News

We did it! Last night we were named as ‘Chamber of the Year’ at the Business Awards, hosted by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).

We have got as far as finalists before but to come away as overall winners out of the 53 accredited chambers in the UK is just the best feeling.

The ceremony, which would normally take place at a prestigious venue in London, took place online at 4pm. Myself and many of the Chambers team watched it live in Commerce House and we almost took the roof off when the results were announced.

The award, sponsored by Quest, recognises our work throughout the pandemic and the way we responded to changing circumstances as uncertainty reigned and Government guidelines dictated a new way of working.

Whether we won the award or not I have been so proud of everyone involved with the Chamber and the way we have all pulled together, remained confident and innovated in time of crisis.

By everyone, I mean the Chambers team, our members and patrons, our delivery partners and all the individuals who give up so much of their time as members of our boards and council, sector forums and all the mentors who sprang into action to help businesses through the worst economic upheaval in a generation.

I am also immensely proud of Woolcool and the Efficiency Group, two Staffordshire businesses who were West Midlands regional winners, shortlisted for the awards.

Woolcool were finalists for the ‘Planet Saver’ – Green Business of the Year Award whilst The Efficiency Group are finalists for the ‘Game Changer’ – Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

And after such a wonderful accolade, it’s back to business…..

New Covid restrictions
We have been calling on the UK Government for several months to set out what contingency plans for business would look like if further restrictions were needed this winter. Yet again, firms are now being asked to make changes at the very last minute. Restrictions will also impact on consumer behaviour with knock-on effects which could risk the fragile recovery, order books and revenues.

Many businesses have only just begun to get back on their feet and this move will inevitably damage business confidence. Critically, firms need to know that the Government will support them through this next period.

The Government must once again stand shoulder to shoulder with business and provide a package of support to ensure that we get through a challenging winter without serious damage to our economic recovery.

On work from home
A return to advice that staff should work from home ‘where they can’ will come at a huge cost to many businesses.

While many firms now have well established remote or hybrid working practices, which will provide some resilience, there will be many more that will be badly affected by reduced footfall in towns and city centres.

This will impact on business revenues at a time when many needed to have a prosperous festive season. We need to have grant support in place for all firms affected and their supply chains.

On Covid passports
We need to see full details from Government of how businesses will be expected to implement this policy.

Businesses have said repeatedly that this could prove difficult to implement and police effectively without comprehensive support and clear guidance. The full backing of Government and authorities is needed in enforcing this policy which can often put staff at risk of harassment or even violence.

In addition, they will need to understand urgently where legal responsibility for compliance with the policy sits. Businesses will have a strong preference for legal responsibility to sit with individuals to comply, as it does with facemasks.

On self-isolation changes
The government has said it intends to allow contacts of confirmed Omicron cases to do daily Covid tests instead of self-isolating. This will give businesses providing critical services a chance to maintain staff levels at a time when these are already strained by labour shortages and will help to avoid another ‘pingdemic’.”

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

Over the last few weeks, chambers across the network have engaged in several discussions regarding the consultation for the ‘day one right to request flexible working’. The British Chambers of Commerce has held focus groups in order to collate the best practice guidance for businesses as well as to gather the thoughts of businesses across the nation on how the change in policy concerning flexible working may impact the way that they operate.

The plans to make the right to request flexible working a day one right would mean that British workers would get more choice over when and where they work, aiming to accommodate both staff and employer needs.

In addition to being able to request flexible working from day one, the government are considering whether limiting an employee’s application for flexible working to one per year continues to represent the best balance between individual and business needs. The consultation also looks at cutting down the employer response time to the request from 3 months. If an employer cannot accommodate the request, they would need to consider a few alternative options that they could offer instead.

The consultation looks at a range of flexible working methods such as job-sharing, annualised and staggered hours, working from home and phased retirement.

Sara Williams, CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, for the first time many employers experienced the benefits that remote working offers for both the individual and the business. For some firms, this new arrangement worked well and therefore the system was maintained even after restrictions eased. Some of our member businesses commented on the way that remote or flexible working improved productivity levels for the business and helped employees with their work-life balance.

“Despite this, it is important to understand that not all firms will be able to implement flexible working arrangements due to the demanding nature of their business. With this in mind, the change in policy regarding the right to request flexible working may put firms under a lot of pressure and may cause businesses in sectors who are less able to offer flexible working arrangements to struggle with recruitment.”

The ability of a business to embrace the widest range of flexible working options will depend upon the size of the organisation, its internal resources, and the nature of the job roles. It is crucial that if the legislation is enforced it retains the employer’s right to refuse a flexible working request that cannot be accommodated by the business.

