News

This week’s news that UK inflation fell sharply in October to its lowest rate in two years at 4.6% down from 6.7% the previous month, is encouraging. However, the reality for consumers is that prices are still worryingly high, affecting spending and hitting just about every business.

The government says its pledge to halve inflation by end of the year has been met early. But there is a limit to how much credit ministers can take for the fall as energy prices continue to fall from their record highs of last winter.

Economists have said the main reason inflation has fallen from its peak of 11.1% in October 2022 is due to a fall this month in the energy price cap, which limits what suppliers can charge consumers per unit of energy. They also note the Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates, in a bid to cool demand in the UK economy and slow price rises. Rates are currently at 5.25%, a 15-year high, which has pushed up mortgage costs but also led to higher savings rates.

The data shows prices in the production sector continue to fall with input producer price inflation (PPI) now at –2.6%. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Quarterly Economic Survey to which many of our members contribute, has been showing a fall in the number of firms expecting their prices to rise for the past five quarters.

Despite that, many firms are still struggling to invest, as they face the challenges of high interest rates, skills shortages and difficult trading conditions.

Next week’s Autumn Statement is an opportunity for the government to outline a clear strategy for growth. My previous blog was all about how Chambers of Commerce are calling for action from the Chancellor on planning, the energy grid, full expensing, business rates and occupational health.

Movement on these crucial issues can provide a springboard for business investment which will be the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth.

So, it is timely that Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) is now open for responses.

The QES is the largest and most representative independent business survey of its kind in the UK and is closely watched by policymakers such as the Treasury, the Bank of England and the Office of Budget Responsibility whilst attracting a significant amount of media attention. Results are collated and fed into the BCC survey, and we really want to keep up our above average representative sample of how our local businesses are performing and an indication of future outlook. Surveys can be completed anonymously if you wish to, and the closing date is 5pm on Friday 24th November.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could add your input. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete the survey which you can find at this link: https://forms.office.com/e/tUmdeV965u

I would also be grateful if you could please forward the survey link to your business contacts and encourage them to take part.

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

Grants of up to £2,000 are now available for people aged 18-30 across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire who need support with business start-up costs.

The Community Foundation for Staffordshire is managing the grant scheme for SWEF, a fund that invests in the business initiatives of young people with the aim of producing 500 entrepreneurs across the UK every year.

Companies and sole traders less than two years old, owned by people aged 18-30, are asked to apply via this link SWEF – Enterprise & Business Grants – The Community Foundation for Staffordshire as soon as possible.

Applicants must be able to give evidence of significant steps taken to get their business off the ground and demonstrate a financial need for the grant. The funds will only be available for stock, equipment and materials, product development, one-off costs for developments plus rent or business-related bills. The scheme is particularly wishing to support those who are not in education, employment or training. This is not a loan scheme and recipients do not need to pay the grant back. The full criteria including what business owners can’t apply for is on the Community Foundation website.

And the successful companies will also have access to an online business forum with other organisations that have been awarded a grant. The forum offers a space to exchange ideas, experiences and learn.

The Community Foundation for Staffordshire is a team of locally based grant managers with extensive knowledge of local needs.  They create and administer benevolent funds and grant giving schemes for philanthropists, businesses, central Government, and local authorities that want to improve their reach into local communities.  The Community Foundation manages more than £10m of charitable funds each year, which are designed to create a lasting local legacy.

Leanne Macpherson, Head of Programmes at The Community Foundation for Staffordshire said: “Starting a business is challenging emotionally and financially and we hope this scheme will help make that leap of faith into entrepreneurship that little bit easier.

“And we want to make the application process simple, not taking up too much time that could be used to develop the business. So I ask interested people to contact us to ensure their application is the best it can be.”

For details, please email office@staffordshire.foundation, call 01785 339540 or visit www.staffordshire.foundation

Staffordshire Chambers, in conjunction with Tamworth Borough Council, has launched its Ignite Start-up Programme. These sessions, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will support anyone looking to start a business to develop the skills needed to start and grow a successful business across the Borough.

Hosted by expert business advisors, the sessions will cover topics such as:-

•    Business Basics
•    Company Formations
•    Business Planning
•    Finance including Forecasting and Budgeting
•    Taxation
•    Marketing and Social Media.

You will be provided with key information, factsheets, templates and have the opportunity to ask specific questions about your business idea. You will also get 12 months access to our online start-up portal with key videos and information that you can access 24/7. The sessions will be held in person at Tamworth Enterprise Centre, Corporation St, Tamworth B79 7DN.

To find out when the next session is taking place contact start@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has joined forces with the Hubb Foundation to launch a new “Warm Clothes for Christmas” initative.

This initiative aims to gather and distribute vital warm clothing items for the most vulnerable members of our community during the winter months.

To support this cause, Staffordshire Chambers will be collecting donations at Commerce House, Festival Park, from now until the morning of Friday, 15th December.

