News

The Better World Festival has revealed its line-up of world music acts, set to run across the city centre at its free, family-friendly festival on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July.

Returning for its third year, the weekend-long festival celebrates a fusion of music, mindfulness and community engagement, all focussed around creating a brighter future for our world. It’s completely free to attend, too!

Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) is behind the returning Better World Festival. BID CEO Richard Buxton said: “I am so pleased to be having The Better World Festival in our City Centre again. Through this event we are able to focus on our environment locally, nationally and internationally. Visitors will be able to listen to inspiring and educational talks, enjoy the best in World Music and enjoy the various workshops for families of all ages.”

The World Music Stage located on Piccadilly, is set to showcase acclaimed artists specialising in global music including Royal Bollywood Music Strings, Kotu Drummers and Los Gitanos Kings, with headline spots secured by award-winning DJ Kavita and World folk rap band Mobius Loop, following their successful 2022 slot. Further to this, previous Better World Festival favourites to return include Jon Walklate, July Julay and Julia Mosley.

Complimenting the musical line-up, Better World Festival will bring together speakers, activists, pioneers, charities, community groups and artisan market vendors with an interest in creating positive change during this weekend event.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce are lead sponsors for this year’s festival. Sara Williams OBE, Chief Executive said: “I am thrilled to announce our involvement in this year’s Better World Festival.

“Together with our President, Kate Beardmore, we are especially delighted to extend a warm invitation to the dedicated members of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce’s charity community to exhibit at the festival.

“This unique opportunity allows the public of Staffordshire to gain a profound understanding of the invaluable work these charities do and discover ways in which they can contribute and support these vital causes. I hope to see our Members and their families join us for this very special event.”

Other zones at Better World Festival include:

SPEAKERS’ SQUARE & ACOUSTIC MUSIC STAGE – Tontine Square
Take time to listen and reflect at Speaker’s Square with a programme packed full of captivating performances and thought-provoking talks about many of the world’s issues, and how we can fight back collectively for the good of our future.

KIDZONE – Parliament Square
Kidzone is an adventure for all but is a particularly perfect stop for little ones of pre-school and primary school age. With lots of activities and workshops throughout the weekend to inspire the next generation into loving the planet, caring for each other and adopting healthy lifestyles the whole family can enjoy.

HEALTH & MINDFULNESS RETREAT – Fountain Square
The Health & Mindfulness Retreat offers a central hub to the festival, consisting of mindful exercise workshops, inspiring talks, scrumptious food offerings and chillout DJ sets.

CHARITY STREET – Across the City Centre
A major focus for The Better World Festival is giving a helping hand to our community groups and charities, who in turn dedicate themselves to supporting our less-advantaged societies and helping them to thrive. We’re welcoming local and UK-wide organisations to chat and engage with the public about their all-important work.

ARTISAN MARKET – Across the City Centre
Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, working in partnership with the team at Potteries Artisan Market will bring a striking selection of stalls selling all things sustainable, vintage, handmade
and ethically sourced.

The line-up for the Better World Festival World Music Stage can be found at www.stokeontrentcitycentre.co.uk, with further details being released soon.

People are encouraged to follow the Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID’s Facebook page (/stokeontrentcitycentrebid) Twitter and Instagram pages (@stokeontrentbid) for the latest updates relating to Better World Festival 2023 and other initiatives

Staffordshire University’s industry pioneers got to show off their final year projects last week at the GradEX23 showcase.

Taking part alongside the annual Degree Show, the event gave students from across the university the opportunity to showcase their projects, research and inventions to more than 200 industry professionals.

Among them was Amin Ruprecht, a lorry driver from Stoke-on-Trent, whose final year project involved the development of a sustainable composite brick using plastic waste in a bid to help tackle environmental pollution.

The Mechanical Engineering student used shredded and chopped plastic with traditional materials of sand, cement and water which were cast in a 3D printed square mould before being compression tested.

Amin, 48, said: “The tests showed it was stronger than standard. I’ve not seen anyone doing this and think it could be of particular use in low and middle income countries where plastic pollutions is an increasing problem.”

For her final year project, Psychology and Child Development student Heather Cassidy researched crystal therapy as an intervention for low level anxiety. Heather, who worked as a holistic therapist before Covid hit, worked with nine people who kept a mood diary and were interviewed about their experiences.

She found that seven out of the nine experienced improved sleep and all participants reported having positive cognitive change as a result of the crystal therapy which involves a deep state of relaxation.

