It was fantastic to see people flocking back to the high street and into pubs, restaurants and cafes on Monday, as the long winter lockdown gave way to the long awaited second phase of the Government’s roadmap to recovery.

People just wanted to be with other people, to smell the coffee, see and feel the goods and take in the experience of real everyday life. We all know only too well that you do not get any of this staring at and talking to a screen.

I was heartened by the optimism of both business owners and customers as both sets talked not only of what they had missed but looked forward to a new beginning.

The start of a renaissance for our high streets? – let us hope so.

Back to reality with the other news on Monday that the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Trade Confidence Outlook for Q1 revealed the stark issues facing UK exporters in the first months of 2021.

Data from the survey of more than 2,900 exporting businesses revealed that 41 percent reported decreased export sales on the previous quarter. 20 percent did however, report increased export sales with 40 percent revealing no change.

Historically the proportion of firms reporting an increase in sales is at an all-time low and it is this figure which we need to keep an eye on in subsequent surveys.

Respondents cited Brexit and the impact of Covid-19 as the biggest causes of problems in trade with shipping delays, increased cost of transporting goods and extensive paperwork requirements. Worryingly, many saw the problems as structural rather than short-term issues likely to alleviate as companies adjusted to changes in the new EU-UK trading relationship.

In response, the government has set up the £20 million SME Brexit fund, but it will take much more than this to fix the current problems.

The message from Staffordshire Chambers and the BCC is that the difficulties exporters are facing are not ‘teething problems’. They are structural issues that, if not addressed now could lead to long term and potentially irreversible weakness to our export sector.

We are calling ion the UK and EU to get back around the table and produce solutions to reduce trade barriers and give exporters a fighting chance.

Finally, this week also saw the start of Ramadan, the holy month of the Islamic calendar in which Muslims commit to a period of fasting during daylight hours.

Given the physical demands of daytime fasting, staff observing Ramadan may require some adjustments to their working routine, even if they are working from home. This could include altering shift patterns, allowing staff to start and finish earlier in the day to aid with daytime fasting, or amending workplace duties to reduce the chance of fatigue impacting performance or increasing the risk of injury.

It is important to remember that the requirements may affect each person differently, and organisations should refrain from taking a ‘one size fits all’ approach to flexible working arrangements.

Here at the Chambers, we are committed to accommodating people from all backgrounds and we have for a long time had policies in place to ensure respect and equal treatment of all our staff.

If you would like any advice on how to accommodate staff during Ramadan please get in touch via the contact details below.

If you want to talk to us about any business issues, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Research shows that entrepreneurship offers refugees economic independence; boosts self-confidence; and brings communities together. Refugees tend to be young adults who are less reliant on state benefits. As their businesses grow it brings more jobs, and generates more taxes, with economic activity far outweighing governmental costs. They have also been found to display key traits for business success, from high confidence to strong risk-awareness, and they have gone on to start countless businesses which enrich their host countries.

I am therefore extremely proud that Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is one of four organisations across the UK to have received funding for a pilot scheme to support refugees starting a business. The UK Refugee Entrepreneurship Pilot Scheme commissioned four organisations to design and run tailored business support programmes for refugees over a one-year period. The aim of the pilot project was to prove the efficacy of refugee entrepreneurship programmes and to experiment with different models of delivery. It was designed and run by the Centre for Entrepreneurs and funded by the Home Office and The National Lottery Community Fund.

A report just published is the culmination of the year-long pilot scheme illustrates how Staffordshire Chambers and projects in Bristol, the East of England and Belfast provided direct support to 112 refugee participants. The evaluation looked behind the hard outcomes (numbers engaged, businesses launched) to identify the important role that refugee entrepreneurship programmes play in helping refugees acquire the skills, industry experience and finance needed to start and grow a business.

The Chamber’s pilot scheme was titled Positive Pathways and was coordinated by our entrepreneur advisor, Polly Hargreaves. The aims and objectives of our pilot were to highlight self-employment as an opportunity for refugees and help overcome initial barriers such as understanding the UK business culture. It was open to any refugee, with a leave to remain status, interested in exploring starting their own business. We had 52 refugees access our ‘Exploring self-employment’ sessions with an entrepreneurship advisor and we went on to recruit 18 participants, 12 men and six women. Over 12 months participants attended ten ‘Exploring self-employment sessions’ and underwent a 10-week enterprise workshop programme. They had further support for start-up grant funding, and post-start mentoring.

This complements our excellent existing business start-up programmes for adults and students in further education. So many refugees just want to make a positive start in their adopted country and by providing the opportunity, inspiration and support we can help them to get their lives back on track and help them integrate and make a positive contribution to the local economy.