In a survey that was sent out to businesses across Staffordshire, some employers expressed the need for support with regards to including more flexible working options within their recruitment and retention practices. If you require any business support or advice, get in touch with Staffordshire Chambers of commerce on 01782 202222 or email info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk.

Yesterday I had the honour of hosting a lunch for the Chambers’ Patrons in the Valiant Suite at Port Vale.

It was extra special as this was the first time many of us in the room had met in person for almost two years – and the first time I had met two of our Patrons in person!

Our Patrons are truly representative of the local economy with manufacturing, services, ICT and communications, education, health, automotive, local government, and the Armed Forces all represented on the panel of 24 organisations.

Becoming a Patron of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce identifies organisations as leading and strategic players in the Staffordshire economy and affords regular access to key influencers and decision-makers in government and other agencies. Through the Chamber’s extensive networks and communication channels, we help raise the visibility of our Patrons’ brand, products, and services.

But it’s the vital support that Patrons give the Chambers and our members that is the real benefit to the local economy. Patrons sit on our Board, Council, and sector forums. They act as mentors, offering their advice and experience to help entrepreneurs innovate and grow their businesses. Patrons also offer the benefit of their experience through seminars, webinars, written articles and by representing the Chambers in the media.

Yesterday I welcomed our two new patrons, Equanns and University Hospital of North Midlands.

Leading energy, services, and regeneration specialist Equanns has been granted planning permission from Cannock Chase District Council and Lichfield District Council, for the significant redevelopment of Rugeley Power Station in Staffordshire. The development will transform the former coal-fired Power Station site, which it owns, into a sustainable, mixed-use development of 2,300 new low carbon homes with a low carbon school.

Tracy Bullock from University Hospital of North Midlands was one of our speakers and she provided an insight into the leadership challenges in running one of the largest hospitals in the country during the Covid pandemic whilst carrying out their day-to-day business of saving lives, medical and emergency care, and patient support.

You can view our prestigious Patron panel and find out more about what they do here on our website.

On Tuesday our Export Documentation Team was formally audited by the BCC, and I’m delighted to announce that not only did we pass with flying colours, but we were classed as exemplary.

Many Chambers struggled to offer a full documentation service during lockdown and periods of working from home, but we took all this in our stride and implemented measures to ensure that we remained fully compliant for all legalities.

On 1st January this year, we also became Customs Agents, helping many companies import and export goods to the EU following Brexit.

I am delighted to say that after 11 months of incredibly hard work we are the second busiest chamber across the whole BCC network and have helped other chambers, who were not as well prepared, to get up to speed with the new legislation and procedures.

More border controls are being implemented from 1st January 2022, so the team have drafted an easy to use reference guide. These new regulations have already been postponed several times so it is likely this could happen again. You can view the UK -EU guide to moving goods from 1st January 2022, here.

Whatever happens businesses in Staffordshire can rest assured that we will continue to work with you, whatever your size or sector to enable you to trade internationally in 2022 and navigate any new rules and regulations that arise.

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

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce are delighted to announce that we are one of five UK Chambers to be shortlisted for the Chamber of the Year Award.

The Chamber of the Year Award is issued by the British Chamber of Commerce and recognises the success of one of their 53 accredited Chambers from up and down the country during the last 12 months.

Two of our Members, Woolcool and Laundry Efficiency, are also up for awards in the Green Business of the Year and the Entrepreneur of the Year categories respectively. Both businesses have already won the Game Changer awards for the West Midlands region for 2021 and are now hoping to scoop awards on the national stage.

Staffordshire Chambers CEO, Sara Williams, said: “The Chambers has achieved some remarkable things throughout the pandemic, including receiving over 10,000 calls to our business helpline, facilitating over 1,500 places through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, supporting 127 people to start their own business, helping 189 businesses through our Mentoring for Growth scheme and facilitating over 200 online events and webinars.

“I am extremely proud of what our team has done for our local business community during this period and have my fingers crossed ahead of the awards ceremony – good luck also to Woolcool and Laundry Efficiency!”

The ceremony will be taking place online on the 9 December 2021. Find out more, here.

On Wednesday of this we held our AGM at the newly refurbished Double Tree by Hilton on Festival Park. It is a lovely addition to the hotel spaces in Staffordshire and the service was impeccable. It was also wonderful to be back in person in front of Members to report on our activities of the most extraordinary and testing of year for business and ourselves.

We reviewed how the Chambers have adapted after face-to-face contact disappeared on 23 March 2020.

