Declan’s Policy Update: Helping to influence the key business issues in Staffordshire
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is known as the voice of local business in Staffordshire – but what does this really mean? Being a member of the Chambers is not just the chance to be a part of the county’s largest business network, but it also provides the opportunity to join your fellow Chamber members and help to influence policies that impact businesses both locally and nationally.
I recently joined two of our forums, the Chairy Forum and the Energy, Environment and Sustainability Forum. Discussions covered topics such as the Midlands Net Zero Hub and the benefits of volunteering for employees and businesses. We also discussed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which aim to address inequalities in areas such as gender, health, education and hunger.
These two forums are among eleven policy forums delivered by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce:
- Charity
- Digital
- Energy, Environment and Sustainability
- HR, Employment and Skills
- HS2
- Manufacturers’
- Money Matters
- Planning & Infrastructure
- Rural Business
- Social Value & Procurement
- Transport
Each forum is made up of representatives from our member businesses and meets up several times across the year. Key topics for discussion are identified, guest speakers are brought in and our forums pick up that role of highlighting the matters that concern our members, at both a national and regional level. Each forum has its own Chair, who will steer both the meetings and objectives of that particular forum.
Throughout 2023, we plan to develop closer working across all of our policy forums and highlight the more common themes which impact on multiple business sectors. We will closely track any actions we take to escalate the concerns raised by our members and this could be done through consulting with our local authority partners, stakeholders and even nationally, through the British Chambers’ of Commerce (BCC). We will also report back on what we have done.
We’re always keen to welcome new faces in all of our policy forums but what’s in it for you and your business? It’s a chance for your views to be heard and the opportunity to work collaboratively with your fellow Chambers’ members in influencing our policy role on specific topics. You also get the chance to grow your networking contacts in similar sectors. It could also be a perfect development opportunity for one of your team, helping to empower confidence.
Some of our forum members have gone on to join British Chambers’ of Commerce (BCC) policy groupings, getting their voices heard at a national level.
Joining our policy forums is not a huge commitment, with no more than four meetings a year. Meetings typically start at 9am and last no more than an hour or so.
Being the voice of business is what we do but why not get involved and play your part. For further details on any of our policy forums, please contact Declan Riddell:declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
- Published in Influence & Network, News
Declan’s Policy Update: The vital role of the Chambers’ Forums
The end of March means winding the clocks forward an hour, brighter evenings and a chance to look back on the role of our Chambers’ policy forums during Quarter 1 of 2023.
Our specifically tailored sector forums bring together business leaders, drawn exclusively from our diverse Chambers’ membership. The forums are a great opportunity to meet experts in your field, raise any potential issues and share new opportunities within the Staffordshire business community. Our forums steer our policy making process, ensuring that your voice is heard by decision makers.
Our Money Matters forum developed a Budget ‘wish-list’ which we sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, prior to the Budget. We called for childcare costs to be more affordable, encouraging parents back to work after the birth of a child. It was great to see a Budget announcement of extra funded hours to parents of one- and two-year olds and an expansion of free childcare for three year-olds.
Lisa Healings of Voluntary Action Stoke-on-Trent (VAST) was the guest speaker at our HR, Employment & Skills forum and she gave an update on volunteering, including how to support employees to volunteer and the different ways to incorporate volunteering into a business. Hot topics were free training and the ever-rising minimum wage and the knock on effect this is having on salary staff.
The members of our Energy, Environment & Sustainability forum joined a fascinating guided tour of Staffordshire University’s Staffordshire Advanced Manufacturing, Prototyping and Innovation Demonstrator (SAMPID) facility. The tour included a visit to the newly installed Micro Gas Turbine (MGT) LAB and Micro Combined Heat and Power (Micro-CHP) demonstrator, which offer the opportunity for businesses and universities to collaborate in low carbon and renewable energy systems.
Our popular Manufacturers’ forum met in January and we were joined by Nadia Bidzinska of Ornua Foods, who gave an update of the sustainability journey undertaken by Ornua. Emma Bonfiglio and Clare Nicholl of the Keele University Business Gateway gave an update on innovation support available to small businesses. Discussion included sustainability and the challenges of becoming more sustainable during the energy crisis.
The Transport forum looks at all forms of transport, from road to rail and from aviation to marine. During the January meeting, the forum discussed Smart Motorways, air quality, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, Restoring your Railways Fund and skills in the transport sector. Guest speakers included Alex Dodds (Midlands Connect), who delivered an update on Midlands Connect’s Economy & Freight Programme.
Vicky Osgood (Business Relations Manager, HS2 Ltd), joined January’s HS2 forum and delivered an update on Phase 2A of the HS2 line, from Fradley – Crewe. Mark Connell (Levelling Up Programme Director, Stoke-on-Trent City Council), gave an update on the Goods Yard development to the west of Stoke-on-Trent Station. We also discussed Levelling Up and Skills/Employment.
Damien Holdstock of St Modwen attended our Planning & Infrastructure forum and delivered a presentation on getting the views of local businesses about the role of logistics. There was a discussion on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and it was agreed that there would be a follow up response from the Chamber, subsequently submitted in March.
