Rural Business Category
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Fast track applications to speed up planning process
Councils will be expected to compete to process planning applications and offer fast-track application services, like those available for getting a passport, in a shake up of the planning process outlined today. Ministers want pilots to tackle the lack of incentive for councils to improve and speed-up their planning services by giving applicants the choice of whether to submit ...
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CBI downgrades GDP growth
The CBI has downgraded its GDP growth forecast for both 2016 (to 2.3%, from 2.6% in November) and 2017 (to 2.1%, down from 2.4%). The adjustment for 2016 is driven chiefly by revisions to historical data which show that momentum in the UK economy over 2015 was slightly less than previously thought. Weak productivity and wage growth, leading to a slower rise household spending, is also a factor. But while the global economic outlook is weaker, particularly ...
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Business activity rises at fastest rate for six months
Business output growth in England and Wales rose at the start of the year, with the manufacturing and service sectors jointly seeing the strongest expansion for six months, according to the latest Lloyds Bank Regional Purchasing Managers’ Index. January also saw employment levels rise, while inflationary pressures were weak due, in part, to falling global commodity prices. England’s business activity index – measuring changes in the combined output of manufacturing and services – rose from December’s ...
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Launch of Great British Food Unit
Today has seen the launch of the Great British Food Unit which aims to support food exporters and industry growth that could create 5,000 new jobs in food and drink manufacturing. The long-term ambition of the unit is to match France and Germany, which both currently export more than double the UK in terms of the value of food ...
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North-South divide in small business confidence
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has released findings that shows a growing gap in confidence between businesses in Scotland, North East England and Wales and those in the Midlands and the South of England. The FSB’s Small Business Index, a measure of small business confidence across the UK, shows that in the last 12 months, smaller firms in the North East, Yorkshire, Scotland and Wales have all experienced a year-on-year decline in confidence. In Wales, ...
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UKEF reintroduces cover for Iran
UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, has reintroduced cover to support UK companies seeking to compete for business in Iran. Cover is now available on a case-by-case basis in Sterling and Euros and in recognition of the UK’s place as a global centre for financial and professional services, UKEF is making available a £50 million facility guaranteeing payments to ...
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Business activity continues to rise
Private sector business activity rose across England and Wales during the final month of 2015, according to the latest Lloyds Bank Regional Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI). The pace of expansion was solid, though marginally slower than in November. The index for England’s combined manufacturing and service sectors was 55.5 in December, slightly below November’s reading of 56.0 but indicating a solid rate of expansion overall. The index has now registered ...
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UK business outlook weakens
UK business confidence waned over the autumn, according to the latest Markit Business Outlook Survey. Expectations have moderated in the service and manufacturing sectors, although construction firms are optimistic regarding projected activity levels. A net balance of +50% of firms across the manufacturing, service and construction sectors expect activity levels to rise over the next 12 months - the lowest figure since +46% in February 2013. By sector, services has the weakest outlook (+48%, lowest since ...
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Manufacturers see fall in export orders
New export orders fell at the fastest pace in three years, according to the CBI, possibly down to the continued strength of sterling. Total new domestic orders reduced over the quarter for the first time since April 2013 and manufacturers’ optimism about both their business situation and export prospects for the year ahead fell to the greatest extent since October 2012. Total unit costs stabilised over the three months to October, but output prices fell ...
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Innovate UK launches £10m healthier food competition
Innovate UK is launching a competition to fund up to £10 million in collaborative R&D projects aimed at reducing sugar, salt and fat and increasing dietary fibre in food and drink. The move is aimed at increasing the availability of healthier food and drink choices for consumers while opening up new markets for the British food industry. Lead technologist agriculture and food team at Innovate UK, Helen Munday, comments: "The market ...
