NORTH WEST BUSINESSES GIVE MIXED REACTION TO EUROPE

24/08/2006

Chambers of Commerce North West, comprising 16 local Chambers working together on behalf of businesses in the region, published today the results of a recent business survey on Europe.

Commenting on the findings, Phil Gartside, Chairman of Chambers of Commerce North West said, “It is vital to the interests of the UK that the European Union (EU) succeeds as a competitive and growing economy. Effective membership of a successful EU will provide the foundation on which a prosperous Britain can be built.

“Businesses want to see a Europe of strong nation states acting together to deliver a more competitive economy creating jobs and grounded in security and stability across the continent.

“However the EU is facing a number of challenges to boost growth and employment across all member states. Some of these challenges include the need to reduce and improve the quality of regulation, the challenge for business to compete in the Single Market and make it work, and the challenge to deliver more flexible labour markets. All of these have a direct impact on businesses in the UK.

“Our surveys sought to determine how these challenges were impacting on businesses in the North West and to identify the specific issues that businesses were facing. In particular we wanted to identify business attitudes and perceptions towards the EU as well as determining the obstacles that were preventing businesses from taking full advantage of the Single Market”.

Chambers of Commerce North West represents approximately 16,000 business members in every industry sector and covering every size of company. Over two thirds of members are small businesses.

The survey was developed in consultation with Chambers of Commerce North West Regional Policy Group comprising senior policy executives from Chambers across the region.

74% of respondents were small firms employing less than 49 people with 41% employing less than 10. 19% of respondents employed between 50 and 249 people with 7% employing over 250.

The composition of the sample reflected the membership breakdown of Chambers of Commerce North West. 33% of respondents were classified as Manufacturing with the remaining two thirds classified as Service.

To download a copy of the Skills Survey click here.