News

The Skills Hub is excited to announce the launch of its new website, designed to be a one-stop resource for local businesses, individuals, and training providers across Staffordshire.

The website provides an easy-to-use search tool to help users find detailed course information quickly, including options to search by specific skills for targeted development. It offers comprehensive guidance on available courses, including the benefits and career impacts of each, making it simpler for users to choose the right training path.

A directory of local training providers is also available, and the Skills Hub welcomes new providers to join. Additionally, users will find information on funding opportunities and grants, with clear instructions on how to apply, making it easier for businesses and individuals to invest in skills development.

For those interested in apprenticeships, the site includes an apprenticeship brokerage system with direct contact options. Businesses can also book a Training Needs Analysis with Skills Hub advisors to assess and address their unique training requirements.

For more information, please click here.

Businesses across Staffordshire have a unique opportunity to make their voices heard at the highest levels of UK policy-making by participating in the latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).

The QES helps to highlight the barriers facing businesses of all sizes and sectors across the county, allowing organisations including Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce to address them in their regional and national lobbying efforts.

This is the first post-Budget QES and we hope this will provide us with feedback on business confidence and outlook, in light of the Autumn Budget.

First launched in 1989, the survey has become a cornerstone of business research, compiled nationally by the British Chambers of Commerce and reviewed quarterly by the Bank of England and various Government departments.

Declan Riddell, Policy Adviser at Staffordhsire Chambers of Commerce, said: “It’s almost two weeks since Rachel Reeves delivered her maiden Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

“Businesses are still digesting some of the announcements, which included a decision to raise Employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC) to 15% and a lowering of the threshold from when payment of NIC is due, from £9,100 to £5,000.

“The Employment Allowance, which allows smaller companies to reduce their NIC liability, will increase from £5,000 to £10,000. Estimates suggest that this announcement could raise an additional £25billion a year for Treasury coffers.”

Have your say and complete the survey, here.

It’s almost two weeks since Rachel Reeves delivered her maiden Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Businesses are still digesting some of the announcements, which included a decision to raise Employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC) to 15% and a lowering of the threshold from when payment of NIC is due, from £9,100 to £5,000.   

The Employment Allowance, which allows smaller companies to reduce their NIC liability, will increase from £5,000 to £10,000.  Estimates suggest that this announcement could raise an additional £25billion a year for Treasury coffers.

We’ve already heard concerns from some of our members, who are facing up to the challenge of meeting significantly higher costs of running a business.  Some businesses may have to look at cutting back on staff numbers or may choose to pass on the cost to customers.   Other reaction suggests that businesses may choose to respond by pausing any plans to award pay rises to existing staff. 

But what has been the impact of the Budget on your business?   We’re keen to get your view of business confidence, as we roll out our latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).   

The QES is the UK’s longest running independent survey of business sentiment and is widely recognised by The Bank of England as being a valuable measure of how the economy is performing.  All 52 Chambers’ of Commerce across the UK, will be asking businesses in their regions to take part.  Results are compiled and shared with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), who will publish an overall summary of national results.  Here at Staffordshire Chambers’, we’ll be analysing results in the county and making both regional and national comparisons.

The QES comprises just 28 questions, most of which have a simple tick box response.  It takes no more than 60 seconds to complete and by taking part, you’ll help to paint a picture of local and national economic performance.  We’re keen for QES responses to be reflective of a wide mix of business sectors and business sizes.  Please spare us a minute of your time.  Your response can be really valuable.  Click here to open QES – Q4, 2024.

In the coming weeks, we’re meeting with four of our local Members of Parliament:

15.11.24. – Dame Karen Bradley, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands (Conservative Party)
22.11.24. – Adam Jogee, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Labour Party)
22.11.24. – Allison Gardner, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South (Labour Party)
12.12.24. – Gareth Snell, MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central (Labour Party)

It’s a perfect opportunity to join your fellow members in raising the key issues affecting your business and you can book your place through the events page of our website.

Our ‘Meet the MP’ meetings are open to Chamber members only and advanced booking is essential. 

All eyes will be on The Chancellor of the Exchequer when she reveals the Autumn Budget this Wednesday afternoon.  

Prior to the Budget, we’ve taken the time to write to Rachel Reeves, MP with a list of some of the announcements we hope to hear:

Dear Chancellor of the Exchequer,

Our most recent Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) results suggest a rise in the number of businesses who are pausing investment in plant, machinery and training.   We hear anecdotal evidence of businesses holding back on commitments.  Business confidence is far from certain and we hope this will improve through the announcements you will be making in your Budget.

We have concerns about the future of business support programmes, with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) due to end on 31st March 2025.   We recognise that the new government may want to proceed with this provision in a different format but we urge the government to provide rollover funding for at least the 2025-26 fiscal year, enabling a smooth switch over and avoiding a catastrophic cliff-edge for business support. 

Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce continues to deliver business support programmes across our region.  We’re best placed to deliver business support, simply because we have that clear understanding of our local economy and the businesses in the region.  Business support programmes serve as a catalyst for future growth.  We ask for clarity and simplification of any future programmes of business support.

We are the appointed deliverer of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and have bridged the gap between the training demanded by business and the training on offer through local training providers.  Further government support is needed to build on this success and we ask for an extension to the Local Skills Improvement Fund, which allows training providers to invest in the skills and technology they need to meet the skills needs of businesses, aligned to our LSIP priorities.  

We lend our supportfor an expansion of full expensing to include leased assets, in recognition of the fact that not all businesses own their machinery or find themselves in a position to buy new plant and other assets.     

Now is a good time to carry out further reform of the business rates system.  This review should look at the idea of annual revaluations cycle and a lowering of the multiplier.  In addition, we would like to see progress in looking at the future relationship between taxation of in-person and online sales.

We welcomed the raising of the VAT registration threshold to £90,000 but even at an increased level, it still serves as a disincentive to businesses wishing to grow.  We call on government to restart the VAT registration review and explore a smoothing mechanism to decrease the bunching effect and limit administrative complexity.

Anecdotal feedback from our members has called for the need to review the current (R&D) tax relief enforcement campaign, ensuring that it acts in a manner which reduces the collateral damage to the economy, the accounting profession, and legitimate claimants.  We hope to see improved accountability and improved HMRC caseworker training.

We would also welcome clear and transparent consultation being delivered by government, when changes to the tax system are proposed.

Kind regards

Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce

Please join us on the morning after the Budget (Thursday 31^st), for our Post Budget Breakfast, In partnership with RSM, a leading audit, tax and consulting advisory firm, and wealth experts, Ironmarket Wealth.  Our expert line up of guest speakers will walk us through the Budget announcements, allowing you to consider how proposed adjustments may affect your financial planning and long-term business viability.  Click here to book your place:

Post-Budget Breakfast with RSM – Staffordshire Chambers

Last week, the government announced the launch of a consultation on its Industrial Strategy and new Advisory Council.  It’s been seven years in the making and claims to create a pro-business environment.  The Strategy will focus on eight key sectors, which offer the highest growth opportunity for the economy and business:

1. Advanced Manufacturing.
2. Clean Energy Industries.
3. Creative Industries.
4. Defence.
5. Digital and Technologies.
6. Financial Services.
7. Life Sciences.
8. Professional and Business Services.

We need your help to decide what it should look like.  We recognise that consistent and reliable policy measures are the best way to ensure that businesses can plan effectively for the future.  

The Industrial Strategy will play a pivotal role in the UK’s future growth agenda but it has to be clear on how it will maximise the country’s competitive advantage, as well as integrating the regional strengths of the different parts of the country.    Digital Staffordshire and Green Staffordshire are two of the five themes within our Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce Manifesto and we need to ensure that digital innovation and green are at the front and centre of investment in infrastructure and skills. 

Our British Chambers’ of Commerce (BCC) colleagues have called for the creation of a new supply chain taskforce, which will support future resilience.  The pandemic and global conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have only served to highlight the UK’s reliance on global markets for energy, communications technology and manufacturing components. 

This public consultation will inform the development of the new Industrial Strategy, as well as the government’s proposed plan to create long-term, inclusive, secure and sustainable growth.  The final industrial strategy will be published in spring 2025.  The government is keen to get the views of business and you have until the end of Sunday 24^th November 2024, to join the consultation and share your views.  Click here for further details:

Invest 2035: the UK’s modern industrial strategy – GOV.UK

The Industrial Strategy is sure to feature in upcoming meetings between our members and local Members of Parliament.  It’s more than three months since the General Election and we’ve been working to connect our member businesses with the newly elected MP from across our patch.  In recent weeks, we’ve met with Leigh Ingham (MP for Stafford), David Williams (MP for Stoke-on-Trent North) and Sir Gavin Williamson (MP for Stone, Great Wyrley & Penkridge).

During November, we’ll be meeting with Dame Karen Bradley (MP for Staffordshire Moorlands), Allison Gardner (MP for Stoke-on-Trent South) and Adam Jogee (MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme).  In December, we’ll be meeting with Gareth Snell (MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central).

In our most recent ‘Meet the MP’ meetings, we’ve had some lively and constructive discussions around areas such as transport, skills, green infrastructure and energy.  Any business can have a 1:1 meeting with their respective MP but joining your fellow Chamber member businesses, creates a real dynamism.   Our Meet the MP meetings are open to Chamber members.  Advanced booking is essential and you can book your place through the events page on our website:

Events from Mon 21st October – Fri 25th October – Staffordshire Chambers

It was the first post-General Election QES and as usual, the results make for interesting reading!

Survey findings suggest a slowing down of both domestic and overseas sales.  There was growth in the number of companies reporting expansion of workforce over the last 3 months but a drop in the number of businesses who expect their workforce to grow in the coming months.  

When it comes to investment, QES reported a drop in the number of businesses investing in plant, machinery and capital during Q3.   This ties in with anecdotal evidence we’re hearing on the ground, about businesses holding back on investment and preferring to ‘wait and see’ what is announced in the Chancellor’s Budget later this month.  The indicators appear to suggest that business confidence is on hold until at least 30.10.24.  It’s a picture which is replicated by the national QES results.

In other areas of the QES, taxation is now the most commonly cited concern.  This has overtaken interest rates and inflation, with results suggesting a “tax anxiety” for many business owners.  Breaking this down further, manufacturers and smaller small to medium sized enterprises (SME), are more likely to have concerns about tax.   SME operating in the services sector (e.g. hospitality), are still more concerned about inflation.  Responses suggest that expectations of price increases are starting to level off, with labour costs regarded as the main cost pressure for business.

Within each QES, we also have capacity to add one-off questions about specific topics.  Our latest QES asked businesses for feedback on Artificial Intelligence (AI), something which is becoming increasingly relevant for many business sectors.  Almost half of respondents (44.4%) suggested that they expect to increase their use/adoption of AI in the next year. 

We also asked about future requirement for staff to be fluent in an overseas language.  Only 6.35% of respondents suggested that this is relevant, with French and German scoring as the most popular languages.

With business confidence seemingly on hold, all eyes will be watching the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s maiden Budget speech on Wednesday 30^th October.   We’ll be writing to Rachel Reeves with a number of key Budget ‘asks’ but once the Budget has been delivered, you’ll have the chance to have a more detailed guide to what any announcements will mean for you and your business.  Join us for our Post Budget Breakfast on the morning of Thursday 31^st October, kindly hosted by RSM.   You’ll get expert analysis and a summary of the key tax measures from the Budget and how any changes may impact your investment strategies and succession planning.

Join us for what promises to be a fascinating and informative update.  Click here to book your place:

Post-Budget Breakfast with RSM – Staffordshire Chambers

Let’s Do Business, Staffordshire’s largest annual business expo, made history at Uttoxeter Racecourse yesterday with its biggest-ever turnout of delegates and exhibitors.

Headlined by prominent figures from the world of sport, including Stoke City Sporting Director Jon Walters and three-time Olympic gold medalist Ed Clancy OBE, the event offered attendees a unique insight into leadership, resilience, and high performance.

Attendees took full advantage of the day’s extensive networking opportunities, with exhibitors representing a wide range of industries.

Rachel Laver, CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “The turnout has been phenomenal.

“We’ve worked tirelessly to make Let’s Do Business 2024 our biggest and best expo yet, and I’m thrilled with the response.

