Staffordshire Chamber wants ‘clarity on Brexit’
The Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce has published its Quarterly Economic Survey, which is part of the British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Survey, regarded as one of the most authoritative measurements of UK business, as it generates around 6,000 detailed responses from companies throughout the UK.
The Staffordshire survey, based on responses from 100 local firms, indicates that Staffordshire’s economy remains sluggish, albeit with some improvements in the second quarter of this year. Across both the service sector and manufacturing the number of businesses that said they were looking to invest increased, but there was a decline in business confidence in manufacturing, which contrasted to the increase in confidence in the service sector.
But the biggest challenge facing business across the entire spread of activity in the county, was the difficulty of recruiting staff with the necessary skills, which shows an economy in a holding pattern with economic growth slowing and possibly set to be at its slowest since 2008.
Sara Williams, CEO of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce said: “Continually growing international uncertainty, from escalating trade disputes to oil prices means that Staffordshire’s economy continues to grow at a subdued rate. Brexit is a key factor – but the long standing UK infrastructure issues are also holding companies’ growth and productivity back. As we edge closer and closer to Brexit day, Staffordshire firms need clarity, and a strong domestic agenda that looks to fix the basics on which all companies rely.”
The Chamber is urging the government to get to grips with long standing problems such as – fixing the crisis hit training system, improving connectivity, delivering infrastructure improvements and incentivising investment – to create a ‘Brexit hedge’ for the economy. The government also needs to provide clarity on the questions that businesses are asking about the UK’s status after leaving the EU, to give firms a clear path that would enable them to continue to invest and grow.