The initiative urges the community to donate warm clothing—such as jumpers, hats, gloves, trousers, and coats—to provide essential warmth for those facing the challenges of winter in our city.

All donated items will be managed by the Hubb Foundation, ensuring their distribution to two key centres, the Gingerbread Centre and the Macari Centre.

To find out more, please email josh.dennis@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

The 28th UN Climate Change Conference takes place in the United Arab Emirates from 30 November – 12 December 2023.

Alongside the main summit, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) will be hosting a significant presence in Glasgow, acting as a hub for our network of Chambers across the world.

This is a key date for the international community to come together and set out how to meet the Climate Challenge as a planet. The Chamber Network will be actively taking part in COP28 events and initiatives.

Chambers unite for a greener future’, our global campaign launched earlier this year, has united our 127 Chambers and has as its centrepiece this hugely significant event.

From Monday 1 – Thursday 4 November, the BCC, in collaboration with the international British Chambers Network, will be presenting a full agenda of business-focussed policy debate, thought leadership and exceptional networking opportunities, while giving our members the chance to showcase the best of their climate leadership. We will be exploring the key challenges of the coming decades, including:

• Green Trade and sustainable finance;
• The opportunities for collaboration the green agenda brings
• Innovation, implementation, and the business landscape of the future

COP28 will showcase the Chamber Network as the leading business organisation on COP28 business engagement by uniting Chambers, countries, companies, multinationals, SMEs, start-ups, experts, young professionals, public and private sector for a greener future.

Find out more, here.

On Tuesday Charles III opened the first King’s Speech in Parliament for more than 70 years, telling MPs and peers the government would make “difficult but necessary long-term decisions” to change the UK for the better.

Whilst the King’s Speech opened with an aspiration to increase economic growth, it failed to outline how that will happen. We know only too well from daily dealings with members that firms need more help in dealing with inflation, interest rates and a challenging labour market.

The Government could, and should have gone further, to help companies in challenging times. We hope the Autumn Statement later in the month will provide more certainty for businesses.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has already submitted a letter to the Chancellor containing 23 recommendations that Chambers across the UK believe could put the economy on the best footing possible to absorb further shocks.

It is disappointing that the King’s Speech did not include further planning reform in England. We continue to call for a faster and more efficient system that enables business to grow.

Latest data from the BCC’s Insight Unit shows investment flatlining. And the BCC Quarterly Economic Survey for Q3, showed only 23% of respondents were increasing investment whilst concern over the impact of high interest rates is growing, reaching 45%.

We welcome positive signs that the Government is listening to our calls for a modernised energy grid system. Building on the recent Energy Act, we will be looking closely at the detail to see if connections will be improved for businesses.

The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill recognises we will need to continue using the UK’s oil and gas reserves during the transition to a net-zero future. However, we need to hear much more about the Government’s proposals for renewables. Reopening the political dividing lines on Net-Zero feels like a slap in the face, damaging business confidence and investment plans.

There is some encouragement in the mention of increasing high quality apprenticeships. The skills crisis is one of the main issues impacting business.

Boosting exports is a key ingredient for economic growth and we welcome The Trade Bill. But the government must do more to shift the dial on global trade.

As always, I would urge you to speak to our policy advisor Declan Riddell about any issues affecting your business. And I am sure many of the issues above will be the subject of debate in our member forums which you are all welcome to attend. You can contact Declan about any issues or for more information on our member forums by emailing declan.riddell@staffordshire.co.uk

I was also privileged to meet King Charles on Wednesday as I collected my OBE from him – we talked about the leadership needed for helping businesses work towards a net zero future. It was a fantastic day  – supremely well organised, very ceremonial but also very friendly – and I feel extraordinarily grateful to have received such amazing recognition.

If you are a member who has joined in the last few months, then it would be great to see you at our ‘New Member Friday’ event at Commerce House on Festival Park on Friday 24^th November.

These events offer an informal introduction to Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and all the benefits you receive as a member.

You will get the chance to meet your dedicated account manager who will support you in all aspects of your membership, answer any of your questions and ultimately help your business to thrive.

It is also a perfect opportunity to meet our other new members and enjoy some informal networking in our Members’ Lounge.

While you are with us, you can also enjoy a tour of Commerce House taking in around our Members’ Lounge, meeting rooms and event spaces to ensure get the maximum value from your membership.

You can book your free place on the New Member Friday here: https://staffordshirechambers.co.uk/events-calendar/new-member-fridays-4/

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

Following Sara Williams’ decision to retire at the end of the year, Staffordshire Chambers is looking to recruit a new Chief Executive – providing an exciting and unique opportunity to lead an award-winning organisation at the heart of the local business community.

As the Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, you will serve as the authoritative voice for all size of businesses in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, both locally and at the government level.

Building upon the strong foundation laid by Sara Williams OBE, your leadership will be instrumental in steering our pioneering organisation toward continued stability through sound business acumen, innovative strategies, and the growth of revenue.

