Business is hoping for a period of stability after tonight when a vote by MPs on adoption of the Queen’s speech could determine whether Theresa May has a mandate to govern.

Confidence has been hit three times in the past two years with two General Elections and the outfall of the EU Referendum, but despite the uncertainties created by those events the regional economy has remained robust.

Business remains bullish about the future, according to the latest research by East Midlands Chamber covering the second quarter of the year.

But recruitment remains a perennial issue for employers and there are still concerns over future price rises and their impact on margins.

In the Chamber’s Quarterly Economic Survey for Q2 2017, 43% of respondents reported growth in domestic performance in the second three months of the year and 40% expected improvements in the third quarter.

A further 37% said performance had remained constant and 45% expected consistency over the next three months.

A similar picture emerged for performance in overseas markets where the significant growth recorded in the post-referendum period of 2016 continued unabated in both the first and second quarters of 2017.

With continuing political uncertainty, almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) said they expected prices to remain about the same over the coming three months but a third (32%) said they expected prices to rise in the short term, suggesting continued upward pressure on inflation as the year progresses.

The volatility of exchange rates continues to inhibit the ability of exporters to plan ahead, the survey showed. Although advantageous for companies manufacturing in the UK and exporting, the relatively weak pound creates challenges for importers.

As a result of the weakened pound, inflation has risen to 2.9%, a rate not seen since Q2 2013. With inflation expected to continue through the latter stages of 2017, evidence suggests companies will eventually pass cost increases on to customers.

Business confidence in respect of both profitability and turnover remained relatively robust in Q2 2017. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents said they anticipated turnover would increase in the coming three months, with 57% expecting profitability to increase in the short-term.

Almost two-thirds of companies (64%) said they expected their labour force to remain constant. Respondents said they continued to have difficulty recruiting suitably-skilled staff, particularly to professional and managerial roles.

Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at the Chamber, said:-

“Businesses in the East Midlands continue to drive forward with growth plans, regardless of the obstacles being thrown up.

“With Brexit negotiations now underway, it is essential that Government works with businesses in this region to ensure the real life experiences of the wealth generators informs the discussions that take place.

“However, while the these negotiations will inevitably form the backdrop against which the economy performs over coming months, the day-to-day concerns of business relate more strongly to the domestic issues that remain in our gift to control.

“As we look to show the UK as a being a place for investment and where business gets done, it is essential that we inject momentum into major local and national infrastructure schemes that have already been agreed and announced.

“We need to cut back on the high upfront costs that businesses face – around things such as business rates and employment – and move forward with an industrial strategy that recognises the strengths of what East Midlands businesses bring to the national economy.

“Uncertainty is a killer of confidence. More than anything, businesses want to see a functioning and capable Government that can deliver on the day-to-day priorities of businesses and communities as well as handle the strategic discussions that must now take place.

“A strong partnership between Government and business has to be a cornerstone of making this happen.”

The University of Derby has been awarded Gold by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in the country’s first ever Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), putting it in the top 20% of all providers in the UK.

Chesterfield-based Start Financial Planning is to further strengthen its team with the appointment of respected local financial expert Peter Blant.

Peter boasts more than 20 years’ experience in the financial advice industry having worked throughout the UK for a number of leading firms as well as locally.

A specialist in Inheritance Tax Planning and Corporate Protection, he joins Start next month as a financial planner where he will work alongside directors Steve Taylor and Michael Heath to deliver independent financial advice and solutions for clients.

Peter was attracted to the role by Start’s forward approach to financial planning using the latest technology, as well as industry experience, to consistently deliver returns across a number of markets for clients.

Commenting on his appointment Peter said:-

“I am very excited to join Start. Locally, the firm is acknowledged and respected for its forward-thinking approach to financial planning. In light of recent political events and the economic turmoil nationally and globally, Start’s scientific approach to investment is able to take into account the constantly changing market conditions. This approach, I am confident, will protect investors when the bubble eventually bursts.