Highlights of our interactions with business during this period included over 10,000 calls to our business helpline; facilitating over 1500 places through the Government’s Kickstart Scheme for 18 to 24-year-olds; supporting 127 people to start their own business; supporting 189 businesses through our Mentoring for Growth scheme and facilitating over 200 online events and webinars as you can see, we didn’t stop trying to support the business community of Staffordshire.

Please do take a few minutes to view our annual review video. I think this shows why I am so proud of the team and how we work – in fact, I still get tearful even though I have seen it numerous times!

Wednesday also marked the handover of the Chamber presidency for Staffordshire Chambers and our two local area Chambers in Stafford and the Staffordshire Moorlands.

I would like to thank personally the outgoing Presidents – Matt Hubbard for Staffordshire, Carl Croft for Stafford, and Natalie Hewitt for the Staffordshire Moorlands – for all their support and work on behalf of the membership and all businesses in the county over the past two years. They have worked with the Chambers’ team to ensure businesses were supported through the pandemic whilst working in their own businesses during such tricky times.

We have a superb new president in Kate Beardmore, who has served as Deputy to Matt for the past two years. Kate will be well known to many of you through her role as a director at Chambers’ patron, Synectics Solutions Ltd, and as the outstanding compere of the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards for the past two years. Kate brings energy, experience, and slice of humour to the role and I am sure we will all benefit from her time in office.

It’s also fabulous to welcome Martin Lennon and Rachel Buxton as Presidents of Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands Chambers respectively. They both share a passion for their area and a very hands-on approach to working with businesses at a local level.
After the AGM, we held a Chamber Council meeting (and welcomed some new faces to this too). The role of the Council is to represent the Members’ interests and to provide direction, through our Forums and their reports, on issues that affect the business community. One of the topics we heard about was the proposals for the Clean Air Zones for Stone-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme and the impact this may have on businesses.

Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme are both set to introduce a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) as a measure to reduce air pollution – something we all passionately believe in as it affects so many people’s health. A similar zone already exists in Birmingham, and many cities and large towns up and down the country are also at an advanced planning stage for the introduction of a CAZ. Once approved, the zones would be in use no later than the latter half of 2024.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has already modelled the use of a CAZ covering Victoria Road in Fenton and the city centre which has shown that measures would be sufficient to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide to within legal minimum levels by the start of 2029, at which time the measures could be removed. Stoke-on-Trent’s City Council’s Leader, Abi Brown, estimates that vehicles using Victoria Road will face a daily charge of between £9 and £35, depending on the size and emissions rating of a vehicle. There are also proposals for ‘bus gates’ which would partially close certain routes such as the A53 at Basford to all traffic except buses during peak hours.

These proposals will have a marked effect on business and there are still unanswered questions around the impact closures in one area will have on other areas of the conurbation. Also, Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle approach seems disjointed which could bring additional access problems. A full business case will be drawn up for both the Councils and the Government to approve and it should include requests for additional funds to support affected drivers.

We are holding a free event about the proposed Stoke-on-Trent CAZ on 13th December where you can hear from the consultants working on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and find out more about the proposed zone and how it may affect your business. It will be helpful to us too as we can hear what will affect you and we can help to work out impact and mitigation.

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

2021 has been a year of change for Penkridge-based mum of three Julia Jones who has stepped off the corporate merry-go-round to concentrate on building her own business that fits with her lifestyle and combines her passion for business improvement and training with her love of horses.

Julia, who has spent the last 16 years heading up training and education, most of that time spent working for a leading psychometric assessment firm, set up her own consultancy, Altezza People UK in March 2021.

Her new business offers business consultancy, planning, and training, specialising in leadership, teams, and sales. Clients also have the option of engaging in ‘equine facilitation’, a method of working through challenges, self-awareness and team dynamics that involves working with horses.

Julia said: “I have spent nearly two decades helping businesses improve performance and results of sales teams and leaders through developing soft competencies and emotional intelligence.

“I made a decision towards the end of February this year that I was going to launch my own business to fit in with my family. I Have two kids at Liverpool University and my youngest is just 10. He has learning challenges, so he benefits from me being closer to home rather than travelling around the country and abroad. We are building our equine business to help to support all businesses and teams offering an alternative way to spend high-value quality time together.

“The rationale behind Altezza people is to put the human back into digital to help people unlock sustainable results, a feeling of self-worth and accomplishment. I am already busy with an expanding list of clients.

“I have always loved and owned horses and so I introduced the option of equine facilitation. Horses are incredibly intuitive, picking up on emotions and reacting to how we respond in the ‘present moment.