I’m looking forward to attending this week’s Rural Business forum, when we’ll be joined by Zoe Robinson of Keele University, who will deliver an update on the move to Net Zero.
Being a member of our Chamber policy forums is a great way to join your fellow members in helping to shape our policy and influence as a Chamber. It’s also a great way to grow your network contacts and with meetings typically held once a quarter, it won’t involve too much in the way of time commitment. Meetings are usually held at our Commerce House office in Stoke-on-Trent and once a meeting has finished, you’ll be very welcome to move to our Members’ Lounge, grab a brew and work from here for the rest of the day!
If you would like to learn more about any of our Chamber forums, please contact: declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
- Published in Influence & Network, News
Declan’s Policy Update: HS2 latest
We were disappointed to hear of the announcement to delay the start of construction of Phase 2A of the HS2 line.
The line has been split into sections – and it is Phase 2A that piques our interest, stretching from Fradley to Crewe, through Staffordshire between Stafford and Stone and through rural parts of Newcastle-under-Lyme borough.
HS2 is more than just tracks and trains, scores of apprenticeship opportunities will be created, upskilling the workforce to the benefit of the local economy for many years to come. Construction workers will need food, accommodation, and many other services, bringing money in the local economy.
Construction works will take shape in the coming years and through our HS2 Forum, we’ll be banging the drum for local businesses to have access to procurement opportunities.
The arrival of high-speed rail services into our county should also serve as a catalyst for regeneration and create the right conditions for investment and high value jobs. The skyline along the A500 at Stoke is currently dominated by large cranes which stand over the Goods Yard regeneration initiative to the west of Stoke-on-Trent Station. This development will revitalise an area in and around Glebe Street, turning an unloved industrial site into a vibrant urban neighbourhood quarter, restoring existing buildings into work and leisure space, including a café bar in a derelict signal box, as well as adding well-designed sustainable apartments.
Further south in Stafford, the Stafford Station Gateway initiative will transform the western approach to Stafford town centre with proposals for 900 homes, 20,000 sq. ft of commercial space, a hotel and a multi-story carpark in a green setting. It also provides opportunities for brand new leisure, retail and food and beverage concepts to create a fresh and vibrant centre for the community.
HS2 presents many opportunities for our business community and on the back of the announcement to delay the start of the construction of Phase 2A of the line, we have written to The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, MP) and Secretary of State for Transport (Rt Hon. Mark Harper, MP), to express our disappointment and to call for commitment to ensure that any delay does not extend indefinitely. We have also called for HS2 services to/from London to start/finish in Central London, at Euston Station and not Old Oak Common, some 4 miles to the west.
Our HS2 Forum was created in 2020, with the aim of making sure Staffordshire gets the maximum economic and social benefits from the construction and eventual operation of HS2. Being a forum member is a great way to grow your contacts and add your voice to the discussions around shaping our policy role as a Chamber. It’s also a great way to get updates on what’s happening in our local economy, with a diverse mix of guest speakers.
If you would like to join our HS2 Forum or any of our policy forums, or discuss any of the issues in more detail, please contact me directly: declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
- Published in Influence & Network, Uncategorized
Declan’s Policy Update: Spring Budget
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt, is due to announce the Spring Budget on Wednesday (15 March). We have written to Mr Hunt to outline what we would like to hear in the Budget speech.
Childcare
The availability of affordable childcare is very much linked to the size of the UK’s inactive workforce and is a barrier to growth. According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures, the percentage of overall unemployed due to caring responsibilities (looking after family or home) has declined over the last five years but is still a significant issue for the UK economy, with an estimated 1.72m people in this position, 86% of whom are women.
There is an extensive provision of government schemes to support parents with childcare costs, including but not limited to 15 to 30 hours of free childcare for three and four-year-olds (and some eligible two-year-olds); such as the Tax-Free Childcare scheme; and the ability to claim back up to 85% of childcare costs (if eligible) for Universal Credit.
England has comparatively high costs of childcare and these costs have continued to rise, in many cases outstripping average earnings. Measures to develop more capacity provision in the childcare sector may help to bring these costs down and entice more parents back into the workplace, making a welcome contribution to economic activity.
Energy
The Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS) announcement was welcome but fell short of the support required by most businesses. We feel that energy bill support should be considered a long-term investment rather than as a subsidy, given that many of those firms facing price rises have strong long-term prospects.
Businesses are encouraged to embrace aspirations to become ‘Net Zero’ but they need support to update technologies and this is particularly true for our ceramics sector. We call for Government support which will allow businesses to invest in greener technologies.
Business rates
A fundamental review of business rates has moved the system to a three-year cycle but soon, we hope to see a move to annual revaluations. This would allow rateable values to remain in step with market levels, as well as local economic cycles.