The detailed evaluation report now presents a vision for refugee entrepreneurship programmes to be available nationwide and it can now be used by programme funders, delivery organisations, and wider stakeholders seeking to expand refugee entrepreneurship support across the UK. You can view the report UK refugee entrepreneurship pilot scheme – Independent Evaluation at www.centreforentrepreneurs.org

If you want to talk to us about any business issues, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Sara’s blog – 2 April 2021

Visit of Government Minister to Staffordshire Chambers – and the next stage of recovery.

Earlier this week I had the pleasure to welcome Rt. Hon. Mims Davies, MP, Secretary of State for Employment to a round table discussion on Kickstart and helping young people into employment. Mims’ family comes from Stoke-on-Trent, so she has a real affinity with the city.

The meeting was arranged because the Kickstart programme, and building this into our businesses, is so important to the future of young people. It is an ambitious programme, aiming for 250,000 young people to be in six months employment via placements, available until December 2021, with the Government paying the wages.

Employers raised questions around making sure that the young people were getting the right training, both from the employers and training providers, to help with their employability skills. We talked about how businesses may be able to start advertising these jobs themselves and how they could work with the excellent youth charities we have across the city who can support young people in applying.

We also discussed how these businesses can be supported to amend their employment systems and contracts to take on a young person and how to develop links with colleges and training providers to offer a route into apprenticeships and full employment. Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have an excellent partnership on skills through the Skills Advisory Panel and through the Staffordshire Partnership for Employability and Skill (SPES) and because of this, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is keen to maximise the impact that Kickstart will have in the area and ensure young people have better opportunities for long-term employment.

The Minister paid tribute to the excellent work that the Chambers’ network across England are doing on Kickstart as they have already generated over 10 percent of the placements’ target.The Minister was extremely open and honest and welcomed questions. It was encouraging to see so many of the local DWP and JCP staff, with whom we work so well, on the call too. I think she came away with positive news of the strong partnerships that exist across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is passionate about helping young people into employment post-pandemic and see Kickstart and other schemes to bring new enthusiasm into our brilliant businesses and organisations and support the growth of the economy and prosperity for all. We are proud to be a Gateway and have already but over 1200 job opportunities from businesses across the area for young people. The scheme lasts until December and we are sure that we can generate even more. Thanks to Jack Brereton, MP for facilitating this meeting in the first place, and for chairing on the day, and we hope Mims Davies will be able to visit in person to meet with many local businesspeople soon.

This week has also seen another key milestone step in the government’s Roadmap to Recovery with people able to meet again in an outdoor setting. The Easter break now gives us all an opportunity to take some time to relax with family and friends, reflect and look toward the next phase of recovery. It has been a tough start to 2021, and I do not need to remind you why. However, there is so much to look forward to, and we like every business have lots of exciting things planned for 2021 including our new peer to peer member platform, a brand-new website, the 2021 Business Awards and Business Festival and much more.

More of all this later, but for now have a happy Easter and continue to stay safe.

If you want to talk to us about any business issues, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

It is sad, but hardly a surprise, to see just how bad the pandemic has hit retailers, as illustrated in new research from PwC compiled by the Local Data Company (LDC).

According to the research 600 shops opened and 1,468 closed in the West Midlands in the last 12 months, a net decline of 868. Nationally, there was a net decline of 9,877.

Worryingly, PwC says, the real impact of the pandemic is yet to be felt as some stores ‘temporarily closed’ during lockdowns, are unlikely to return.

Retail parks have fared better than the other retail locations with net closures of 93 in the West Midlands, compared to shopping centres (285) and faring worst of all high streets (487).

But let’s stop the negativity there. Locally Burton-upon-Trent, Kidsgrove and Newcastle-under-Lyme are set to benefit from several million pounds the government’s Town Deals, as announced by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick in October.

They will have the opportunity to invest in their local economies at this critical time, implementing proposals submitted to the government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund, which is designed create jobs and drive growth across the country, forming a cornerstone of this government’s levelling up agenda to help reshape our towns and cities into places where businesses and communities can thrive.

Stafford town centre has also been allocated more than £14 million from the £830 million Future High Streets Fund. The funding will help Stafford transform its high street into a vibrant hub whilst protecting and creating many jobs.

Our largest shopping centre, The Potteries Centre has hatched a plan to ensure that the centre survives and adapts to a new era for the town and city centre retail experience.

Online shopping has risen exponentially, and we have seen years of profit warnings and many business failures from the more traditional bricks and mortar retailers. The pandemic has just accelerated retail business failure and store closures.

