It’s been a busy start to the New Year at Commerce House.

The Chamber team has hit the ground running, working across a myriad of exciting initiatives and projects as we set the stage for another year of growth for the Staffordshire business community.

This week also saw the official announcement that Staffordshire Chambers has appointed Rachel Laver as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Following an exhaustive three-month search, Rachel emerged as the prime candidate to lead Staffordshire Chambers into the future. Currently serving as the CEO at Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, Rachel is set to assume her role at the Chamber on 14 March.

With a distinguished track record of delivering high-value projects exceeding £50 million in various sectors, Rachel’s expertise as a regeneration specialist, particularly in implementing publicly funded projects and initiatives, aligns seamlessly with our mission to foster economic development.

In the coming year, we look forward to building on our recent achievements and advancing the Chamber’s mission under Rachel’s guidance.

Welcome to Staffordshire Chambers, Rachel!

The corridors are certainly quieter at Commerce House this week in the absence of Sara Williams OBE, who embarked on her well-deserved retirement at the turn of the year.

I had the privilege of working alongside Sara for the better part of a decade, during which she was a source of support, an inspiration, and a pioneer for both the Chamber team and the broader business community. All the best in your retirement, and thanks again, Sara.

Looking ahead – I would like to thank our Chamber Board, Council, Patrons, partners and members for the ongoing support – and here’s to a successful and prosperous 2024!

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

You’ve told us that tackling skills shortages is a top priority.

One way to ease recruitment difficulties is to make it easier for people from diverse talent pools to access jobs in your businesses and help them progress in their careers with you.

That’s why Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is working with a new UK-wide Workplace Equity Commission.

We’ve brought together an amazing panel, comprising businesses and experts from across civic society.

The aim is to help SMEs, across all sectors and geographies, create more equitable workplaces. We are defining ‘workplace equity’ as creating a level playing field for individuals, recognising that we do not all start from the same place and that adjustments may be required to provide fair access to opportunity. It is considering equity for everyone, and not focusing on any group or protected characteristic.

How to get involved

We have published a national Call for Evidence that asks: ‘How can SMEs create more fair and equitable workplaces?’

We hope you will share any work you are doing, or planning to do, on equality, diversity and inclusion with us.

We are inviting views and insights from everyone who wants to contribute. We’d like to hear about best practices, as well as any challenges firms are facing, and where more support is needed. We aim to produce practical recommendations for business and government that will help create a level playing field in our workplaces and resolve the widespread recruitment difficulties that are holding back growth. The Call for Evidence is open until 16 February 2024.

Full details can be found here.

For more information, or to submit evidence, please email suzanne.quinn@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Air IT, a leading Managed Service Provider in the UK, has raised £10,620 for Guide Dogs, their chosen charity of the year for 2023. The goal was to support someone with sight loss to live a more fulfilling life with the assistance of their very own guide dog.

Throughout the year, the staff at Air IT organised various fundraising activities, including charity client events, bake sales, competitions, and personal donations. As a result of these efforts, Air IT successfully raised £10,620 to name and sponsor a puppy ‘Air’ through the charity’s Name a Puppy scheme.

Felicity Stratton, Community Fundraising Relationship Manager for Guide Dogs, said: “It costs approximately £54,800 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement and Guide Dogs relies almost entirely on donations to keep its life-changing services running.

“We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Air IT for choosing to support us and we look forward to sharing the news of Air’s safe arrival soon.”

The funds raised by Air IT were made possible with the introduction of their Charity and Community Employee Resource Group (ERG), an integral part of Air IT’s ESG journey. Further support was given throughout the year by Brian Little, an industry veteran and close friend of Air IT who now dedicates his time to raising vital funds for Guide Dogs, having lost his vision a few years ago. The support contributed significantly to the fundraising efforts, enabling Air IT to cover the training process of a guide dog.

Brian Little, a volunteer fundraiser for Guide Dogs said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure working closely with Air IT over the past year, having been involved in a number of events such as their annual AirFest, THEBIG50 and other company events including a recent webinar, and working closely with their exceptional sales team. I’m looking forward to following Air’s training journey next year.

“Having had the chance to meet lots of guide dog owners and being severely visually impaired myself (blind), I fully understand the life-changing qualities a guide dog brings to someone. A personal thank you to the entire Air IT team for their fantastic support and remarkable fundraising efforts. You guys are really making a difference!”

The funds raised by Air IT will cover the process of training Air from birth to advanced training, until the point of handover where Air will be paired and become the eyes and trusted companion of someone with sight loss.

Guide Dogs, a UK-based charity, heavily relies on donations to continue its life-changing work, which makes a real difference in the lives of adults and children living with sight loss.

I feel like I have been saying thank you and goodbye constantly since I announced my decision to retire back in September.

However, the moment has arrived for me to finally depart Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

Not long after I was appointed, I bought a house in Brown Edge in the Staffordshire Moorlands, and it was definitely one of my better decisions. It helped me get acquainted with an area I will admit I knew little about, to appreciate its natural beauty and the warmth and generosity of the people.

The last twelve years have been a fantastic journey and I feel a changed and better person for it. I have worked with so many innovative, creative and generous people to achieve our goals and we certainly have achieved a lot, especially in times of adversity.

I could make an endless list of programmes, projects and schemes the Chambers has run or been involved in, but not a single one of them would have happened without this spirit of dedication and common purpose.

We have a robust structure in place, my successor will shortly be announced and I know you will support them as you have supported me.

And so, as I depart, one final thank you. Keep doing what you do in the way that you do it.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Sara

If you want to talk to the Chambers about any business issues, including funding, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222, call the Business Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

The British Army has announced plans to host a unique event in the Spitfire Gallery at The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, set to give the public an insight into the Army, its operations and its wider role in society.

Taking place on Wednesday, 31 January, the event, titled “Meet Your Army: The Army Engagement Group,” promises an in-depth exploration of the military’s integral role in our local communities.

Open to all individuals interested in gaining a nuanced perspective on the military, the evening is designed to provide valuable insights and unique perspectives.

Key event features include:

• Arrival/Reception (18:30 – 19:00): Attendees will be welcomed to The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, creating an environment for interaction with fellow guests and army personnel.
• Main Presentation (19:00 – 19:45): The core of the event features a comprehensive presentation by the Army Engagement Group, offering an in-depth look into the various departments and the individuals who serve.
• Q&A Session (19:45 – 20:15): Following the presentation, a dynamic question and answer session will enable attendees to directly engage with army representatives and address inquiries.
• Light Buffet Supper & Networking (20:15 – 21:00): The evening concludes with a casual light buffet supper, fostering networking opportunities and further discussions with army representatives.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, January 31, 2024
• Time: 18:30 – 21:00 GMT
• Venue: The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Stoke on Trent

For more information or to book your free space, please click here.

Nominations are now open for the Totally Stoked Awards, celebrating the hard work and success of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire’s voluntary and community sector – VAST has confirmed.

There are a total of nine award categories, ranging from Community Champion—an individual who has made a significant impact on their organisation and community—to Best Collaborative Project—a celebration of partnership projects.

You can submit multiple nominations for each category, including for your own organisation.

A VAST spokesperson said: “Nominations will be evaluated by a panel who may not be aware of the person, project, or organisation you are nominating, so please make sure your nominations are clear, detailed, and as meaningful as possible.

“We want to know why you think they should win!”

If you have any questions, please contact the team at hello@totallystoked.org.uk before you submit your nominations. Nominations will close on Wednesday 3rd January 2024.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony early in the new year. Click here for more details and for a full list of categories.

InfraBridge-backed VX UK Holdings Limited (“VX UK”) and Freedom Fibre Limited (“Freedom Fibre”), two of the leading UK alternative local fibre providers, have signed an agreement to combine their businesses.

The combined business will have more than 285,000 premises passed and combine the operations of VX UK and Freedom Fibre into a single group through the acquisition of the UK assets and operations of VX UK by Freedom Fibre.

Both VX UK and Freedom Fibre have a strong regional presence in their respective markets. VX UK has a strong presence in Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding areas through its unique contract with Stoke City Council, which provides connectivity for local authority premises, underpinning essential local services. VX UK markets its broadband service to local consumers through its LilaConnect brand, alongside a wholesale offering for local ISPs. VX also has fibre assets in Bristol and Colchester.

The new business will operate as Freedom Fibre Limited and will be run by Neil McArthur, Freedom Fibre founder and Chief Executive Officer. Darren Woods, currently Freedom Fibre Chief Financial Officer, will have the same role in the enlarged business.

Freedom Fibre launched in 2020 and offers wholesale-only services on its network and benefits from a long-term wholesale agreement with TalkTalk, a leading UK broadband provider. Freedom Fibre secured its first Building Digital UK (“BDUK”) gigabit tender earlier this year and during 2023 has begun offering a range of B2B products. TalkTalk has been a minority shareholder since 2021 and will remain a shareholder in the combined business.

Damian Stanley, Managing Partner, InfraBridge, said: “The combination of VX UK and Freedom Fibre, with the backing of our shareholders, brings together two of the UK’s leading altnets into a new, stronger company. Our businesses are highly complementary, including our geographic proximity, the quality of our network build and our retail and wholesale go-to-market strategies, and we now have a platform with the support of TalkTalk to provide ongoing connections across the enlarged business.”

Achal Bhuwania, CIO, Equitix, said: “Scale and resources are both critical factors needed to successfully commercialise a UK altnet. This merger of Freedom Fibre and VX UK will contribute significantly to these two critical factors, accelerating the growth of the combined businesses, creating a larger network with both a wholesale and retail network offering for our growing customer base.”

Neil McArthur, CEO, Freedom Fibre, said: “This is a strategic merger which leverages the strengths of both Freedom Fibre and VX UK to create a larger, stronger and more diverse business backed by two significant investors with ambitions for growth. We are delighted to be joining forces with the VX team and are hugely excited about the future potential of this newly combined business.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of Q1 24.

VX UK’s parent company, VNEXT AB, headquartered in Sweden, remains managed by InfraBridge.

VX UK was advised by Houlihan Lokey; Freedom Fibre was advised by Cameron Barney. Weil and Ashurst provided legal advice to InfraBridge and Freedom Fibre, respectively.