In its current form, the business rates system is a burden on businesses regardless of ability to pay and it does not make allowances for the major changes that have taken place in the UK economy over the last decade. Many commercial premises in towns and cities lie empty and serve as a reminder of a struggle to compete with online shopping. Indeed, all of our local centres bear witness to this with some faring particularly badly, deterring not only visitors, but also potential investors
Funded business support
When it comes to encouraging enterprise, we need a long-term strategic approach to government-funded business support. This would give more autonomy to local and regional communities and is vital for the future economic success of our area and the UK As a whole.
Most businesses prefer to access support and advice through familiar ‘front door’ non-public sector organisations such as Chambers’ of Commerce, who have that local footprint across our regions. Tangible outcomes from funded business support are always welcome, such as the opening of Etruria Valley Link Road, which will improve access between Hanley/Festival Park and the A500, as well as serving as a catalyst for regeneration.
VAT threshold
The VAT threshold can be a hindrance to business growth. Our British Chambers’ of Commerce (BCC) colleagues conducted some research which found that 57% of respondents agreed with the statement “my business is actively trying to keep below £85k turnover so that we don’t have to register to pay VAT”. This growth barrier exists for several reasons including administrative costs, concerns over the increased possibility of an HMRC audit and an inability to pass on the costs to customers, especially when competing with unregistered firms. We would like to see the Government take measures to address this barrier.
Our Budget asks were discussed at our recent Money Matters Forum, which meets every quarter and plays a key role in exchanging information on taxation, corporate law, finance, insurance and professional services sector issues. We meet again on Friday 23rd June and if you would like to join us, or would like to find out more about the forum please contact me: declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
- Published in Influence & Network, Uncategorized
Declan’s Policy Update: Chambers’ Digital Forum
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce recently held our first digital forum of the year, hosted at our Stafford office. As a digital forum, it was appropriate that members had the ‘hybrid’ choice to attend in person or join remotely.
Looking back at the pandemic it is now apparent that many of us suffered from online meeting fatigue. Many new phrases entered our vocabulary, including “you’re on mute!” and “have you tried switching your camera off?” Feedback suggests that hybrid meetings work well, bringing people together but also avoiding the need to travel.
We discussed digital connectivity for our rural communities in Staffordshire, which are home to almost 60% of Staffordshire’s residents. We believe that by supporting the development and progression of our rural areas, we can promote rural economic growth.
Access to a reliable digital connection is crucial for businesses in our region. Gaps in broadband and mobile connectivity stifle business productivity and competitiveness. We want to bring an end to ‘digital exclusion’ with rural businesses having access to decent connections allowing them to compete with rivals based in urban areas.
We want to see cutting-edge high-speed communication infrastructure, which will underpin Staffordshire’s digital future and enable businesses to fully exploit commercial opportunities in the digital ecosystem.
During the last ten years, Staffordshire County Council has worked in partnership with Openreach and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), to deliver the Superfast Staffordshire programme, aiming to connect ‘hard to reach’ communities to superfast broadband speeds (at least 24mbps) where there was no commercial provision, allowing 97% of Staffordshire properties to have available connectivity, with a take-up of 80%.
Getting better digital access for all businesses is one thing. Having a skilled and digitally capable workforce, is another. Digital skills have so many applications across a number of sectors and now Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has been awarded the opportunity of developing a Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
Skills shortages are regularly highlighted by businesses as a key recruitment issue and the LSIP will aim to bridge the gaps between what skills businesses need and the capabilities of training providers to meet those needs.
We heard from Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG), who mentioned that first year learners studying the T-Level Digital Pathway, had been getting industry ready after heading out into workplace settings on extended placements. This will allow students to develop their practical skills within a workplace environment. It could help to offer a practical solution to a problem or suggest a process improvement.
This links in with my previous blog in National Apprenticeship week, which mentioned our differing learning styles and by giving students the chance to apply learning in a practical environment, they will be see practical outcomes and results, helping to reinforce their learning.
We all know that Staffordshire is a great place to do business, with outstanding transport connectivity and a talented workforce. Ongoing investment in digital infrastructure and the practical application of digital skills will deliver continued growth and prosperity. If you would like to join our digital forum and share your views, please contact: declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
- Published in Influence & Network, News
Clean Air Conscious Staffordshire
Air pollution is now the largest environmental risk linked to deaths in the UK, affecting everyone. The government’s clean air strategy aims to protect the nation’s health, protect the environment, and secure green growth and innovation. Staffordshire Chambers is campaigning to promote and protect the health of the local population by helping businesses adapt and make changes to the way that they operate that will improve the region’s air quality.
We want to make sure that businesses are aware of the upcoming changes as well as the support available for businesses who are likely to be affected by the rollout of the Clean Air Zone.
- Published in Influence & Network
The Members Lounge
Looking for a quiet place to focus on your work, with free hot drinks on tap? Or a chilled-out space to meet with like-minded people over a brew? Chamber members get to enjoy free use of our bright and airy Members’ Lounge in Festival Park – a perfect place to work, meet and network.
The Members’ lounge also offers FREE quality barista style coffee from high spec tea / coffee making facilities so that you can keep working to make your business great.
- Published in Influence & Network, News
Business Pledge for Literacy
- Published in Influence & Network
Tendering Opportunities
Tendering opportunities
- Published in Influence & Network