The Potteries Centre plan puts a focus on local businesses to support the centre and the high-street.

The centre’s wider strategy includes the recruitment of two new letting agents in Barker Proudlove and BWD Retail, which will be working alongside The Potteries Centre team to ensure a diverse mix of local independents alongside its existing brands over the coming months.

Rather than getting downbeat the centre has identified an opportunity to regroup and reposition, by increasing support for local independents, who they see as playing a big part in its future.

Smaller towns have been faring better in recent years because of the variety and innovation of independent retailers and hospitality businesses who offer something unique and work hard to build customer loyalty. They are also not so exposed as they don’t rely on so many large chain ‘anchor’ businesses who leave a big hole when they close.

Landlords and local authorities also have a role to play, keeping rents and rates at levels which encourage growth, whilst being flexible to allow businesses to ride out any unexpected disruptions to trade.

Enhancing the high-street experience will increase visitor engagement. There is a real opportunity now for all town and city centres, to work smartly and collaboratively with all stakeholders including national chains and independents, food and drinks businesses, local authorities, education and community organisations to create centres with a board and exciting offer that engender pride and make visitors want to return.

If you would like to discuss any issues raised here please contact my personal assistant Vicki Hardie vicki.hardie@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

If you want to talk to us about any business issues, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Earlier this week International Women’s Day celebrated the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, whilst also marking a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

Things have certainly moved on since I started my career and many more women now hold senior positions in business and in the public and third sectors.

I am proud to be a part of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) network which boasts 70 per cent women employees in half of its 123 member Chambers and a female chief executive in 40 per cent of those Chambers.

I know many successful women in Staffordshire, and it is great to see them making such a positive difference to our daily lives.

Whether it be International Women’s Day or any day of the year, what we aim to do at the Chamber is to encourage and enable all women to realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to business and to society.

The Chamber network is full of women who have achieved success, from running their own lifestyle business to holding the position of chief executive in a large organisation and they are constantly giving their time to encourage others through events, networking and mentoring.

In addition, Staffordshire Chambers offers support, encouragement and confidence building through our Women, Work and Wellbeing Network.

The Network engages with women facing barriers to progression and operates through a series of events, workshops, keynote speakers and one-to-one sessions.

Sessions are intentionally relaxed and informal and Chamber staff and participants make it a welcome forum for first time visitors, providing a safe space to build confidence and connections. If you would like to find out more about Women, Work and Wellbeing visit https://bit.ly/3vbVLFq

Additionally, if you are a woman and are considering starting your own business, you can contact our business start-up advisor Aly Davidson for an informal chat: aly.davidson@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

If you want to talk to us about any business issues, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

For many years we have used our quarterly economic survey (QES) as a barometer on the local economy.

As we approach the twelve-month anniversary of the first full lockdown, and with the Chancellor’s Budget just around the corner, it is no understatement to say that this is one of the most important times for businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to complete the QES.

The information you provide will give an insight into the impact COVID 19 and lockdown have had on local business and will help to shape and influence current policy thinking with survey data being shared with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Government departments including HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office as well as the Bank of England.

The more businesses that the fill in the QES, the more weight it carries so we are keen to hear from firms of all shapes and sizes (starts ups, sole traders, SMEs, medium sized and large corporations) to provide an accurate picture of the current business landscape. It takes a maximum of five minutes to complete the online form.

We understand your time is precious, even more so now, so thank you in advance for your input to the survey. You can go straight to the QES here: https://bit.ly/3amE11S

As we draw towards a year of virtual networking, memories of meeting up in a room with likeminded businesspeople could be from another age as we have all become so used to virtual meetings.

I know Zoom events or a catch up on Teams are becoming tiresome for many but for now it’s all we have, and we all need to hang in there until we can again meet face-to-face.

Perhaps the Prime Minister’s address on Monday will give us some idea of when this could be, but in the meantime, perhaps we should be thankful that we have the technology to be able to meet virtually. Imagine if this had happened ten years ago. The technology would be basic, and the broadband networks wouldn’t have been able to cope with the traffic.

Online forums and events are a lifeline of support for many independent firms providing, connectivity and a support network. Many businesses have found making connections vital in keeping their business brand visible during the pandemic.

We have our next Simply Networking event at 10am on Friday 26 February. It is a great opportunity to make some new contacts and put your business in the Spotlight. Hopefully, we will be ‘back in the room’ very soon but until then if you would like to come along to this free event you can by registering here: http://bit.ly/2ZD3b6d

If you want to talk to us about any business issues, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk