Applications for the 2023 East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire Business Awards close this Friday, 22 September.

Submitting a fast and free application can help your business to attract new clients, unlock new PR & marketing opportunities and ultimately boost your bottom line.

There are a total of 10 award categories that businesses and organisations can enter. Find a full list of award categories and sponsors, here.

Entries into multiple categories is also encouraged.

It was also announced that the winners of the Most Promising Start-Up category will receive 12 months free mentoring and a £3k matched-funded investment grant. Find out more, here.

Good luck with your application – and hopefully, we will see you at the Pirelli Stadium for the Gala Awards Evening on 9 November.

Submit your application.

If you follow the Chambers’ media output and socials, then I’m sure you will have already seen the news that I have made the decision to retire at the end of 2023.

I do not intend to repeat myself here as I like to use the blog to inform and opine. And you can read the official press release in our Daily Focus: Sara Williams OBE announces decision to retire – Daily Focus (daily-focus.co.uk)

However, I will quickly reiterate what an absolute pleasure it has been to work with you all.  I could not have achieved anything without the cooperation, support hard work and determination which characterises our community. Nor could I have managed without my amazing team and the scores of people who freely give their time and expertise to serve on the Board of Directors, council, local area boards and member forums.

There, I said I was not going to go on about it! I still have three months left as CEO and there will be plenty of time for goodbyes before I finally depart in December.

So back to business and what a pleasure it was to attend the inaugural Staffordshire University Business Awards at the University’s Catalyst building last night.

Staffordshire Chambers were one of the sponsors and it was so nice to spend a relaxing evening amongst so many friends and Chamber Members. It was especially pleasant to be a guest so the worry about the running order was someone else’s!

The shortlisted entrants and winners were the real stars of the show and well done to the 30 nominees and congratulations to the 10 winners for their outstanding achievements.

A special thank you and congratulations to the staff at Staffordshire University for organising the night. And thank you to Vice Chancellor, Professor Martin Jones and the Director of Communities and Commercial Engagement, Martin Tideswell for your hospitality last night.

I know from personal experience that it takes a real collaborative effort to make a successful awards competition with a huge input of time, effort and money from sponsors, judges, the organising team and of course the entrants.

And finally, we have two very special events next week when we present our first Manufacturers’ Dinner at Uttoxeter Racecourse and a visit to The Hex Group, to celebrate National Manufacturing Day on Thursday 28^th September.

It is right that we celebrate our manufacturing firms which makes up a significant proportion of our economy with diverse products from ceramics to automotive and food and beverages to precision engineering.

The dinner, taking place in the 1907 Suite, will give local manufacturers the opportunity to network, discuss sector issues and celebrate their achievements while hearing from two esteemed speakers, Michelin Tyre MD John Howe, and Vickie Milligan, MD of Cottage Delight.

You can book places here: Manufacturers’ Dinner – Staffordshire Chambers

Earlier in the day there is also the opportunity to join a free tour of precision sheet metal specialist engineers the The Hex Group at their Hixon factory. Places are limited so be sure to book as soon as possible.

Tour of The HEX Group – celebrating National Manufacturing Day – Staffordshire Chambers

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

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is excited to announce a new tendering opportunity for local trading providers.

We are seeking proposals from experienced and qualified providers to deliver high-quality training courses aimed at businesses of all sizes. The objective is to enhance the skills, knowledge and competitiveness of local businesses and foster economic growth in the Staffordshire region.

The selected training provider(s) will be responsible for designing and delivering training courses that address a wide range of business topics and skills. Courses should be suitable for participants from various industries and skill levels. The duration of the courses will vary depending on the subject from half-day to a maximum of 3 days.

The training courses should cover topics relevant to modern business practices and can be offered as stand-alone topics or incorporated into a full-day course programs.

Find out more about the tender opportunities, here. Please note – this opportunity is only available to Chamber members in the first instance.

Proposals must be submitted electronically to kelly.edwards@staffordshirechambers.co.uk no later than 13th October.

Late submissions will not be considered.

Applications for the 2023 East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire Business Awards close in just two weeks!

Submitting a fast and free application can help your business to attract new clients, unlock new PR & marketing opportunities and ultimately boost your bottom line.

There are a total of 10 award categories that businesses and organisations can enter. Find a full list of award categories and sponsors, here.

Entries into multiple categories is also encouraged.

It was also announced this week that the winners of the Most Promising Start Up category will receive 12 months free mentoring and a £3k matched-funded investment grant. Find out more, here.

Good luck with your application – and hopefully, we will see you at the Pirelli Stadium for the Gala Awards Evening on 9 November.

Submit your application.

It’s not been particularly autumnal this week, but the start of a new term means back to school, back to work, back to the busy roads and typically, the summer weather has finally arrived.

I have already noticed the increase in use of our Members’ Lounge this week and it is a pleasure to see people working there as well as networking and meeting, often for the first time.

As business ramps up it is a time to fill the diary between now and the end of the year with events, important meetings and deadlines.

Staffordshire Chambers offers a whole range of events, courses and member forums to boost activity and strengthen networks. Let’s do Business is only a month away and we are already planning the 2023 Staffordshire Business Awards which will no doubt highlight many achievements that will occur in the coming months.

This comes against the backdrop of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) latest quarterly economic forecast which marginally upgrades its 2023 GDP forecast to 0.4%, whilst predicting that economic activity will remain very weak throughout 2024 and 2025.

Whilst the UK economy remains on course to avoid a technical recession, growth is likely to remain so feeble that it will be hard to spot the difference. A growth rate of 0.4% is expected for the whole of 2023, dropping to 0.3% in 2024, and nudging up only slightly to 0.7% in 2025.

Consistently low economic growth such as this is comparable to previous periods of economic shocks and recessions such as the oil crises of the 1970s and financial crash of 2008.

The research shows inflation is the top concern for UK firms, with fewer businesses now expecting their prices to rise over the coming months. The consumer price index is now forecast to take longer to return to the Bank of England’s 2% target – only reaching this goal in the last quarter of 2025.

Economist Vicky Pryce, Senior Member of the BCC Economic Advisory Council, and speaker at our Big Economic Conference on 22^nd November, commented that the BCC forecast shows the UK economy is continuing to “teeter on the edge of a recession” and therefore it will feel like a recession to many people.

The impact this will have on consumer spending, coupled with a poor trade performance, will only generate more uncertainty for firms.

The Bank of England’s own forecasts take a similarly dour view, so firms will be watching closely to see how this feeds into decision-making around interest rates.

There is currently little on the table to provide companies with any crumbs of comfort. As we head towards an election next year, politicians will have to show how they will work with the business community to find solutions.

It sounds rather depressing on paper, but we should be used to it by now. After all over the past few years we have faced a global pandemic, war in Ukraine, a cost-of-living crisis and are dealing with the effects of climate change.

I go back to where I started in that we have built a positive business community in Staffordshire with the Chambers’ members at its heart. If we stay informed and continue to work together, we can get through a few more tough years capitalising on the opportunities from response to climate change, AI and new technology, improving transport infrastructure and reinvigorating our towns and cities.

Finally, a way in which you can get more involved and make business even better in your local area is by joining one of our local area advisory boards in either Stafford or the Staffordshire Moorlands

Nominations are currently open for dynamic, influential, and forward-thinking businesspeople to join the local area advisory boards where they represent their peers and are advocates for the Chambers and the private sector.

Board members are expected to attend up to five meetings per year. Meetings usually last for around two hours, discussion takes place on a range of business issues affecting the respective areas. The meetings also include a guest speaker.

Being a member of a local area advisory board provides a great opportunity to increase your local knowledge and to influence the local business landscape. Together with the Chambers, you will have the power to increase the prosperity of Staffordshire and the local community by forging outstanding connections and lobbying local authorities and the Government for a better business environment.

If you would like to get more involved in your local area, please email jade.holloway@staffordshirechambers.co.uk to receive your nomination form papers.

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

Dynamic, influential and forward-thinking business leaders can now register their interest in joining the Chambers’ Council and/or Local Area Advisory Boards (LAAB) for Stafford and the Staffordshire Moorlands.

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 jade.holloway@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has joined forces with D2NA to launch an exciting new networking opportunity – on wheels!

This unique cycle networking group, open to cyclists of all abilities, combines the thrill of pedalling with the power of professional connections.

Join us on Friday, 29 September from 2:00pm for a picturesque ride where particpants can network on the move, forging valuable connections while enjoying the scenic beauty of the outdoors, all for free!

The group will depart from Pau Run and Ride, Trentham, and enjoy a ride before returning to cool down with coffee and cake, further enhancing the networking experience.

All participants are required to wear appropriate safety equipment, including helmets and any additional gear deemed necessary.

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to network, ride, and connect with fellow cyclists.

Book your free space, here.

Axia Solutions, a training provider based in Stoke-on-Trent, has launched a new apprenticeship programme designed to help businesses across the region unlock hidden company potential and maximise value.

The Improvement Practitioner apprenticeship is a blend of Lean and Six Sigma skills that will teach apprentices how to identify improvement opportunities, diagnose issues, develop solutions and implement change.

By the end of the course, apprentices will be highly-skilled problem solvers who can drive the business forward, improving employee and company performance by eliminating resource and process waste.

“We know the power that investing in your workforce has in attracting and retaining staff” said Victoria Harte, Director at Axia Solutions. “Our new Improvement Practitioner programme is a great chance for businesses to invest in their team and gain the skills and tools they need in-house to release potential improvements”

Improvement Practitioners can perform in a wide variety of sectors and functions, including manufacturing, engineering, public sector, IT and finance. By embracing or sustaining a culture of continuous improvement, businesses can increase innovation, improve quality, maximise efficiencies and reduce waste.

The apprenticeship training will be delivered in the workplace, through a blend of remote and face-to-face learning. Each week the learners will have time to develop and embed the knowledge and skills they are learning in training sessions.

In the year to date, 82% of Axia’s leadership and management apprentices have gained a distinction in their End Point Assessment. The Improvement Practitioner apprenticeship sits within the Leadership and Management department at Axia.

“By choosing the apprenticeship option to train their team, companies will benefit from highly skilled trainers supporting the development of business improvement processes,” said Harte. “We want to support employers and employees through the current challenging economic times. This new course is a testament to Axia’s 25-year commitment to investing in Stoke and Staffordshire to help businesses grow.”

To learn more about the Improvement Practitioner Apprenticeship Programme or to get in touch with Axia Solutions, click here.