When the business landscape shifts – from national policy to local job cuts – we make sure your voice is heard.
As one of 51 Chambers operating across the country, we’re regularly approached by the media for comment and feedback on the key business news stories of the day.
We’re also keen to play our part in sharing the news and updates from across the region in our Daily Focus news outlet, which reaches around 15,000 Staffordshire business inboxes before 8.30AM each morning.
We were recently approached by the BBC to provide an update on the local economy, following the announcement of job losses at Jaguar Land Rover.
Our feedback was based on the valuable data we collect through our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), which is regarded by the likes of the Bank of England as a reliable measure of business confidence and outlook.
This was then featured on BBC Midlands Today, alongside one of our member businesses.
We drew on the feedback from survey responses received in Q2 2025 of QES, with the survey fieldwork having taken place in May and June 2025. Survey feedback told us that business confidence remains subdued, following on from the increase to employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC), which took effect from 1st April 2025.
Survey responses also picked up an ongoing trend in businesses reporting a pause of investment in plant and machinery, as well as a pause in spending on training and development of staff.
It was through the collection of our QES data that we could provide anecdotal and topical evidence of business confidence in our region and it’s why the QES is such a valuable source of information. Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to complete our QES.
On a separate note, we would like to ask you to share your views on the recently published Industrial Strategy. Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce and the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub have developed a short survey asking businesses for their views on the Industrial Strategy.
Over the next decade, the Strategy aims to back the UK’s strengths, with ambitious plans for eight high growth sectors of:
- Advanced manufacturing.
- Clean energy industries.
- Creative industries.
- Defence.
- Digital and technologies.
- Financial services.
- Life sciences.
- Professional and business services.
Are the eight high growth sectors a fair reflection of the economy and do you feel that your business could align with one of the high growth sectors? We would like to encourage our local businesses to share their views on a Strategy which will influence the next decade of both our local and national economy. We need local feedback as the voice of business can help to have a say in making sure our region is adequately supported.
Please take a moment to share your views. The survey link can be opened below:
