Business Growth & Development, Economic Growth, Skills Development 8 October 2026
Cost pressures and skills shortages continue to weigh on business confidence across the region
New Q3 2026 Quarterly Economic Survey shows businesses remain resilient, but high costs, recruitment difficulties and softer demand are holding back growth
Businesses across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Stamford remain resilient but cautious as persistent cost pressures, skills shortages and uncertainty over demand continue to affect investment, recruitment and growth, according to the latest Quarterly Economic Survey from Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce.
Business Growth & Development 2 October 2026
Faye Holland appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce Chair recognised with prestigious appointment to the Cambridgeshire Lieutenancy
Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that its Chair of the Board, Faye Holland, has been appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire.
Economic Growth 2 October 2026
Stubbornly high Government borrowing means stark choices ahead in the Budget
Public sector net borrowing of £18.3 billion in August provides another reminder of the fiscal straightjacket facing the Government ahead of the 28 October Budget.
Borrowing remains stubbornly high despite the fact the UK already has an historically heavy tax burden. Taxes will absorb around 37% of national income by the end of this financial year and, based on OBR forecasts, will reach a record 38.5% by 2030/31. The last time the tax burden was this high was in the early 1980s, while today’s overall tax receipts are among the highest seen the late 1940’s.
Economic Growth 30 September 2026
Chancellor’s Budget Must Back Business
Responding to Chancellor, John Healey’s, speech at the Labour Party Conference, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“This was a significant speech. The Chancellor clearly recognised the importance of business in creating the UK’s wealth and that cutting their costs is key to achieving that.
International 30 September 2026
UK & EU Business Join Forces On Made In Europe
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is backing a joint statement from its Chambers in Europe for the UK to be part of the EU’s emerging ‘Made in Europe’ framework.
The statement warns that treating the UK as a conventional third country would ignore decades of co-operation and the deeply integrated supply chains between the UK and EU.
Economic Growth, International 30 September 2026
Some Encouraging Signs for Business in PM’s Speech
Responding to Andy Burnham’s speech at the Labour Party Conference, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said.
“This was a powerful speech in which the Prime Minister took a long-term view and signalled a willingness to make tough choices.
“He gave business some encouraging signals that his government will avoid adding to the cost of doing business.
Economic Growth 20 September 2026
Business Crucial To Burnham’s Devolution Next Steps
New BCC report calls for businesses to have a stronger voice in devolution. Report says economic growth and improved living standards must be the test of devolution success. The BCC outlines a three-stage roadmap to give local areas a bigger stake in economic success. Next month’s Budget should outline plans to put businesses at […]
Economic Growth 17 September 2026
Moneycorp Currency Insights – September 2026
Welcome to the Moneycorp Currency Insights for September, as markets move into one of the most significant central bank months of the year, with policy decisions from the ECB, Federal Reserve and Bank of England all scheduled within a seven-day period. Recent moves in energy prices, inflation expectations and interest rate pricing mean that currency volatility could increase markedly over the coming weeks.
The Bank of England currently holds Bank Rate at 3.75%, the Federal Reserve remains at 3.50%-3.75%, and the ECB’s deposit rate stands at 2.25% following its June hike and July pause. Markets are increasingly focused on whether the ECB tightens again on 10 September, while the Fed’s 15-16 September meeting remains finely balanced between another hold and a more hawkish policy response should inflation prove persistent. The BoE follows shortly after on 17 September.
International 11 September 2026
EU Sales Drive Upswing In Exports
Commenting on the latest trade data released by the Office for National Statistics, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“Sustained growth in wider UK economic activity was reflected in July’s trade figures. The rise in exports across goods and services was broad based, particularly in trade with the EU. Although, goods imports from the rest of the world were also strong. This was led by increases in car orders from China and aircraft from the USA.