“By partnering with horses, individuals and teams experience unfiltered responses as they work through their unique agendas. One thing is clear, when teams leave, they have better emotional connections and bonds with their peers. The change comes from the inside–out. Most traditional training works from knowledge from the outside working inwards. The shift in self-awareness and our responses to others changes instantly and stays with us easily.”

Julia added:  “Because my business plan was well advanced, I was fast-tracked to startup advisor Aly Davidson and growth advisor, Richard Brace. Both Richard and Aly have been amazingly supportive, helping me to set up my business and giving help with all the practicalities I needed. I have also accessed funding, that I would never have known about, which supported my professional qualifications.

“As a self-employed person, being a part of the Chambers feels like you have a full support network behind you. I am always an email or call away from advice and signposting and the support and guidance from Aly and Richard and the Chamber team is always there if I need it.”

Aly Davidson said: “I am really pleased that things are working out so well for Julia. She had all the elements ready to start her business and lockdown provided her with the opportunity and the impetus to develop her business and get ready to trade.

” Julia knew exactly what she wanted but we were able to help her with the practicalities and we are here to help as the business develops and grows.”

If you are thinking of starting a business and would like to discuss your plans, contact start@staffordshirechambers.co.uk or call 01782 202222.

Last night was the highlight of my year so far as I had the privilege to welcome all the finalists and specially invited guests to the gala presentation of the 2021 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, at Uttoxeter Racecourse.

Sadly, we couldn’t accommodate everyone who wanted to attend but a live streaming of the event made sure hundreds more people could watch at home or in the office, and it is available to watch again. The presenters at the ceremony were, ex bmibaby boss Dave Bryon and soon to be chambers President, Kate Beardmore from Synectics Solutions – a formidable double act whose wit and professionalism really made the evening extra- special.

Congratulations to all our winners, especially Stone Group who won ‘Business of the Year Award’. They were chosen from the 15 category awards winners with awards ranging from young employee or apprentice of the year right up to the large business of the year.

We received nearly 300 award and as ever the judges had the unenviable task of narrowing it down to 45 finalists. Reading the entries for this year’s awards, you really wouldn’t think we were dealing with the ongoing effects of a pandemic, post Brexit fallout, supply chain issues and labour shortages.

The awards shone the spotlight on the rising stars, hidden gems, brilliant employers, and the great talent that helps businesses to innovate and grow.

As we have all faced uncertainty and worry, it is fantastic to see businesses as beacons of hope and the great entrepreneurial spirit of Staffordshire.

I would like to thank our generous awards sponsors HSBC and all the category sponsors, the judges, the team at the Chambers, the entrants, and all businesses in Staffordshire for doing what you do and being so positive and forward thinking.

You can see a full list of winners and find a link to the streaming of the ceremony here: Awards – Staffordshire Chambers

Earlier this week the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its labour market statistics for November 2021.

There are no surprises here as this week I have talked to a manufacturer, a care home owner and a solicitor and they are all finding that there is a real shortage of people able to work.

There was a marked rise in payroll employment which suggests that the end of furlough had little effect on the UK jobs market in October, as demand for labour continued to surge.

The number of job vacancies in August to October 2021 continued to rise to a new record of 1,172,000, an increase of 388,000 from the pre-coronavirus pandemic January to March 2020 level, with 15 of the 18 industry sectors showing record highs.

However, these record job vacancies suggest that the chronic staff shortages encountered by businesses are intensifying and this could derail the recovery by forcing firms into a more long-lasting decline in their operating capacity.

Although earnings growth remains high, achieving wage increases over a sustained period is likely to prove challenging without a marked improvement in productivity and an easing of the current cost pressures faced by firms.

Despite the success of furlough, the likely squeeze on hiring intentions from next year’s national insurance hike and slower economic growth could mean that labour market conditions start to weaken over the medium term.

More significant support is needed to help firms access the skills they need when they can’t recruit locally, including supporting the hardest hit sectors through expansion of the Shortage Occupation List.

The Chambers will continue to focus our efforts on working with employers, colleges, and training providers to develop our own talent pipeline to create a workforce fit for the challenge in the jobs we need to fill. We are also continuing with our work with the refugee population to use their existing or newly learned skills to benefit local firms.

If you have any issues around skills or retraining, please contact the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub based at the Chamber on 0300 600 1066 Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Skills Hub – Employers, start your search for new skills here (staffsskillshub.co.uk)

You can read the full ONS statistics UK labour market: November 2021 – Office for National Statistics (ons.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