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NECC call for more business-friendly Government

The region’s leading business group has highlighted new challenges in trading conditions and called on the Government to be more business-friendly.

The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) urged the treasury to do a U-turn on empty property rates relief and to abandon moves to make companies pay more for training their staff.

Recent research has shown that firms in the region are curbing training plans and cutting back on investment in plant and technology. Additionally, businesses have indicated that rising inflation and soaring fuel prices are a major concern. The evidence emerged in NECC’s latest quarterly economic survey, the North East Business Barometer (NEBB).

Despite this, of the 221 companies that completed the survey, the majority expected turnover to grow in the next 12 months.

John Mowbray, NECC vice president, said: “It is abundantly clear that there is a time for action to assist businesses and that time is now. The Government has introduced a number of measures recently that, instead of helping companies, are punitive at a time when firms can ill afford them. NECC believes this must change soon to keep confidence in the business sector.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .