Dynamic, influential and forward-thinking business leaders are invited to register their interest in joining the Chambers’ Council and/or Local Area Advisory Boards (LAAB) for Stafford and the Staffordshire Moorlands ahead of Friday’s 5pm deadline.

By becoming a Council or LAAB member, you’ll be part of a supportive network of leading local businesses that are all keen to address business challenges, share best practices and help the business community to thrive and prosper.

Council and LAAB Members are elected by the Chambers’ membership to represent their peers and work as advocates for the Chambers and the private sector.

Together with the Chambers, they have the power to increase the prosperity of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and the local community by forging outstanding connections and lobbying local authorities and the Government for a better business environment.

Don’t just take our word for it, though! Hear what some of our existing Council and Board members have to say below.

Council and Local Area Advisory Board members are expected to attend up to five meetings per year. Meetings typically last for around two hours and aim to discuss a range of business issues affecting Staffordshire. The meetings include a guest speaker on a topic relevant to the local area and provide a great opportunity to increase local knowledge and to influence the local business landscape.

To register an expression of interest, please email rebecca.stubbs@Staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Staffordshire Chambers is delighted to announce that we will now be hosting monthly drop-in clinics across three locations: Stoke, Stafford, and the Moorlands.

These sessions, held on the last Friday of every month, provide a fantastic opportunity for businesses to seek advice, network, and explore growth opportunities.

The first clinic will take place on 27th September with a specific focus for each location:

• Membership at Commerce House, Festival Park.
• Export Documentation at Shire Hall, Stafford.
• Growth Hub Services at Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek.

Feel free to drop in even if your questions aren’t related to the session’s focus—our team is happy to help with any business topic.

All sessions will run from 10am to 12pm, and there’s no need to book—just drop in!

It’s free, and a member of the Chambers team will be available to talk through any business-related queries, from membership and documentation to business growth strategies.

Whether you’re based in Stoke, Stafford, or the Moorlands, we’re here to support your business journey—come along and chat with us!

Local solicitors are once again waiving their will-writing fees to support Dougie Mac’s Make A Will Month.

The October campaign will see 17 local solicitors, including an online Will Writer, generously waive their usual fees to draft or amend a basic Will in exchange for a donation to Dougie Mac.

Lauren Stanley, Senior Legacy Fundraiser at Dougie Mac, explains, “Although it’s not easy to think about, writing a Will is really important as it gives you the opportunity to decide exactly what will happen to your property, finances, and possessions after you die. If you’ve been putting off writing your Will, or just don’t know where to start, Dougie Mac’s Make a Will Month is an opportunity to get your plans in order while supporting your local hospice.

“Anyone considering leaving a gift to Dougie Mac in their Will, whether that’s a set amount or a percentage of their estate, can have a basic Will drafted for free by a participating local solicitor. If you’re not sure about leaving a gift to Dougie Mac in the future but want to support the hospice now, you can make a donation and still take part in the campaign.”

Dougie Mac’s Make A Will Month also applies to people who already have a Will but need to update it, especially if personal circumstances have changed. Lauren added, “If you’ve had a baby, moved house, got married, or divorced, it’s important to update your Will to ensure your wishes are met. Without a Will, the law dictates what happens to your assets.

“Every donation we receive through Make A Will month makes a real difference and enables us to continue our care and support services for local families. Leaving a legacy donation to Dougie Mac ensures we have income we can rely on in the future and enables us to plan ahead to make sure our specialist care is available in the years to come. We understand that taking care of your loved ones is a priority, which is why we are so grateful for every gift we receive when someone has passed away.”

Full details of Dougie Mac’s Make a Will Month and how to take part are available at: www.dougiemac.org.uk/gifts-in-wills  Supporters can also contact Dougie Mac’s Legacy Team on 01782 344308.

Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District (BID) have unveiled the dates and key sponsors for the 2024 LoveNUL Business Awards, which will take place on Thursday 24th October at the prestigious Denise Coates Foundation Building at Keele University.

At its inaugural event in 2023 the LoveNUL Business Awards recognised the achievements of local businesses and individuals and was attended by 180 local businesses and partners. Thousands of public votes poured in, highlighting the community’s support for their favourite businesses, from restaurants and service providers to tourism attractions. The 2024 awards are expected to build on this success, offering a vibrant opportunity to recognise business achievements.

Nigel Davies, Co-Chair of the Newcastle-under-Lyme BID Board and owner of Boss & Sons Barbers in Fogg Street shared his thoughts on the importance of celebrating local business excellence: 

Recognising local business achievements is vital for our town to grow and create a sense of pride and community. The LoveNUL Business Awards are a fantastic way for businesses to be acknowledged for their hard work and it’s also an amazing evening where we can all come together to socialise, network and strengthen the business community in Newcastle.

This year’s event, celebrating the best of local business excellence, will be headlined by Keele University as the main sponsor, with additional support from KMF Group, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, New Vic Theatre, and Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG).

Charlotte Pearce, Newcastle-under-Lyme BID Manager, expressed excitement for this year’s event: 

“The LoveNUL Business Awards provide an excellent opportunity to highlight the incredible talent and hard work of our local businesses. With Keele University as our headline sponsor and the support of our other fantastic sponsors, we’re looking forward to hosting an evening that will celebrate and strengthen our town’s business community.”

The public nomination process opens on Friday 20th September and runs through Sunday 29th September. Residents are encouraged to submit their favourite local businesses, celebrating everything from top-tier dining experiences to exceptional service providers. Businesses are also welcome to nominate themselves and showcase their own successes.

Following nominations, public voting will begin on Friday 4th October and close on Wednesday 16th October. The shortlist of finalists will be announced on Friday 20th October, with the winners revealed during the Awards Evening on 24th October.

For more information on the LoveNUL Business Awards, including award categories and sponsorship opportunities, visit lovenulawards.co.uk

The NHS Talking Therapies wellbeing bus is scheduled to visit Commerce House next Tuesday, 24 September, to offer mental health support for Chamber members and staff.

Taking place from 11am to 2pm, the event, organised in collaboration with Pathways, Stoke on Trent College, Potteries Moneywise, and Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Talking Therapies, will offer support for individuals struggling with stress, low mood, motivation issues or sleep difficulties.

The wellbeing bus will be on-site, offering support and advice on mental health and wellbeing.

In addition, attendees can enjoy complimentary mini beauty treatments provided by a local training provider. The event is designed to offer practical help and relaxation, providing a boost to both mental and physical wellbeing.

Staffordshire Chambers members have been invited to attend the Royal Air Force Museum’s prestigious Annual Reception next Monday, 23 September.

This exclusive event offers an opportunity to network with key decision-makers and influencers from across the Midlands while learning more about the RAF Museum Midlands’ exciting redevelopment programme and the potential for your organisation to get involved.

The evening will be hosted by Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hiller, Chair of the RAF Museum Board, alongside CEO Maggie Appleton. Set in the surroundings of the Museum’s iconic aircraft hangars, doors will open at 6.00pm, with guests welcomed by a reception featuring fizz and canapés.

Attendees will enjoy after-hours access to the Museum’s collections, witness a poignant sunset ceremony performed by RAF Cosford personnel, and be treated to drinks and bowl food service throughout the evening.

The reception will also offer Chamber members an exclusive insight into the Museum’s mission – inspiring everyone with the RAF story, past, present, and future, through its rich collection and the stories of its people. As part of a transformative £27 million redevelopment project titled Inspiring Everyone: RAF Museum Midlands Development Programme, the Museum is committed to becoming a more valuable resource for the diverse Midlands community, creating enriching opportunities for learning and engagement.

This transformation is designed to create more opportunities for learning, discovery, and skills development, enhancing the region’s attractiveness as a destination to visit, live, and work by offering:

• A new exhibition sharing the critical role of the RAF over the last 40 years, exploring its mission today and imagining its future

• A state-of-the-art Learning Centre that will provide bespoke facilities for lifelong learning programmes welcoming an additional 8,000 learners per year

• A new Collections Hub that will enable the Museum to conserve and share its stored collection with visitors for the first time, while growing the Apprentice programme

• Landscaping improvements co-created with the community to enhance the visitor experience through, outdoor learning, social interaction, and biodiversity

• An Engagement Programme delivering creative, wellbeing and skills development activities rooted in the Museums unique collection.

With the development already over halfway to its funding target, the Museum invites partners to join in this historic transformation. This initiative presents a unique opportunity for businesses to align themselves with a National Museum, and the RAF’s proud legacy, engaging with an expanded and more diverse audience. A range of sponsorship and gift in kind contribution opportunities are available, ensuring that every partnership makes a lasting impact.

To confirm your attendance at the RAF Museum Midlands Annual Reception, click here.

Renewable energy investment company, Thrive Renewables, has entered into a joint venture with TopCashback to help fund the next phase of the UK’s Net Zero transition.