“Protecting their clients’ money is at the very core of what Start does; and this was a major consideration when I chose to join the team.”

Welcoming Peter to Start, Michael Heath added:-

“We are delighted that Peter will be joining the Start team. He has worked within the local financial services industry for a number of years and at one point, I worked alongside him. He shares Start’s values and is committed to delivering excellent customer service and sound, independent financial advice. We know he will be an excellent fit in our growing team.”

Outside work, Peter who lives in Brookside in Chesterfield and is married with three young children, is a coach of the under 7s team at Chesterfield Panthers Rugby Club. He is also Chair of the Chesterfield Satellite Rotary Club and Treasurer of local charity Deaf Hearing Support which he became involved with through his father who was born profoundly deaf.

Leading independent regional estate agency Redbrik has strengthened its team with three of the ‘best sales managers in the region’.

Holly Wheatley will be working at the Chesterfield office, June Simpson has joined the Crystal Peaks office and Vicki Greenstreet is at the Millhouses office.

Determined to help buyers and sellers through the sales process, Vicki, previously with ELR, has more than 17 years of negotiating experience that she brings to her role at Redbrik.

After joining the industry straight from school at 16, Holly has worked in all aspects of estate agency within the branch environment, including roles as an administrator, sales negotiator, and senior negotiator.

Mark Ross, director at Redbrik, said:-

“We are thrilled to have three of the best sales managers in the region join Redbrik – the knowledge and expertise they have brought to their roles is already proving invaluable.

“Vicki, June, and Holly are joining the company at a very busy time, but they have all hit the ground running. Marketing, and most importantly service, are at the core of everything we do and bringing in people of this calibre allows us to grow Redbrik without compromising what we are about.

“We are so pleased with how well they are all getting on and I’m sure they will enjoy working with us as we continue to grow as a business.”

The lead on cyber crime at East Midlands Chamber will be among the speakers at Europe’s biggest security conference next week.

Business Crime Manager Andy Watterson will be talking about cyber security at a time when the wannacry ransomware attack that crippled the NHS is still fresh in people’s minds.

He will tell his audience at IFSEC International 2017 that computer users are the first and last line of defence when it comes to protecting a business from a cyber attack.

And he will be issuing a stern reminder to delegates that when the pan-EU General Data Protection regulations come into force next year the consequences of getting it wrong will be considerably worse than today.

He said: “I’ll be talking about the importance of a well-trained workforce in dealing with cyber security.

“A great emphasis is being placed on the technological safeguards when it comes to cyber security but businesses really need to consider the people who are using that technology and ensure that they are aware of the need to use it properly.

“They need to be aware of the threats that are out there and know how to head them off. Wannacry highlighted how easily viruses can beat firewalls and anti-virus protection and the devastating effect they can have once they get through security protocols.”

He added: “I’ll also be referencing GDPR, which becomes law on 25 May next year, but only in so much as to remind businesses of the huge financial implications of getting it wrong and allowing a data breach.

“The impending changes to data protection laws provide a timely opportunity for businesses to review the way they handle data, and the governance structure within the organisation, to ensure that their policies are fit for purpose.”

Andy’s presentation at IFSEC International 2017 will be called Your First and Last Line of Defence and will explain how making workers aware of the threats will help to prevent their spread.

IFSEC International is Europe’s biggest expo and conference on fire and security and an estimated 30,000 people are expected through the doors of London’s Excel conference centre during the three-day (20-22 June) event.

Andy will be speaking to delegates in the Panasonic Security Management Theatre on the final day of the conference.

The Chesterfield Royal Hospital has signed up to the Carers Charter, recognising their commitment to carers and the role they play in the treatment and care of their patients.

The charter, which supports the Key Standards the Trust has put in place for Carers, ensures that the Royal is committed to working together with the carers of patients receiving treatment at this hospital. It recognises that these carers are in a unique position because they know that patient’s personal needs and requirements on a daily basis and should be included in decisions about their care and treatment.

