Entrepreneurial spirit will be crucial says BCC leader

David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) addressed a business audience of over 100 delegates at Seckford Hall at Suffolk Chamber’s summer networking event.

David was visiting the county to present the Suffolk Chamber with its formal Accreditation, which is the outcome of a rigorous audit process Suffolk Chamber goes through every three years to maintain its position within the national BCC accredited network.

The event was hosted by Dr Peter Funnell, President of Suffolk Chamber, who commented:

“We are delighted that David came personally to present the accreditation to us.  Accreditation is national recognition of the excellent services provided by the Suffolk Chamber and the commitment, creativity and hard work of Chamber staff, its Chief Executive John Dugmore and its Board. David’s visit was particularly timely - given the changing political landscape and the unique challenges and opportunities facing the Suffolk, economy.”  

He went on:

“The business community has a new and enhanced role to play in the wider civic leadership of Suffolk and the development of its economy, especially around the creation of new Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP).  It is crucial that the LEPs fully engage business leaders in both economic policy and actions that support economic success. Effective partnership arrangements between the private, public and voluntary sectors will be best placed in the future to make sure that key issues such as skills and infrastructure are sufficiently addressed and prioritised. It is important that we create an environment, which allows businesses to thrive, grow and prosper. The Suffolk Chamber is committed to contributing to this new agenda in collaboration nationally with the BCC and with our extensive range of local partners.”   

During his address David Frost echoed these views:

“The UK needs to rediscover its entrepreneurial spirit and business culture. We need more people setting up exciting new businesses, more entrepreneurs growing their companies, and even more large British success stories. This will require a stronger partnership between business and government.

“At a local level, the replacement of Regional Development Agencies with Local Enterprise Partnerships will just be another government agency, unless it is driven by business leaders keen to deliver measurable economic improvements in their areas. This will mean helping to give young people the skills employers need and improving transport systems which enable business to be done more efficiently across all parts of the country.

“In areas where the private sector is limited and the public sector dominates the local economy, we will need to be radical - and go much further in offering additional business tax incentives, fewer regulatory restrictions, or generous support targeted at high-growth companies.

“With public spending set to fall and areas at real risk of decline as a result, radical thinking on enabling businesses to grow across the entire country is now absolutely essential.”