We’ve never had this many exhibitors or delegates attending, making this year’s event a landmark moment for the business community in Staffordshire.”

Visitors connected with potential partners, clients, and collaborators, while also gaining invaluable insights from industry experts on everything from digital transformation to sustainability.

Rachel added: “This event is a staple in the Chamber calendar, and the energy here today has been incredible.

It’s fantastic to see so many businesses coming together to share ideas, make connections, and look to the future with optimism.”

As the political party conference season heads to a close, we’re taking the opportunity to meet with our local Members of Parliament.  As the voice of our members, we’re here to lobby and represent the views of the local business community, connecting them with key political leaders and decision makers. 

It’s almost three months since the General Election, with the results helping to reshape the political landscape in our county.  In North Staffordshire, four out of the five constituencies changed colour, with only Dame Karen Bradley retaining the Staffordshire Moorlands constituency.  Of the four winning MP across Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle under Lyme, three are completely new to the role, with only Gareth Snell having past experience as a Member of Parliament, in recapturing the Stoke-on-Trent Central constituency.

Prior to the General Election, we launched our Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce Business Manifesto and this was shared with all prospective Parliamentary candidates.  Our Manifesto rests on five key themes:

• Connected Staffordshire
• Digital Staffordshire
• Global Staffordshire
• Green Staffordshire
• Skilled Staffordshire

You can view the Manifesto by clicking the link:

Business Manifesto 2024 – Flipbook – Page 1 (paperturn-view.com)

Not surprisingly, our discussions with the Members of Parliament will align with these five themes, as well as opening into wider conversation around levels of business confidence, devolution and what could be a critical Budget for business, due to be announced on Wednesday 30^th October.

Last Friday, we sat down with Leigh Ingham, newly elected MP for Stafford.  The shape of this constituency has changed and now extends as far north as Eccleshall.   In the space of an hour, we had a really positive discussion around topics such as bringing high quality and well-paid jobs into the area, which will help to retain graduates and other learners, to drive the local economy.  Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) will be unveiling a new Institute of Technology (IoT) at its Stafford campus in 2025.  A welcome boost for the area.

With exceptional rail connectivity to four of the UK’s largest conurbations and two junctions to the M6, Stafford (along with the rest of the county), is very well connected.

Like many towns the length and breadth of the UK, Stafford’s town centre has struggled to cope with a drop in footfall, largely influenced by how we choose to shop in 2024.  A number of initiatives are being delivered to pump prime one key development in town, ready to incentivise much needed developer financial support but we discussed how other measures such as hosting outpatients’ treatment in the town centre, will give more of us a purpose to visit Stafford and spend our cash in local shops.     We agreed that we can play our part in amplifying news about positive developments such as the IoT. 

Our meeting moved on to the topic of business confidence, with our most recent Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), suggesting a fall in the number of businesses who are investing in plant, machinery and equipment.  Anecdotal feedback suggests that many businesses are holding back on commitment, until the Chancellor announces her Budget next month. 

Our round of ‘Meet the MP’ meetings continues when we meet David Williams, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North (today – 30^th), Sir Gavin Williamson (MP for Stone, Great Wyrley & Penkridge – 11^th October) and Dame Karen Bradley, MP for Staffordshire Moorlands (15^th November).   You can meet your MP for a 1:1 meeting but there is a real synergy when we bring you together as a group of member businesses.  Why not join us at a future ‘Meet the MP’ meeting?   You can book your place through the events page on our website: https://staffordshirechambers.co.uk/events-calendar

A new survey has been launched to explore the rapid growth of the digital and IT sector in North Staffordshire. Led by Staffordshire University and the University of Manchester, the research aims to gather insights from businesses operating in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and the Staffordshire Moorlands to better understand the region’s emerging IT landscape.

Early findings from the research indicate a strong and expanding IT sector, with businesses showing high levels of productivity. The survey seeks to capture a more detailed picture of this growth, and organisers are encouraging all digital and IT businesses in the region to participate.

All businesses that complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five £100 Love to Shop vouchers, redeemable at over 90 popular retail brands.

To take part in the survey, businesses can visit survey link