The partnership with the UK’s leading cashback site’s impact investing wing, TopCashback Sustainability Ltd, will unlock up to £80 million additional capital to be deployed over four years, directly funding new wind, solar and other renewable assets that clean up the UK energy system, reduce carbon emissions and ultimately help tackle the climate crisis.

Thrive recently announced ambitious growth plans, with aims to double its generation capacity over the next five years.

The deal is the latest joint venture for Thrive, which has a history of taking a collaborative approach to funding, with existing partnerships including European investment funds, renewable energy developers and other investment companies.

The partnership will allow TopCashback Sustainability to continue building its impact investment portfolio. This includes the likes of Highlands Rewilding – a project aimed at re-wilding and re-peopling the Scottish Highlands by increasing biodiversity, green jobs and more – and funds deposited with Tribe Impact Capital, a wealth manager which helps TopCashback make impact investments.

Matthew Clayton, Managing Director of Thrive Renewables, said: “With the Government announcing its ambitions to double onshore wind, triple solar and quadruple offshore wind by 2030, we’re delighted to add TopCashback Sustainability to our growing list of joint venture partners.

“Thrive specialises in providing collaborative capital and we believe that, by working together, we can have a much greater impact – building new clean energy projects that deliver tangible benefits for communities across the UK. We’re facing an urgent climate emergency and need to see rapid progress if we’re to meet our net zero targets. Building on its history of impact investing, working with TopCashback Sustainability means we can increase the number of projects we fund, ultimately helping to accelerate our transition to a cleaner, fairer energy system.”

Oliver Ragg, CEO and co-founder of TopCashback, said: “We are delighted to be embarking on this long-term journey with Thrive, and look forward to seeing what incredible work can be achieved over many years.

“As a company, as well as our mission to ‘Save our Members the Most Money’, we strive to have a positive impact on the wider world. Thinking ahead for our members’ futures means environmental initiatives are more crucial than ever.”

Following on from a successful launch in July, the brand-new Excellence in Staffordshire programme is embarking on a series of monthly meetings (the Enterprise Zone) to enable any Staffordshire business or organisation to access a programme of workshops using tried and tested tools and techniques to unlock potential and improve performance.

Excellence in Staffordshire is a collaboration between performance improvement specialists, Investors in Excellence Group and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

The Enterprise Zone programme comprises eight modules spread over four dates with a choice of morning or afternoon sessions.

19th September is the first of those dates, featuring modules one and two at 9am – 12.30pm or 1pm to 4.30pm.

Module one, Preparation will reflect on the key factors in your work that influence what works and what doesn’t, and the relationship between excellence and performance. Module two, Permission, will focus on learning about vision, inspiration, and engagement as three key enablers of excellence, allowing the opportunity to become the responsible owner of your destiny.

Investors in Excellence Chief Executive Judy Hart said: “We’ve already had a very positive start to Excellence in Staffordshire, not only with the launch but also with subsequent meetings with businesspeople wanting to find out more about the journey to excellence and how they can be involved in this collaborative and inclusive network. The numbers on our waiting list are growing daily.

“People are buzzing about this and, as we promised at the launch, this is not just another network group. We have listened to business’ needs and developed modules that will enable participants to become more aware of their strengths and discover how to motivate and mobilise self and others to play to strengths, motivate teams, steer change, and inspire greater confidence”.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Deputy Chief Executive, Chris Plant added: “Excellence in Staffordshire fits with our drive to grow the local economy through innovation and excellence. We are delighted to be hosting the forthcoming series of the programme’s workshops and events.”

Kevin Hart, Group MD and Programme Director at Investors in Excellence completed his MA in Strategic Human Resource Management at Staffordshire University and is now a senior mentor for their alumni.

Kevin said: “I knew very little about Staffordshire and its businesses when I embarked on my studies at Staffordshire University. However, working with local businesses and organisations, I am captivated by the talent and ambition of the business community and the way in which everyone works collaboratively to improve the local economy and add real value. I’m nuts about Staffordshire and passionate about its diversity and innovation.

“The Enterprise Zone programme offers a safe environment to work together, learning fresh approaches and collaborating in excellence.

“There will also be a special Excellence Zone at the Let’s do Business expo at Uttoxeter Racecourse on 10^th October.”

The eight concise and easy to follow modules come at an affordable total price of £349 plus VAT, normally costing £1199 plus VAT, beginning on 19^th September.

You can book the Excellence in Staffordshire Enterprise Zone, starting 19^th September here: https://bit.ly/3YP7BX6  

For more information email:  iie@investorsinexcellence.com or mba@markbrammar.co.uk