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Sara’s Blog – 8^th October 2021

Response to PMs and Chancellor speeches at the Conservative Party Conference and the Kickstart scheme extension

I am all for being optimistic but wonder if it is a high-risk strategy to hope, as the Prime Minister does, that this is just a period of “adjustment” and that rising wages will ride to the rescue, rather than make inflation worse and end up in a dangerous spiral.

Firms are dealing with a cumulative crisis in business conditions as supply chains crumble, prices soar, taxes rise, and labour shortages hit new heights. In the past, even one of these issues would have resulted in interventions and the development of a strategy.

The economic recovery is still new and if it stalls, private sector investment and tax revenues that the PM wants to fuel his vision will be another thing in short supply.

We all want a move to a high wage economy, but this will not happen overnight. It requires government and business to come together to develop a strategy which deals with the current challenges while meeting longer term ambitions and driving up productivity. And there is much to be said for a highly skilled workforce needed for this – whilst not forgetting that there are jobs which are not necessarily highly skilled but are essential to our way of life. People in these jobs need better recompense too.

Right now, targeted immigration may be a sensible way to smooth the critical national skills shortages – and the wages could be quite high for these roles too if market forces operate.  Firms need to be given breathing space to plan and invest in skills and technology needed to bring the future closer.

The PM recognises skills as being fundamental to levelling up and economic prosperity. A more agile skills system is key to boosting business investment in training and innovation. Local Skills Improvement Plans should be rapidly rolled-out to give businesses a stronger voice in skills planning and it is good to see chambers across the country being lead partners in the pilots of this approach.

The PM stated that levelling up cannot be seen as one part of the country against another. It’s about tackling blockages to prosperity in every community and giving every business and every person the same opportunities to grow. It is also about health – the health inequalities in this country are shocking with a difference of 12 years life expectancy between some parts of the county.

The upcoming Budget must focus on injecting momentum and confidence across all regions and nations of the UK, with measures aimed at underpinning a sustained economic revival and addressing longstanding issues. This should include addressing the increasingly onerous cost of doing business in the UK and to finally deliver fundamental reform of our broken business rates system.

While the four-month extension of employer cash incentives for hiring new apprentices is good news for many employers, we would like to see the grant extended to the end of 2022. This will allow more time for those SMEs still recovering from the pandemic to create new apprenticeship opportunities that will increase technical skills in the workplace, tackle skills shortages and boost productivity. We welcome the increased investment in training for developing industries involving AI and innovative technologies as these skills will support employers in key sectors for our economy going forward and we need plans for more support for care workers and those on the factory floor or in the driving ca, too.

Businesses support fiscal responsibility, but decisions should be based on economics, not politics. Ultimately, it is businesses as wealth creators which generate prosperity, create jobs and support communities. The focus should be on creating the best possible environment for businesses to grow and thrive so they can sustainably deliver the tax revenue needed to return our public finances to a sustainable path.

Finally, the Kickstart scheme has been extended for three months to the end of March 2022.

The Chambers administer Kickstart in the Staffordshire and we have already overseen 1440 approved placements. The scheme offers funding of 100 percent of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week, plus associated employer National Insurance Contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions. There is also £1,500 per job placement available for setup costs, support, and training.

If you are interested in a Kickstart placement you can contact the Chamber: kickstart@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

Sara’s blog – 1^st October 2021

Reaction to temporary visas for drivers and food workers & end of furlough – a good time to start a business?

The fuel distribution problems of the last week have brought the fragility of our labour market into sharp focus.

Chambers of Commerce have been warning Government about critical labour shortages for months now – not just in the food and haulage industries but in hospitality, construction, the care sector and elsewhere.  And whilst businesses will welcome that government is finally acting, this scheme does not go far enough.

Government has made clear its priority is to transition from a reliance on EU workers to a focus on the domestic workforce, and businesses have been ready to participate in this, but it is a long-term project rather than a quick fix to current supply chain issues.

A managed transition, with a plan agreed between government and business, should have been in place from the outset. Instead, the supply of EU labour was turned off with no clear roadmap as to how this transition would be managed without disruption to services and supply chains.

Now some action has been taken, but additional testing will take time and the low number of visas offered is insufficient. Even if these short-term opportunities attract the maximum amount of people allowed under the scheme, it will not be enough to address the scale of the problem that has now developed in our supply chains. According to president of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, this announcement is the equivalent of ‘throwing a thimble of water on a bonfire’.

Government should be prepared to significantly expand the number of visas issued within this scheme and convene a summit that brings business and government together to find both immediate and longer-term solutions to the many challenges facing firms throughout the UK.

Without further action, we now face the very real prospect of serious damage to our economic recovery, stifled growth as well as another less than happy Christmas for many businesses and their customers across the country.

BCC data has shown that 76% of hospitality businesses, and 82% of construction firms have faced recruitment difficulties in recent months. At the same time, three out of four exporters reported no growth in sales in Q2.

Businesses are facing the most difficult environment for a generation. On top of labour shortages – border delays, increased debt and the rising cost of materials, shipping and energy are all putting huge pressure on firms struggling to recover from the pandemic. All these issues are hitting smaller firms the hardest.

Attempts to address the deficit of HGV drivers and poultry workers is a step forward, but these industries are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the huge impact of the current labour shortages. Without a comprehensive plan to tackle this issue across the board we are facing a winter of lost opportunities for our businesses, hampering the UK’s economic recovery.

If these issues are affecting you or you have an opinion to voice then why not join our debate in our Virtual Members’ Lounge:  ‘A Thimble of Water to put out a Bonfire’ – BCC on temporary visas for drivers — Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce

With the furlough scheme finally ending this week many workers may find themselves either out of a job or looking for a change of career direction.

In the pandemic year of 2020 there were over 770,000 new businesses started, a rise of 30 percent on the previous year so now is probably as good a time as any to look to launch a new business as not only are there opportunities opening in the post-Covid economy, but also, there has never been as much support on offer.

The Chamber’s start-up programme is open to anyone looking to start a business and has tailored packages for students, women, and refugees. Once you are started, we then offer all the support you need to grow your business.

We have three dedicated start-up advisors, business mentors and a club for businesses up to three years old – the One2Three club.

I often hear people running their own business say that it is the best decision they ever made. So, if you have a new business idea or just want to explore your options with an advisor you can email start@staffordshirechambers.co.uk  or visit: Leadership Search – Staffordshire Chambers

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

At a time when the news comprises, Covid, shortage of goods and international tensions it is a welcome diversion to take a step back and focus on two uplifting local events that not only celebrate our culture, inventiveness, and foresight, but also offer a vision of rebirth and regeneration, especially to our young people.

Last week saw the unveiling of Stoke-on-Trent’s iconic Spitfire housed in its stunning new glass fronted gallery.

It was particularly poignant that the £5.4M gallery was unveiled on the day which marks the RAF’s victory against all odds in the Battle of Britain. And on Saturday we were treated to a flypast of one of the last of the flying Spitfires.

What a fantastic and fitting memorial to its inventor, Reginald J Mitchell, born in Butt Lane in 1895.

This shy man with little formal training in aerodynamics created many revolutionary aircraft in the Twenties, breaking several speed records along the way.

Mitchell sadly died in 1937, never knowing how famous and iconic his greatest plane, the Spitfire, would become and how it would play such a pivotal role in changing the fortunes of the nation in 1940.

Now thousands of people will be able to see our fully restored Spitfire, sitting proudly in its brand-new glass walled gallery which looks even more stunning when it is lit up at night.

We have yet another world-class attraction in Stoke-on-Trent which is an example of the regeneration happening across the city. It is not just a celebration of our past but a beacon to the future as we rebuild a city fit for the 21st century. We need to encourage our young people to appreciate rewards of following a career in science and engineering, starting with STEM subjects at school.

I wonder what the modest Mitchell would have thought to see his creation, for the second time, as a symbol of hope and triumph over adversity? Hopefully with a sense of real pride and a wry smile.

The seventh British Ceramics Biennial (BCB) is currently taking place, centred at the Goods Yard in Stoke with exhibitions at Air Space Gallery, The Spode Museum and Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

The five-week festival of ceramic art was initiated in 2009 and has grown to be the single largest ceramics event in the UK, a flagship cultural project for Stoke-on-Trent and a catalyst for regeneration. It showcases artworks from the UK’s leading ceramicists alongside work by international artists, in exhibitions and special events held across the city. BCB is underpinned by an exciting year-round programme of artists’ commissions, education, and community engagement projects.