She said: “I am looking for a psychology role where I can continue to grow my skills whilst helping people with their mental health. I’m passionate about research and applying evidence-based research in practice.”

Mo Trundel, Chair of the Design Forum at Staffordshire Chambers, said: “The standard of the Transport and Product design degree show was outstanding this year.

“Judging alongside JCB and Bentley it was a privilege to spend all day speaking to students whose briefs ranged from intelligent heating, to toys and cars all pushing the boundaries of innovation. Designers are the life blood of industry pushing boundaries and certainly feeding our manufacturers with the next generation of sustainable products.”

Engineering Design student Morgan Simmons competes as an elite cyclist alongside his studies and has designed a downhill mountain bike. Influenced by world cup level bikes, he has built a full-sized prototype featuring a steel frame and specialist suspension link using 3D printed parts made out of Onyx and carbon fibre.

Morgan is part of Staffordshire University’s High Performance Academy and will be competing in the Crankworx World Tour in Austria later this month.

The 21-year-old from Telford said: “I’ve wanted to make a bike since the first year because it’s something I’m really passionate about. It has been pretty cool getting to use cutting edge processes and equipment at the uni to enhance design characteristics like the suspension link.”

Carolina Salinas, Head of Student and Employability said: “GradEX 23 has been a wonderful event and we thank our students for demonstrating just how work and world-ready they are. We also thank our industry guests and partners who have come to view the projects, recruit students and to act as judges.

“We’re delighted to say that our portal, which includes links to students’ profiles, porfolios and CVs remains open and accessible throughout the summer, presenting employers with the opportunity to browse the incredible talent we have at Staffordshire University.”

All student projects can viewed via the online GradEX Portal.

Staffordshire University’s ambition is to become the UK’s best modern university. An institution with a strong civic mission, it has committed to being a ‘catalyst for change’ for students and businesses, positively impacting wider society and the regional economy.

Staffordshire University was named a Top 5 university in the UK and ranked Top 10 for job prospects in the StudentCrowd University Awards 2022 – based entirely on student reviews. It also ranked Top 10 for Social Inclusion in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.

The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) classed 68% of the University’s research as world leading or internationally excellent and 87% of its ‘research impact’ was judged to be outstanding or very outstanding.

Substantial investment in innovative technologies and teaching environments ensure next generation courses and education are delivered across all three campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and London.

Student progression to good careers and jobs and higher education was showcased in style at Stoke on Trent College’s annual student awards event, Celebrating Success.

From a budding games designer, a committed healthcare professional, a culinary expert and those seeking to further develop their Maths and English skills, the experience and impact of studying at the College was very much on show.

Award-winning students and their families along with College staff, partners, employers and civic dignitaries, including the Deputy Lord Mayor, Deputy Lieutenant, local and national sponsors, enjoyed a night of celebration hosted within the College’s impressive Lifestyle Building at Cauldon Campus.

The event commenced with a drink’s reception and entertainment in the form of a string quartet kindly provided by the acclaimed British Police Symphony Orchestra. Level 2 & 3 Catering and Hospitality students prepared and served a Gala Dinner to 120 guests for which they received high praise. This ‘hands-on’ experience is one of many industry-related opportunities the College offers to students.

The event was co-hosted by Level 3 sports student Leah Rigby and Assistant Principal for Student Experience, Dave Hopley, who said: “The students who won awards tonight have shone throughout their journey with us.  They have all grown in confidence as well as developing their industry and academic skills.  We actively encourage all of our students to participate in enrichment and extracurricular activities which contribute to a key-skills that sets them apart and enable them to stand out to employers and universities alike. .”

The highly-prized Student of The Year Award went to Construction student, Lewis Hindmarsh.  Lewis was recognised for his outstanding achievement, embracing opportunities and building relationships with organisations including the national aspirational construction academy ‘Regeneration Brainery’. The award also recognised Lewis’s ability to overcome personal challenges during his time at the College.

Staffordshire Chambers was one of the proud sponsors of the awards evening, which also included:

Sponsors of the awards included: Alton Towers Resort, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Staffordshire University, Steelite International, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust, Carson Powell Construction Ltd, Learning Curve Group, Freshview Foods Ltd, Perrys of Eccleshall.

The Chambers’ Council held its quarterly meeting on Wednesday of this week at Commerce House.

