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Anyone would think there's an election in the offing

With everyone just waiting for Gordon Brown to say the word although not really expecting that word to come this side of the New Year, political parties stepped up their policy positioning stance at the recent round of party conferences.

It’s a crucial opportunity for an organisation such as the Chambers of Commerce to speak out on behalf of the business community to influence the decision makers as they identify their policies and priorities.

To coincide with this the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), with input from Chambers across the network including this one, launched its Business Manifesto - Delivering for Britain: A Business Blueprint for Opportunity, Jobs and Growth.

The primary message coming from us as a Chamber network is that political parties must recognise that it is business and not the public sector which will drive Britain’s economic recovery and that they must give business the freedom to do just that.

There are clear channels to help achieve that and government support for the process must focus on rebuilding and investing in our infrastructure, simplifying some of the red tape which threatens to strangle us and promoting trade and enterprise.

We believe that the next Government will face three fundamental economic challenges – tackling the legacy of the deepest recession in decades, reining in public spending and identifying future sources of economic growth and jobs.

The challenge is not one which can be met by Government alone and the BCC is encouraging the development of a new partnership with business must be formed, one which will provide confidence and the right business environment which will support an increasing competitiveness to deliver jobs and growth.

There is a particular focus on promoting overseas trade and encouraging export; an area which is particularly endorsed here at AGCC. Throughout the recession many of our members have continued to flourish and grow, in very many cases due to the high levels of export business they have built up within their companies.

Across the UK, a recent survey showed that just 31% of companies exported last year – yet “bucking the trend” – to use a cliché which has been vastly overused this year – the Export Documentation Department of this Chamber continues to enjoy month on month their business month ever.

Elsewhere in this Bulletin, Jon Woodwards, the Chamber’s International Director reinforces the message by writing that this is a time to export, providing very much the information that the Government should take on board when it considers the value of encouraging a growth in export business.

The messages contained elsewhere in the Manifesto are the messages which this Chamber endorses and supports. But we will also be adding our local input and highlighting our own key issues which we will bring to the attention of local and national politicians in the run up to the next General Election.

We are working closely with members of the Chamber Policy Council, who represent the wider membership, to draft our own business manifesto which will clarify the Chamber’s position and ambition on issues of particular significance to this area. Full details will be available in the near future.

A copy of the BCC Business Manifesto - Delivering for Britain: A Business Blueprint for Opportunity, Jobs and Growth is available on the Chamber website at linkhere linkhere

The BCC has also published its Pensions Report. The report outlines the Chambers’ support for the Pensions Act 2008 which will give every employee access to a private pension scheme. It also looks at the spiralling costs involved in pension provision and in particular issues surrounding the Pensions Protection Fund levy and the implications which that has for businesses.

A copy of the report is available on the Chamber website at :

www.agcc.co.uk/bcc-launches-european-manifesto/

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has responded to a request for information from the Commission on Rural Economies on the impact on the recession on business performance. The response was based on consultation with the North East of Scotland Agricultural Advisory Board. A copy of the response is available at:

www.agcc.co.uk/agcc-policy-position