News

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

Business owners and leaders are being urged to complete the new Quarterly Economic Survey for Q4 2023 to help inform policymakers on the challenges facing businesses in our local area.

This is one of the most important times for businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire to complete the QES following a period of price hikes that has heaped pressure on organisations of all sizes.

The information you provide will help to shape policy thinking as the data is shared with the British Chambers of Commerce, Government departments including HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office as well as the Bank of England.

We are keen to hear from firms of all shapes and sizes as it will help create an accurate picture of the current business landscape.

Whether you’re a seasoned director or relatively new to your company, please spare just a few minutes to fill in the anonymous survey.

We understand your time is precious, even more so now, so thank you to all those who complete the survey. Click here.

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.

Last week’s Chamber Transport forum had a packed agenda of guest speakers, with updates on ambitious proposals to link Hanley and Stoke-on-Trent Station, improvements to local bus services and developments by Midlands Net Zero Hub.

Did you know that some 3.1 million passengers pass through Stoke-on-Trent Station each year?  The city enjoys good rail connectivity with Manchester, Birmingham and London. When visitors arrive in Stoke-on-Trent and walk outside the station, they are often faced with a very busy and congested Station Road, with cars weaving in and out of a limited number of parking spaces.

Stoke-on -Trent City Council has been awarded funding through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).  Funding will be used to enhance links between Stoke-on-Trent Station and the city centre (Hanley). College Road is seen as a key route connecting both points and planned improvements will include wider pavements for increased pedestrian priority and segregated cycle routes. College Road is just to the west of Hanley Park and pedestrians and cyclists will enjoy a pleasant walk or cycle ride. Improvements to bus services will aim to speed up journey times and get more of us using public transport and active transport, from start to finish.

Bus passenger numbers have not fully recovered from a cliff-edge decline during the pandemic. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is delivering a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which aims to :

• Increase passenger numbers.
• Improve journey times.
• Improve reliability.
• Increase passenger satisfaction.

Traffic signal upgrades with enhanced bus priority measures will help to speed up journey times and improve service reliability.  Passengers will have better information available at bus stops, with real time passenger information and improved lighting/CCTV. Affordable bus fares will be actively promoted through ongoing marketing activity.   A Stakeholder Forum is being launched and passengers from a diverse mix of backgrounds will have the chance to join and feed in their views about bus services across Stoke-on-Trent.

Midlands Net Zero Hub (MNZH) is one of five national NZH and aims to support local decarbonisation and clean growth, as well as increase the number, quality and scale of net zero projects.  North Staffordshire Low Emission Taxi Charging Infrastructure Scheme (LETIS) is led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and funded by OLEV. This aims to increase the number of low-emission taxis. It will include the delivery and operation of rapid charge points for taxis across Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under- Lyme and Stafford, with engagement with licensed private hire and hackney carriage operators to inform selection of the best possible locations for the EV infrastructure.   Getting more low emission taxis on our local roads will help to improve air quality.

The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Capital Fund is supporting Midlands Connect and the consortiums of local authorities to expand the region’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.bIf drivers are to switch to electric vehicles, they need to have confidence in an expansive choice and reliability of electric vehicle charging structure in our local area.

Finally, and staying with the transport theme, make sure you get your (free!) ticket for our Etruria Valley Station event. We want to develop a proposal to open a new rail station at Etruria Valley, close to the new Etruria Valley Link Road (EVLR). The area is home to a diverse mix of businesses, including Bet365, DPD, Doubletree Hilton, Vodafone and Waterworld. A new rail station would unlock access into this thriving area, getting people to and from work by train and removing the familiar sight of queuing cars on the A53 and A500. Why not join us and find out more.  Click here to book your place: Etruria Valley Rail Station – tickets please! – Staffordshire Chambers

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.

You’re sat on a train which has just stopped at Stoke-on-Trent Station. The doors close and the train glides away from the station, heading northwards. Look to one side and you’ll notice the expansive campus of Staffordshire University. Look to the other side and you’ll see the A500, amidst a sea of traffic lights. The train picks up speed and races through Shelton and Cliffe Vale. Suddenly, the train starts to slow and the public address system “kicks in. You hear the following announcement:

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re now approaching Etruria Valley. Please change here for Festival Park and connecting bus services to Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme.”