Rebecca Cowley is the Carers Project Lead, she said:-

“Carers do not always recognise that they are ‘carers’ in the broadest sense. They could see themselves more as husbands, wives, mothers, sons or close friends. It’s about recognising that fact and using the expert knowledge they have about that particular patient to help treat the patient, improve their experience and reduce their length of stay.

“But it’s more than that; we also have to recognise that the individual needs to be supported in their role as a carer. It’s up to us to recognise that role as a carer in visitors and relatives. One of our commitments is to ensure that staff are trained in carer recognition and to help these people by pointing them in the direction of support agencies that are available.”

The Charter has been signed as part of the Trust’s pledge to National Carers Week. Pledges have also been made to John’s Campaign, which supports the carer to stay and be part of the patient’s care whilst they are in hospital, to the Young Carers Pledge and Derbyshire Carers Pledge. As part of these pledges the Trust has also been highlighting the role of the Carers Champion.

Rebecca added:-

“Each ward will have a Carers Champion and it is their role to ensure the Charter is being met and that ward staff are looking after carers and involving them in the decision making in terms of treatment and discharge planning.

“It’s important for us to recognise these carers at first contact. It’s better for the patient in the sense that they have a familiar face who they can trust to ask the questions that they may not necessarily think to ask. They can help our clinical teams with the finer details such as what they like to talk about, how they like to be addressed and their little idiosyncrasies.

“This is a two way process and our Carers Champions are there to offer support and information for carers and colleagues. It’s about our ward teams working with carers, and vice versa, to get the best possible outcome for this group of patients and this Charter recognises this commitment.”

As the General Election nears, golfers at a North Derbyshire golf course are being given a unique opportunity to indicate how they might vote.

Tapton Golf Course, at Chesterfield, operated by SIV, have installed voting target boards at the driving range representing the political parties – Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Other.

Golfers can take aim for the party they will be voting for ahead of the General Election on Thursday 8 June.

Matthew Orwin, golf manager at Tapton Golf Course, said:-

“The General Election is the most talked about topic on everyone’s lips at the moment so we thought this would be a great way to drum up some healthy competition.

“We wanted to give golfers something to aim at on the driving range and the political party boards give them a clearly visible goal.

“It’s really taken off, though it’s too close to call the overall winner!”

The driving range at Tapton Golf Course is open daily from 7am.

Businesses have only a week left to take part in a survey that will offer a pre-election look at their main concerns.

The results of the East Midlands Chamber Quarterly Economic Survey will provide a snapshot of confidence levels in the fourth quarter since the EU-Referendum last June and set a benchmark against which the success of the new Government can be judged.

The survey for the second three months of 2017 asks businesses how they have fared in recent months and expect to fare in the months ahead, including whether they expect prices to rise and are considering increasing wages.

There are additional questions this quarter to determine relationships between growth and recruitment, planned investment in staff training and what factors might influence investment in training.

Whether employers believe they will get good value from the apprenticeship levy also features.

Data collated from the East Midlands Chamber QES will update the regional State of the Economy Index – which last quarter was at its highest since Q2 2105 – and is fed into the British Chambers of Commerce QES, which builds a national picture of business confidence and shapes the BCC’s interactions with Government.

Chris Hobson, the Director of Policy at East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“It takes only a few minutes to complete the survey and the information it gives us is vital to driving our policies and the issues on which we will campaign on behalf of businesses.

“You don’t have to be a Chamber member to take part, the important thing is that we get as many businesses as possible to complete the survey so that we build the most accurate picture possible and can make sure our lobbying activities properly reflect the concerns of regional businesses.”

To take part in the survey, click here. The closing date is Monday 12 June. There will be a draw from among those responding for a chance to win a meal for two at the new Whisk and Ladle Bar and Kitchen, Hilton, East Midlands Airport.