In his budget last month Chancellor George Osborne said departments would face average cuts of 25% when the government’s public spending review is completed in October, some may be as high as 40%.

 

As we keep an eye on the national picture, Norfolk is being asked to provide suggestions for a new local structure, a Local Enterprise Partnership, to replace the current regional structures of the Regional Development Agency. Norfolk Chamber is pulling together key business leaders during July to ensure that any new structure is business led. Submission for the first draft is 6 September, so it doesn’t leave us long.

 

It is important that we review what it is that the business community needs and then decide what structure works best, rather than the other way around.  It may be that a joint Norfolk /Suffolk LEP model works, or even a Norfolk/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire LEP model.  It is important that we keep an open mind when we are looking for the best solution for Norfolk business.

 

Cuts within the public sector will impact on the private sector, as many local businesses deliver government funded contracts.  The Norfolk Chamber has already experienced this first hand with funding removed for a programme we have been delivering to help young people understand the world of work.  We do understand that cuts have to happen, but our young people are our future workforce and with the cuts to our school programme the future does look very challenging.

 

Norfolk Chamber will show the leadership needed to get the best for Norfolk and we look forward to receiving your support.