This isn’t a dream or the latest in artificial intelligence.  We’re hoping it will become a reality, as we aim to develop a proposal to open a new rail station at Etruria Valley, close to the newly opened Etruria Valley Link Road.  Just think of the benefits of a new station at Etruria Valley, home to some of the area’s largest employers, including Bet365, DPD, Doubletree Hilton, Morrisons, Vodafone, Waterworld, Wardell Armstrong (and of course, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce!):

• Improved access to the workplace for staff.
• Makes local businesses more accessible with a better chance of attracting the best pool of available talent from across the area and beyond.
• Staff travelling to and from work in a sustainable way.
• Improved air quality for local residents and employees.
• Staff may choose to combine rail travel with cycling – even more sustainable travel!
• Easier access for visitors to local businesses.  No need for taxis to and from Stoke-on-Trent Station.
• Easier access to Etruria Valley for visitors heading to destinations such as Doubletree Hilton and Waterworld – supporting spend in our leisure economy.
• Drop in traffic congestion in and around Etriuria Valley and Festival Park, particularly on A53 and A500.
• Reduced pressure on car parking.

If your business is based in Etruria Valley or Festival Park, we would like to invite you to join us for an open table discussion on the proposal, which is very much in the early stages but one which we hope will develop into reality.  We hope that a new station could offer connections to a bus service linking with Hanley to the east and Wolstanton and Newcastle under Lyme to the west.  Electric vehicle charging points on site could entice park-and-ride travellers.

A new rail station at Etruria Valley will be a gamechanger for local businesses and we hope you’ll join us at our Commerce House office (ST1 5BE) on Monday 13^th November from 10AM to 11AM, to hear more and join the discussions around improving transport connectivity.  Places are limited but you can book your place through the November events page on the Chambers’ website or by emailing

declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

We hope to see you on 10.11.23.

A collection of images from the 2023 Let’s Do Business expo is now ready to view for free in our online gallery.

This gallery showcases the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of last week’s Let’s Do Business expo at Uttoxeter Racecourse – an event that brought together a diverse range of businesses and delegates for a day of networking, business insights and keynote presentations from renowned AI experts.

Now, attendees and the wider business community can relive the excitement and memories of the Let’s Do Business Expo through the comprehensive online image gallery.

To access the Let’s Do Business Expo image gallery, please click here and use the password coc1 for passwords 1 and 2.

Please feel free to download and share your favourite moments with us on social media!

Staffordshire Chambers would like to extend our gratitude to all of the businesses, delegates, keynote speakers and sponsors who contributed to the resounding success of the Let’s Do Business Expo, including headline sponsors Michelin, and event sponsors IronMarket Wealth, AWD-IT, HEX Graphics, Lexus Stoke, MG Motor UK Ltd, Lookers BMW Stafford and BusinessLodge Stoke at Trent House.

To see a full list of upcoming Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce events, view our events calendar, here.

Following the first successful national week of action organised by the The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) last year, a newly branded Safer Business Action Week is due to be held in October with police and partners across the country joining together to tackle business crime in their communities.

The Safer Business Action Week will start on Monday 16th October and will involve Business Reductions Partnerships (BCRPs) , Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and the the private security industry working with local police forces to deliver a focussed operation with joint patrols, the targeted intervention of offenders and a range of crime prevention activity including raising awareness of the local issues with the general public.

Did you know – Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce operate a business crime helpline to help support businesses who have been targeted by criminals. If you have been the victim of a business crime or would like to find out more information about how you can support victims, call 01782 900239.

Supt Patrick Holdaway, lead for the NBCC said: “The week of action is coordinated nationally but it very much focussed on local crime and ASB issues impacting retail and other businesses in the community.

“It is as much about engaging with businesses and the public as it is about identifying and catching prolific offenders. Last year’s week of action saw some fantastic results in targeting those who cause the most harm to businesses and also in building ongoing relationships between business, partners and the police.”