East of England MEP visits Cambridge Online to share region’s business concerns and discuss support for growth
David Crabb, managing director of Cambridge Online met with Andrew Duff, MEP for East of England to find out how European Parliament can help regional businesses.
Cambridge Online, a leading IT systems and services provider, held a meeting at its Cambridge Science Park headquarters with Andrew Duff, member of European Parliament (MEP) representing the East of England. Andrew’s constituency covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
David Crabb invited Andrew Duff to share some of the concerns faced by technology businesses in the Eastern region. Cambridge Online had invested £250,000 in research and development (R&D) but found the present (R&D) tax credits system bureaucratic and costly to claim for. He stressed how Cambridge Online was finding innovative methods to help its customers invest in the latest technology to boost their businesses and confirmed that business confidence was slowly building. But Government could do more to help kick-start business investment. Cambridge Online has also employed eight new staff since May 2011 including an apprentice working together with Cambridge Regional College.
Cambridge Online had also been affected by events in Libya as it is in the process of deploying its NAVair aircraft maintenance Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software for an airline based in Malta, which has had to interrupt its operations providing air transport for Libyan oil workers. This large project is on hold prior to aircraft operations resuming in Libya.
Andrew Duff empathised with the issues raised by Cambridge Online and underlined some of the work the European Parliament was doing to help technology businesses such as the single European Patent and an investment of € 50bn in R&D under the EU’s current funding programme.
Mr Duff stated that the European Parliament recognises the breadth and variety of the science and technology businesses based in the East of England, with centres including Cambridge, Norwich and Stevenage offering an eclectic ‘science cluster’ unrivalled across Europe. The East of England is visited regularly by senior EU politicians who want to learn about the region. European president José Manuel Barroso visited Cambridge in February and Neelie Kroes, EU Commissioner for the Digital Agenda met with Cambridge academic and business leaders in meetings arranged by Andrew Duff last Autumn.
Andrew Duff, MEP for East of England, commented:
“I welcomed David’s invitation to find out more about Cambridge Online and to discuss the issues that the business faces. I admire the approach the business is taking with regards to investment – investing in R&D, new staff and developing home-grown talent through its apprentice scheme. Business support in the region is in a transitional phase currently as the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) hands over the reins to Local Enterprise Partnerships – businesses do need effective support.
In terms of Libya, there are very positive signs emerging and a core focus will be on getting the economy functioning again, and I am sure that Cambridge Online’s customer will be fully operating in the months ahead.”
David Crabb, managing director, Cambridge Online, commented:
“I thank Andrew for visiting us and providing insight into how the EU works, the day-to-day life of an MEP and how Europe can help businesses such as ours. Businesses need clarity in terms of the support available, especially at this time as businesses begin to look to invest again. I am pleased that the EU through Andrew’s efforts recognises the depth of the science and technology base we have in the Eastern region and is engaged in helping the region succeed.”
“I would recommend that all businesses in our region engage with their elected representatives as it is through regular dialogue we can learn how Government can help us and also ensure they fully understand the concerns we have as a business community.”
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