It's good to talk
Businesses have the opportunity to comment on two important consultation opportunities from the new coalition Government in the next few weeks.
The first will be music to the ears – potentially at least – to firms large and small who believe that the burden of rules and regulations, all nicely wrapped up in red tape, are stifling growth and development and costing them staggering sums of money.
The Government has just launched a new website which poses the following question: “Which regulations do you think should be removed or changed to make running your business or organisation as simple as possible?”
In the preamble on the relevant webpage there’s an acknowledgement that these burdens can stifle business and innovation and growth and the survey is trying to establish what holds businesses back the most and why.
The Government particularly wants to hear from companies employing 250 people or less, so it is important that you take the time to respond. In the past, policy makers have said that while business groups are quite happy to bemoan regulation, they don’t always offer constructive suggestions to reduce the burden they create, so this is a real opportunity to address that criticism.
As a guide, the following are the most prominent areas that affect business:
• The Built Environment – planning and building regulations
• Business Law – issues relating to setting up and operating a company, including auditing, insolvency regimes etc.
• Employment – all issues relating to employing somebody (e.g. permanent workers, interns etc.)
• Environmental and local regulation – the full range of environmental regulation (e.g. air quality, local environmental quality, waste) and issues relating to enforcement at a local level
• Transport – regulations covering transport operations and transport service providers, (e.g. shipping, ports and provision of freight and rail services)
• Workplace Health and Safety – regulations that primarily deal with the protection of workers
You can either submit your ideas directly to the website - yourfreedom.hmg.gov.uk - or send them to me and I will include them in the information being compiled by the British Chambers of Commerce.
Migration and Skills
The second consultation is much more pressing and has a response deadline of September 7. The Government is looking for feedback from businesses on the potential impact of a cap on non-EU migration. They are particularly interested in companies that find there is an acute skills shortage and/or businesses which need to use the intra-company transfer route.
The groups which Government is considering targeting are:
Tier 1: Highly skilled migrants, no job offer required
Tier 2: Shortage Occupation or sponsored
Entrepreneurs/ investors
Intra –company transfers
As an example, one of the implications of this, which could be particularly significant in this area, is that the number of staff in your overseas company who you can bring to the UK to train, could be significantly reduced.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is currently compiling a response to the consultation and urgently needs feedback from members. In particular they would like answers to the following key questions:
• How important is this type of migrant labour to your business/sector/region
• How easy would it be to substitute skilled migrant labour for local labour?
• What obligations should businesses have to up-skill local labour to meet their requirements?
If you would like to contribute to the consultation, please email me your responses and I will include them in the BCC submission. If you have any queries about the impact this might have on your business please let me know.
Chamber Business Bulletin Survey:
Closer to home . . . . you will have seen that the Bulletin has a new look this month, which we believe makes it look sharper and fresher. We are carrying a short survey on Page 27. Please take the chance to give your views – and get yourself automatically entered into a draw for dinner for two at the Copthorne Hotel followed by tickets to a show at HM Theatre
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