Concerns – North East Chamber of Commerce chief executive James Ramsbotham looks back on a tumultuous 2020 .
Chamber chief fights business corner for Wear region
WE NEED CLARITY
North East Chamber of Commerce chief executive James Ramsbotham reflects on 2020 – a business year to forget and the choppier waters which may still lie ahead – as he talks to Wear Business editor Graeme Anderson …
W hen James Ramsbotham peers into the possibilities of what 2021 might hold for North-East business , the very last thing he sees is the fabled ‘ sunlit uplands ’ of opportunity and progress .
The idea of the UK sailing off serenely into a prosperous new era , as Covid-19 recedes into the past and Brexit proves to be no more than another bumpy wave on the way , is an achingly seductive one .
But while the well-respected head of the region ’ s Chamber of Commerce considers himself to be someone who always hopes for the best , the reality on the ground leads him to fear the worst .
“ I honestly don ’ t think there ’ s a time when the chamber ’ s voice and the chamber ’ s guidance has been more needed than it is now ,” he told Wear Business .
“ The UK ’ s handling of Covid-19 has not filled businesses or industry with the confidence and certainty it craves .
“ And when it comes to Brexit , so much time has been squandered when clarity was required so that careful planning could be carried out to limit economic damage and potential chaos .”
James was one of the regional signatories to a letter to the prime minister in October from the national Chamber of Commerce laying out the ways in which the government could get a grip on a Covid-19 crisis threatening to slip out of control . “ It ’ s very concerning ,” he said . “ We are businesspeople – we need to understand the plan ; we need to know what success looks like .
“ What we have been facing over Covid-19 is uncertainty in terms of strategy and targets and the same has gone for Brexit .”
James suggests that during 2020 , the UK simply didn ’ t grasp the nettle either in terms of getting the approach to the disease right initially , in terms of adapting once the dangers were known or in terms of producing a coherent strategy
which built on the experience of others . Now he says that the government really needs to listen and learn , even with a vaccine potentially on the horizon .
“ The World Health Organisation was saying ‘ Test , test , test ’ back in March and in April we were holding international seminars with chambers across the world , who were making it clear that test , trace and isolate was crucial .
“ What we saw in the UK was a late reaction and then an erratic response before the second partial lockdown .
“ According to our PM we had a ‘ world-class ’ system – heaven help us !
“ The responsibility of leadership is to give confidence , even if others don ’ t necessarily agree with it – so there ’ s that , but it ’ s also important that scientists , local authorities and yes , even business groups , are listened to .”
Similar leadership and clarity is required as the nation finally Brexits from the EU in 2021 .
“ It ’ s a particular concern for the North-East , with more than 60 per cent of our trade going across the North Sea ,” he said . “ Brexit and Covid could be the perfect storm for the region ’ s economy .
“ We wanted a transition period , which ended up being reduced to 11 months and then squandered .”
What gives James hope is the remarkable resilience of North-East businesses and those who sustain them .
“ The business community has been incredible throughout all this - like getting us through the PPE crisis , for example ,” he pointed out .
“ The business community stepped up to the mark , took the brunt of the lockdown and invested massively in taking precautions for businesses and communities across the North-East .
“ When you look at some of the innovations , there has been some great work .
“ We have challenging times ahead , but we have great belief in the power and resolve of the region ’ s business sector and the North East Chamber will always be there for them .”
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