The Council is made up of 36 elected members plus Forum chairs, presidents of Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands local area advisory boards (long title!), Finest and Future Finest chairs, and honorary members – its quite an august body with an important role to play.

It serves to develop and ratify the Chambers’ policy and lobbying role, to help the Board and the Chambers’ executives to keep in touch with business issues and what the membership is talking about. It is used as a sounding board for policy matters and to receive reports of the discussions in the forums where businesses get a chance to talk about the issues they want the Chambers to represent to decision makers to ensure that they too are representing the business community.

We usually have a guest presenter at Council, someone who has something to say on hot issues that affect us all and this morning was no exception. We had a presentation from Damien Holdstock and Richard Hickman from St Modwen Logistics, talking about their current logistics and warehousing schemes including Stoke Central (Etruria Valley), Uttoxeter and specifically the plans for development at Junction 16 on the M6.

It sparked a debate on the paucity of decent mid-sized office accommodation, especially in the 20,000 – 100,000 square foot range. This is not only holding back expansion in businesses based here but is as a barrier to inward investment. Something which our Transport and Planning & Infrastructure Forums have been making representations about for a long time.

The Council also elects the 13 representatives who make up the Chambers’ Board of Directors. Their role is to set strategy for the Chambers as a business and to ensure that we are a well-run business which delivers services that are needed and supports the business community. And to join the board, members must have served on the forums or on the council for a year beforehand.

Nominations for council will open in September for election in November so now is a good time to ask you to consider nomination for you are anyone in your business who you think could benefit the Chamber and the wider economy. It is also great for personal development and provides you with a readymade network of senior business contacts.

We are getting some real momentum in our lobbying and representation work and making sure Staffordshire’s business voice is heard at the highest level and we have the ear of all our local MPs. And we all want to make sure that we are representing your views – so come and join in our campaign, through our forums and the council.

We will be sending out notice of council election in due course but please feel free to get in touch in the meantime to find out more. We can even put you in touch with a current council member for a discussion on how it benefits them and their business.

Email us on info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk titling your email ‘Chambers Council’.

You can also watch this short video on being a Council member: https://bit.ly/46tdNp6

We are really proud of the fact that our complicated but efficient governance structure means that we are truly accountable to our members – and we want more of our members to get involved – I look forward to seeing your name on the ballot paper!

Leading Stoke-on-Trent engineering firm KMF has announced exciting plans that they hope will revolutionise STEM engagement across Staffordshire.

After a decade of successfully running the Young Engineer of the Year (YEOTY) program with secondary schools, KMF is now embarking on a groundbreaking project to bring together secondary and primary schools. This initiative aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects among young students.

KMF have set the wheels in motion for Stoke’s biggest-ever kit car street race, set to be a spectacular event uniting over 1,000 children aged 10 to 14 years. The race will feature 25 secondary schools participating in the Greenpower F24 Cbrs category, while 50 primary schools will compete with their Greenpower Goblin Cars. Each team will comprise up to 12 pupils, bringing together young minds with a shared passion for engineering and innovation.

The inspiration for this project comes from the Greenpower Street Race held in Hull in 2019, which captivated audiences with its thrilling display of electric-powered kit cars. The event showcased the ingenuity and talent of young engineers, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended. To bring this spectacle to Stoke-on-Trent, KMF is seeking support from local businesses and key stakeholders in the community.

Councillor Jane Ashworth and Stoke Council have provided their backing to host the event around the prestigious Kings Hall, with plans to close the streets around Kings Hall on July 31, 2024. However, the success of this endeavour hinges upon the participation and commitment of local schools and business sponsors.

To kickstart this transformative project, KMF will be hosting a launch evening at Staffordshire University’s state-of-the-art Catalyst Building on July 5, 2023, at 6:30 PM. The event will provide detailed information on how schools and businesses can get involved in this incredible initiative. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the event, ask questions, and explore potential avenues for collaboration.

Book your free space by clicking here.

This monumental gathering of young talents will make the forthcoming event the largest electric-powered kit car race ever witnessed in Stoke-on-Trent. The excitement will be further amplified by the presence of renowned television presenter Jason Bradbury, who will serve as the host for the day.

With CPI inflation stubbornly higher than forecast at 8.7%, it is no surprise that the Bank of England have increased the interest rate by a half of a percentage point to 5%.

However, while inflation is still the top concern for businesses, interest rate rises are now causing worry for a rapidly growing number of firms with soaring borrowing costs. Businesses need clarity on the direction of further changes as a matter of urgency.

