Economic update on whether its business as usual for local firms

Business leaders will gather to hear how the last three months of political elections and Brexit trade negotiations have affected sales, international trade, and recruitment in the Sheffield City Region. The results of the Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) will be presented at a free breakfast event along with an economic update from the Bank of England and a panel discussion on how the public and private sectors are addressing the skills gap across the region.

Hundreds of regional businesses participated in the latest economic survey and will hear how the general business economy fared over the last quarter and the next. Bank of England representative, Alistair Cunningham will compare the regional survey results with the national economic stage and how firms up and down the country are finding ‘doing business’ in the current climate.

Scott Knowles, East Midlands Chamber says: “At a time of prevailing uncertainty for business, the Chambers of Commerce are eager to provide some reassurance and clarity for those firms looking to continue to invest, stemming from the intelligence derived from the latest economic survey. Its credentials are underlined by the presence of the Bank of England at this event, and we look forward to welcoming a broad cross-section of organisations to explore and address perennial skills gaps that continue to inhibit growth. Feedback that we receive will directly inform our lobbying activities, compelling the new Government to prioritise this issue to enable a post-Brexit regional economy to flourish.”

A panel discussion, facilitated by Greg Wright, Yorkshire Post, will address a recurring issue highlighted in previous economic surveys that recruitment remains a big problem for many firms who fear that their inability to access the right talent could constrain their growth aspirations.

Regional business leaders including Nigel Brewster, Brewster Pratap and Vice-Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Sharon Beck of Taylor Bracewell LLP, will discuss their business experiences of recruiting and how they train and develop their current and potential workforce. Also on the panel is Louisa Harrison-Walker, Benchmark, who is working on behalf of the Sheffield City Region to learn more about businesses’ skills shortages and hard to fill vacancies to be able to shape education budgets to address the issues raised. Julia Bloomer, Rotherham Business Growth Board, will share her experiences of working with businesses to help them and the economy grow and the free services available to them.

The Sheffield City Region’s four Chambers of Commerce for Barnsley & Rotherham, Doncaster, East Midlands and Sheffield run the Quarterly Economic Survey, funded by the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and sponsored by The Source. The results are used to influence regional and national government and policy makers to help shape the support structures available to the local business community.

To attend the free Sheffield City Region Quarterly Economic Survey Breakfast register at: screconomy.org.uk

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