re not one already, just call our friendly team on 01582 522448 or visit
www.chamber-business.com
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