Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce staff supported coastal conservation efforts yesterday as part of a corporate social responsibility away day.

The team travelled to New Brighton, where employees were split into four groups, each taking on a different environmental activity along the coastline.

Tasks included a litter pick along the beach and promenade, a microplastic search using sieving equipment, sea temperature readings taken at various points along the shore, and a coastal wildlife monitoring exercise recording bird species and behaviour.

The litter pick alone saw the team collect more than 16.5kg of waste from the beach.

Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said the day reflected the organisation’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

“Days like this matter to us as an organisation,” he said. “It gave the team a chance to get outdoors together and do something practical for the environment, while also learning more about the challenges facing our coastlines.

“Collecting over 16.5kg of litter in a single day is a reminder of the scale of the issue, and I’m proud of how the team approached every activity. It’s easy to talk about sustainability in the boardroom, but getting out there and seeing the impact first hand is a different experience altogether.

“As a Chamber, we work with businesses across Staffordshire every day who are thinking seriously about their environmental responsibilities, so it’s important that we hold ourselves to the same standard. Days like this help remind us why that work matters, and I’d encourage other businesses to consider something similar for their own teams.”

The away day forms part of the Chamber’s wider commitment to corporate social responsibility.