While supporting business continuity during the Coronavirus pandemic remains front and centre of our activity, NWLCC continues to voice the needs of business on a range of ongoing and emerging policy issues.
• On HS2, we are providing evidence to the National Infrastructure Commission to inform the government’s Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands and the North. The aim is to identify the most effective scoping, phasing and sequencing of HS2 Phase 2b, Northern Powerhouse Rail, Midlands Rail Hub and other proposed rail investments.
• On immigration, the BCC and Chamber Network are working with the Migration Advisory Committee to ensure the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) reflects the needs of regional economies. The SOL provides tradeable points under the new Points Based Immigration System, which comes into effect on 1 January 2021
• On Grants to the Hospitality & Tourism Sector, Preston BID is working in partnership with industry trade bodies, politicians and partners across the UK including British BIDs, BID Foundation and ATCM, in joining a national lobbying campaign to support BID members in the retail hospitality and leisure sectors across the country. We are concerned that some businesses within the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors do not have the government support. In particular, the financial grant offered as part of the RHLG of £25k is only available to businesses in those industries with a rateable value of £51k or less. There is a significant number of businesses from across the UK that will not be able to access this grant simply because the threshold is too low.
