T h e N o r t h - e a s t ’ s o f f i c i a l B u s i n e s s B r e a k f a s t N e w s p a p e r | w w w. a g c c . c o . u k
Support NHS Grampian
Living in extraordinary times EXCLUSIVE By Miles A. Head
WE ARE living and operating in quite exceptional times and firstly we hope that you and your teams are in good health and coping as well as possible. Across the UK, the network of Chambers is at the front line of providing support to businesses struggling to survive, adapt, and to make the best decisions for themselves and their people, under extraordinary circumstances. This has been one of the fastest moving months in policy terms the country has possibly ever seen. The Chamber team is working hard to get the answers businesses - as well as sole traders and the self-employed need around access to financing and the range of government support schemes available to them. We’re focused on ensuring the banks
get cash to where it’s needed fast to support to firms and people on the ground; on assessing the measures and guidance against the questions you have put to us as members; on asking Government at all levels to ensure guidance and messaging is clear and consistent and on supporting our regional connectivity by lobbying for very necessary support for our airport and regional airlines. If you can’t find the answer to your specific queries on our Covid-19 hub on the Chamber website. You will find the answers to many specific queries on our Covid-19 hub on the Chamber website. This is updated daily and here you will find the latest UK and Scottish Government announcements as well as Chamber guidance and clarity on the most frequently asked
questions among business owners. This is updated daily and here you will find the latest UK and Scottish Government announcements as well as Chamber guidance and clarity on the most frequently asked questions among business owners. If there’s anything else you think we should know or would like our help with please contact us at policy@agcc. co.uk. The Chamber is having regular discussions with local, Scottish and UK Government both directly and through our colleagues at the British Chambers of Commerce and will make sure your voice is heard. It’s vital now that we work together as the business community of North-east Scotland to ensure we get through this period and are positioned to breathe new life back into our economy as we come
out the other side. The Chamber is at the heart of this. Now more than ever we also need to #supportlocal. Are you a North-east business looking for support? Or can your products and services help others out? We can help you connect. We’ve all seen great examples of how a community can come together to get through a crisis. The Chamber has created a new platform on LinkedIn, the Chamber Help Hub, to provide the forum for you to let others know where you need help, or to shout about the assistance your business can provide - and get connected. Link in with us now and start posting. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Chamber of Commerce.
NHS Grampian is appealing to the North-east business community to help bridge the short-term controlled allocation of a number of items. If you are able to donate either Diversey Soft Care Soap pouches, plastic bottles of anti-bacterial liquid hand soap with pump dispensers; folded packs of paper hand towels or toilet roll suitable for commercial metal wall mounted dispensers then please contact info@agcc.co.uk.
GDPR Essentials
BUSINESSES who have embraced the new legislation are using the GDPR to their advantage and gaining the legal and social licence to do innovative things with personal data. This online course will help you understand the core principles of the regulation and other privacy legislation; and consider the idea that it’s a golden opportunity to embark on digital transformation that returns the customer to the heart of your business. GDPR Essentials takes place on May 21. Visit agcc. co.uk to book.
Online training
DID you know the Chamber offers online training? Train yourself or your staff in a range of health and safety principles at both employee and manager level. Visit agcc.co.uk/training for more information.
2 TODAY’S NEWS
Fintech Breakfast agenda | April 29
Translating thinking into action Our flagship Business Breakfast series, brought to you in partnership with the University of Aberdeen Business School, provides a learning and networking forum to discuss the topics essential to successful economic growth in our region. Our speakers will deliver a webinar focusing on how financial technology is helping businesses to remain trading in these unusual circumstances. As many organisations have moved to remote working for the first time and the Covid-19 restrictions prevent face to face meetings and transactions, we are being presented with issues we have not encountered before which the right technology could solve. They will discuss: •
The strategic outlook for fintech in Scotland and the collaborative opportunities available
•
The practical application of financial technology from a business to business perspective including online transactions and cashflow Upskilling – understanding the skill set required for jobs which have not previously existed
•
Most importantly, there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions about investing in the opportunities and right technology to maintain and grow your business in this exceptional time. This webinar is BYOB – bring your own breakfast.