There are several drivers of inflation which could be eased by a policy response. For instance, unprecedented tightness in the labour market is causing firms to bid up salaries, and trade barriers with the EU are driving up costs.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has been urging the Government to act on these issues for over a year and is ready to work in partnership with it to ease labour shortages and reduce trade barriers.

High inflation, high interest rates and slow growth will be a lethal combination for many and a solution beyond continuing to raise the base rate needs to be found.

Vicky Pryce BCC Economic Advisory Council member, and speaker at our first ever Economic Conference in November said: “There should be absolutely no need to drive the economy into recession in a bid to deal with rising prices.

“There are already signs that the input cost pressures on firms are waning with PPI dropping by 1.5% since April. And although core inflation remains stubborn this does not prevent the overall CPI rate from falling.

“Against this background the Bank must give clear signals on interest rates and commit to cutting them quickly as inflation slows.

“There is a fine balancing act to be struck. Push too hard on interest rates and there is a real danger that more businesses will be driven to the wall, impacting the long-term outlook for economic growth and prosperity.”

We are here to listen your concerns around inflation and interest rates and how they are affecting your business. Your input helps greatly with our representations to the government. You can contact our policy adviser, Declan Riddell declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk.

Armed Forces Week

This week is Armed Forces Week, an opportunity to show our support for the men and women who make up the armed forces community from currently serving troops to service families, veterans, and cadets and the role they play protecting the UK both at home and overseas.

Armed forces personnel, veterans and their families make an enormous contribution to Staffordshire’s economy and society.  As a county we have a strong connection with the armed forces, with large bases in Stafford and Lichfield, along with many veterans, reservists, cadets, and armed forces families across the county.

At Staffordshire Chambers we have our very own Honorary Colonel of the British Army, in ex-Chamber President Mike Frewer, and we are also extremely proud to have West Midlands Reserve Forces & Cadet Association (WMRFCA) as patrons and proud that the Chambers support to our armed forces has been recognised through our Silver Award and by being a signatory to, the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

On Wednesday we hosted a special event at the Shire Hall, in conjunction with Staffordshire County Council to promote and inform businesses about the Covenant, highlighting the skills and invaluable contribution former service personnel and their families can bring to our businesses and wider economy in Staffordshire.

Several businesses who attended will be signing the Covenant joining many more businesses who are already signed up. To find out more about the Armed forces Covenant and how you can get involved click here:  Armed Forces Covenant: guidance and support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you want to talk to us about any business issues, including funding, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Our 2023 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards sponsors and finalists joined us at Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat last week for our pre-award celebrations.

100 guests enjoyed an evening of networking ahead of the sold-out ceremony, which is taking place at the DoubleTree by Hilton on 13 July.

We’re delighted to announce that returning to host this year’s ceremony is Dr. Dave Bryon, who will be joined by co-host Kirsty Hulse.

Good luck to all of the businesses who are joining us on 13 July.

Thank you to last night’s sponsors, Lexus Stoke and Finest & Future Finest.

Lucy arrived in the UK from Ukraine on 6 May 2022. Keen to launch her own beauty business, she enrolled on Staffordshire Chambers’ Positive Pathways programme – an award-winning business start-up course that supports refugees who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution with employability skills and business start-up advice.

Lucy was enrolled on the October 2022 cohort where she gained valuable insights into setting up a business correctly in the UK, covering essential areas such as finance, budgeting, market analysis and competitor research.

By December 2022, Lucy’s business, Dandelion Beauty Studio, received official registration, marking a significant milestone in her entrepreneurial journey.

“In my predicament upon arriving in UK, the Positive Pathways programme was like a breath of fresh air for me to get closer to my dream”, Lucy explained.

“The staff shared their experience and knowledge in the field of entrepreneurship and offered enormous support in teaching business literacy and helping me to write a business plan. It really instilled confidence in me and stimulated me to develop.”

Her determination and dedication led her to secure premises for her beauty studio in February 2023, with the continuous support of the Positive Pathways team who assisted her in securing grants and funding, ensuring Lucy had the necessary resources to bring her vision to life.

Lucy knew exactly what equipment she needed from her Grant and had sourced all associated costs.  The Positive Pathways team were able to order a range of basic equipment requested by Lucy to help ‘get started’ including items such as hangers and storage furniture.

“Staffordshire Chambers purchased furniture and necessary materials for my studio”, continued Lucy.