Working in close collaboration with our members, board, partners, and stakeholders, you will champion issues that lie at the heart of our community, contributing to the region’s remarkable growth.

View the recruitment pack, here.

The deadline for application is midnight on Sunday 19th November 2023.

It’s been a busy week at Commerce House. On Tuesday, we were presented with the King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity through social mobility by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Staffordshire, Ian Dudson – one of the proudest moments in the history of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

The award recognises our unwavering commitment to promoting opportunity and fostering social mobility within our community. It was a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the incredible efforts of our team and the outstanding initiatives we have undertaken to fulfill this vision – so it was only right that we got together to celebrate!

We were joined by many familiar faces at Commerce House, including our Board, Council, Patrons and invited guests – as well as Councillor Majid Khan, Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent. Guests heard from two speakers; Charlie Beswick from our Boosting Women in Business Programme and Lucy Li from our Positive Pathways programme. Both women serve as an inspiration for anyone wanting to overcome challenges and achieve the goal of setting up a new business, and it was a privilege listening to their stories firsthand.

Congratulations must also be made to the hospitality and catering students from Stoke-on-Trent College who showcased their skills by preparing and serving an afternoon tea-themed buffet for the event. It was delicious!

I joined Staffordshire Chambers some 12 years ago, with a strong belief that business has the power to do good. From empowering individuals, fighting climate change and uplifting communities, we have ensured that Staffordshire Chambers embodies these important values and I am so proud that this work has been nationally, and now royally recognised. While my role may be changing, I have no doubt that these principles that have guided us will remain at the heart of this Chamber.

A full list of images from the presentation can be found here. Please use the password coc2.

Chamber Council

Our Chamber Council met on Wednesday and we received an update regarding the West Midlands Interchange development, which will take shape at Four Ashes in South Staffordshire. The site has been regarded as the UK’s most significant logistics development, offering up to 8 million sq. feet of capacity.  The site is close to junction 12 of the M6, with good connectivity to the UK motorway network, but it will also enjoy additional access to and from the site by rail, with links to the West Coast Mainline.

West Midlands Interchange is being developed with building design to include reduced energy consumption and aspirations to use the extensive rooftop space to house PV cells and effectively generate sufficient energy for the site. We’ll look forward to the ongoing development of this site in the coming years and hope that it will help to attract businesses and jobs into the south of our county, taking advantage of the area’s exceptional road and rail connectivity.

We end the week with our latest ‘Meet the MP’ meeting, when Jonathan Gullis, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, meets with Chamber members to discuss a mix of topics including transport, skills and business premises. This follows our recent ‘Meet the MP’ meetings with Jack Brereton, MP for Stoke on Trent South, and Aaron Bell, MP for Newcastle under Lyme.   Any business can book a 1:1 with an MP but nothing beats coming together to discuss common business issues.  We meet with Jo Gideon, MP for Stoke on Trent Central, on Friday 10th November and if you would like to join the meeting, please contact Declan Riddell: declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk.

As you can see – it really has been a busy week at Commerce House – but it’s times like these that demonstrate the breadth and range of the services that we offer as a Chamber. Whether it’s our award-winning flagship programmes or our representation of local businesses through our Meet the MP sessions, I am extremely proud of the support that we continue to offer to the Staffordshire business community.

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

Newcastle Under Lyme’s Business Improvement District (BID) has secured vital funding from the Police Commissioner’s Safer Streets Fund to bolster safety and support local businesses in the town centre during the festive period.

The funding will enable the deployment of First Aid Responders on key Saturday dates throughout November and December, to include Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, with the aim of alleviating pressure on essential resources, such as Staffordshire Police and Accident and Emergency Unit at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The Police Commissioner’s Safer Streets Fund has recognised the importance of supporting local communities during the holiday season, particularly in high-traffic areas like Newcastle Under Lyme’s town centre.

The addition comes following positive feedback from night time economy businesses after a successful initiative by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council that provides coverage on Friday evenings from the Women’s Safe Space on the Ironmarket.

This funding provided to the Newcastle Under Lyme BID will be instrumental in enhancing public safety and ensuring that both residents and visitors can enjoy a safe and enjoyable festive season.

Charlotte Pearce, manager of Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, expressed gratitude for the funding, saying, “We are incredibly thankful for the support provided by the Police Commissioner’s Safer Streets Fund who have also supported the BID in a community art project that focuses on Violence Against Women and Girls. This funding will be instrumental in ensuring that our town centre remains a safe and welcoming place during the festive period. The first aid responders will play a crucial role in providing assistance to those in need and supporting our local businesses. By doing so, we aim to ease the burden on our valued local resources, such as Staffordshire Police and staff at Royal Stoke.”

This initiative is an excellent example of collaboration between local organisations, law enforcement, and the local authority to create a safer and more prosperous community.