0850
log in using the link included in this email
0900
Chair welcome
0905
speaker insights
0940
Q&A
Stephen Ingledew, chief executive officer, FinTech Scotland @FinTechScotland FinTech Scotland is the enterprise established by the Scottish Government, University of Edinburgh and the private sector to drive economic growth in financial services through innovation, collaboration and inclusion. Its ambition is to create an integrated and thriving economic environment through the provision of funding, connections, infrastructure and talent that recognises and responds to the needs of all stakeholders and connects Scotland to other global Fintech centres. Furthermore, we are proud to have a very innovative, collaborative and inclusive 120+ strong fintech community in Scotland. Stephen is a regular featured speaker at major global financial services and university conferences & seminars on subjects ranging from customer strategy and execution, the growth and development of fintech innovation in Scotland as well as business change leadership.
Adam Bell, owner, Moment @momentagencies Adam is the owner of Moment - a modern marketing agency based in Aberdeen with clients across the North of Scotland and North England. Having worked in digital media and marketing for more than a decade in locations like London, Melbourne and Leeds, Adam brings a fresh perspective to promoting businesses of all shapes, sizes and sectors, underpinned by a relentless focus on delivering measurable results. Moment fully embraces digital technologies and aims to make these tools and techniques accessible to clients, no matter their budget.
Want to know more about Fintech and Big Data? From blockchain to data mining, learn about the latest evolutions in financial technology, and the role big data is playing in finance. Gain a competitive edge and develop the skills to lead financial innovation with our short online course starting 22 June 2020. We have five fully funded places on this course to give to Scottish domiciled employees wishing to upskill or reskill in this rapidly evolving field. Please email Grainne Ferrigan to register your interest. Fully funded places will be allocated to eligible candidates on a first come first served basis. We are delighted to be able to offer all AGCC members and attendees of the Fintech business breakfast a 10% discount on our Fintech and Big Data short course. Please use this code: fintech10. To apply:
on.abdn.ac.uk
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 4 Q: What are customs declarations and why is it so important that businesses get them right? A: Customs declarations are forms which are used to accompany goods that are entering or leaving a market. They’re used internationally to communicate the origin of the product and its relevant tariff, to allow customs and regulatory authorities to calculate what duty is payable and understand applicable restrictions. They are crucial because they enable authorities to know where goods are coming from or going to, in order to control the flow of goods, ensure the safety and security of the country and collect the correct duty. Q: What is ChamberCustoms? A: It’s a customs brokerage service, run by your local Chamber of Commerce. In the aftermath of the Brexit referendum, the amount of paperwork required to import and export goods from overseas will increase in both volume and complexity. The dedicated team of experts at your local Chamber of Commerce can be trusted to have the expertise and knowledge to help traders to keep on trading.
Are you looking to import or export goods? CUSTOMS declarations are enormously important and a necessity for all businesses that import and export goods. To give some idea of the scale, around 180,000 UK businesses only trade within the EU, 68,000 only trade outside the EU and 73,000 trade in both. Being outside the customs union will mean that imports into the UK from the EU will be treated the same as those from the rest of the world. They will shift from being goods in free circulation within the EU, to imports
subject to duty and VAT. From December 31, 2020 the number of customs declarations made by traders is forecast to increase from 55 million to around 300 million every year. Businesses that import or export goods will need to complete a lot more administration when clearing goods through UK ports. ChamberCustoms is the customs brokerage service from Chambers of Commerce in the UK. It’s different from other brokerage services by harnessing the reach, expertise and
knowledge of the Chamber network to offer an unbeatably fast, reliable and compliant service. The only customs broker in the country to offer a ‘one stop shop’ with direct links to all sea, air and road ports and terminals in the UK, the Chamber will help you keep control while we do the hard stuff, acting in your best interests every time. The team in Aberdeen are ready to respond to increased demand for compliant-led services with an HMRC compliant service that you can trust.
Q: Why is ChamberCustoms unique? A: Put simply, we’re unique because we have direct relationships with every port in the UK. This means we don’t need to rely on any third parties to clear goods for import and export. Most other customs brokers have to rely on third parties to offer a fully national service, exposing you to a loss of control and potentially effecting the accuracy, speed and cost of their service. It can also expose traders to penalties from the tax authorities. Q: How much does it cost? A: Unlike other customs brokers our pricing structure is completely transparent. We charge a small fee to process your declaration directly through HMRC, plus a fixed 10% handling charge for the port fees which we will pay on your behalf. Q: Do I have to be a member of my local Chamber of Commerce to use the service? A: No. The service is open to all businesses who import or export goods. Q: I’m interested in learning more – what do I do next? A: Go to www.chambercustoms.co.uk for more information