“So thank you to everyone who participated in my project to open my permanent makeup studio. I hope that the provision of services in my studio will help and give joy to each client. May this world shine with happiness. Thanks, everyone.”

Well done to Lucy in all of her endeavours and we wish her the very best as her business continues to develop and flourish.

The Government’s recent announcement to defer and delay major transport schemes raises serious concerns about the future of our region’s road infrastructure.

On Monday morning we are holding an important one-hour meeting to put forward  views on the impact of delaying road improvements. Your support and issues give us greater weight when making representations.

The event will be chaired by Mike Herbert, chair of the Chambers’ Transport Forum, and will be delivered in the wake of the Government announcement that the pipeline of schemes earmarked for Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3), covering 2025 to 2030, will continue to be developed but considered for delivery as part of Road Investment Strategy 4 (RIS4), beyond 2030.

The A50/A500, a key arterial route connecting the east and west of our region, serves renowned brands such as JCB and Michelin. We were hoping that A50/A500 improvements would be picked up in RIS3, but it is now a real concern that improvement work will not be starting on site before April 2030, which could mean 2032 or later before any benefits are seen.  Another decade of the current situation does not bear thinking about!

Congestion is a particular issue in the urban areas particularly heading through Stoke on the A500, and at the roundabouts in Uttoxeter.    We are also calling for improvements to Junction 15 of the M6, especially the approaches to this junction.

Transportation plays a pivotal role in inward investment and enabling business growth, and Staffordshire enjoys excellent road connectivity, providing access to all corners of the UK. Our county boasts a thriving (and growing) logistics sector, reflecting the significance of our road and rail networks.

Statistics bear this out:

• 80% of all freight in the UK goes through the Midlands, utilising our road and rail networks.
  • The Midlands is within a four-hour drive of much of the UK, making it a prime location in the renowned “Golden Triangle” for logistics.
  • East Midlands Airport, second only to Heathrow Airport for freight, played a vital role in delivering essential medical equipment during the pandemic.

Transportation is a key enabler for business success, and together, we can ensure a stronger, more connected Staffordshire.

There is still time to book on Monday’s event but don’t worry if you can’t make it as our policy adviser, Declan Riddell is gathering evidence for our submission to the Transport Minister. Please email your points and concerns to Declan: declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

You can book on the event here: Share Your Views on the Urgency of Improving our Local Road Network – Staffordshire Chambers

Latest ONS export figures

The latest Trade in Goods data (for April 2023) from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows a slight rise in exports whilst trade with the EU remains weak.

The recovery in UK goods exports to the rest of the world in April after a disappointing first quarter of 2023 is welcome but needs to be sustained.

Trade with the EU remains weak, even before the additional cost pressures on imports due to the introduction of new customs arrangements in the Target Border Operating Model later this year.

The Government’s Export Strategy needs to maximise growth in services exports across a range of business activity this year, but so far in 2023, they have been broadly flat.

On volumes (excluding inflation), total goods imports fell by 0.4% in April, with imports from the EU falling by 2.6%, and imports from the rest of the world rising by 2.6%. Total goods export volumes rose by 3.5% in April with non-EU goods exports up by 6.9% in April, while goods exports to the EU remained static.

Services exports rose by 0.6% and imports by 1% in April. Services exports remain 0.3% below pre-pandemic levels in early 2020.

The UK trade deficit narrowed to £12.3bn in April – trade in services surplus rose by £1.9bn to £40.3bn.

You can view the full ONS Trade in goods report here: Trade in goods: country-by-commodity exports – Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)

For help and advice on exporting contact the team at the Chamber: exportmailbox@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

If you want to talk to us about any business issues, including funding, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Stand bookings are filling fast ahead of the return of Staffordshire’s biggest business show.

Taking place at Uttoxeter Racecourse on 12 October, Let’s do Business is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates for a comprehensive day of networking and business insights.

This year’s expo will focus on the hot topic of AI technology and data revolution with keynote speeches and thought-provoking panel discussions with some of the world’s most renowned experts in the field of AI and data revolution.

It’s the perfect opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, spotlight your services and ultimately, do business!

The event, sponsored by Business Lodge, Michelin and Lexus Stoke, will also feature an interactive gaming lounge where people will be able to connect with fellow attendees, network and have some fun with a suite of VR and games provided by industry-leading businesses based in Staffordshire.

To book a stand, click here.

To register a free delegate place, click here.