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

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

It’s a new year and now is the perfect time to look forward. And what better way than launching the 2024 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards – a celebration of our amazing business community.

There are no fewer than 15 category awards to chose from, ranging from Start-up Business of the Year, right up to Large Business of the Year, plus the prestigious ‘Business of the Year’ award, sponsored by HSBC. There are two brand new categories for 2024, as well as the ‘Staffordshire Ambassador of the Year,’ sponsored by We are Staffordshire, which returns for its third ceremony.