For me, and countless visitors, what makes the BCB special is the opportunity for close contact with thought-provoking work with many artists taking inspiration from Stoke-on-Trent’s extraordinary industrial heritage. It is also closely linked to our ceramic future as we enter a new age of exciting opportunities with the development of the £18M plus global centre for advanced ceramics in Stoke-on-Trent.

Showcasing at the BCB is AWARD 21, is a prestigious exhibition and platform for UK contemporary ceramic art. It presents 10 of the UK’s most innovative ceramic artists who are competing for the £5000 prize.

Other highlights include ‘Fresh’ – a platform for new artists, ‘Stoke Makes Plates’ – with over 250 plates designed by local residents and ‘Generation’ – a project engaging young people with the area’s ceramic heritage.

Of course, there is much more and the BCB is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Entry is free and there is no need to book. More information from: www.britishceramicsbiennial.com

If you want to talk to us about any other 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

It is well documented that Staffordshire lags other counties in academic achievements and career aspirations.  Many local employers struggle to fill roles and the situation has been made worse by the pandemic.  Every young person deserves the best possible start, and this should not be determined by background or geography.

And as the economy is set to boom, post-pandemic, it is not a shortage of vacancies that is the problem, but a shortage of applicants with the requisite skills and work ethic.

As a Chamber we are fully behind our young people and believe that by acting now, we can all help inspire the future Staffordshire workforce.

Several local businesspeople are already giving their time as an enterprise advisor with the national Careers & Enterprise Company.

The Careers & Enterprise Company exists to facilitate a world-class careers education, inspiring and preparing young people for the world of work.  They support schools and colleges across England to deliver excellent careers education, responsive to individual pupil needs and underpinned by the internationally recognised Gatsby Career Benchmarks.

One of the enterprise advisors in Staffordshire is Julie Mirowski. Many of you will be familiar with Julie as she is also a director of the family business, Newcastle-under-Lyme based, Rydale Roofing and a member of the board of directors of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.

Julie says of being an enterprise advisor at Chesterton High School: “It’s so important that we get as many advisors into our schools as we can.  Schools are often dealing with children whose parents don’t work so they have no role model to inspire them to achieve.  As a woman working in the construction industry, I have had a rewarding career and I therefore feel a duty to inspire school children to consider opportunities they would not otherwise have thought of.

“I have worked with Year 10 students at Chesterton high School on the Career Ready Programme which has modules such as behaviour at work and mock interviews.  You can really see a marked change in the students’ behaviour and motivation as sessions progress.  It’s often as if a light has been switched on as they go from not making eye contact, to seeing that they have the potential to achieve a fulfilling life”

Julie has also joined the recently formed Young People’s Working Group established by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce to explore ways in which we can support young people into work.

I know there are potentially many more businesspeople like Julie who can invest time in working with and inspiring young people to aim high in their work lives and appreciate the rewards that come with this.

 We need more enterprise advisors in Staffordshire, with a genuine interest in the best future for our young people and for our economy to consider giving a few hours a month to become a Careers & Enterprise Company enterprise advisor.

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming an enterprise advisor, or joining the Young Peoples Working Group please contact Vicki Hardie vicki.hardie@staffordshirechambers.co.uk or visit The Careers & Enterprise Company (careersandenterprise.co.uk)

 Also, a quick reminder that there is just over a month to get your entries in for the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards 2021.

Entries close on 24^th September and are open to any business based in Staffordshire. Shortlisted entrants will be notified following the judging and a special gala award event – both live and streamed – will take place in November.

More information on the awards and entry details: www.staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards

If you want to talk to us about any other 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

As a Stoke-on-Trent City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) board member I am particularly excited to welcome to our city centre this brand new, family-friendly, and free festival celebrating our wonderful world, and which seeks to ask and address those questions about how we can all start making sustainable choices today for a better world tomorrow.

The festival is particularly relevant after the past year where mental health and wellbeing has affected so many and accelerated what we as employers need to do to address this. We are delighted to be sponsoring wellbeing activities during the festival.

From Friday 6th August to Sunday 8th August, Better World Festival will bring together speakers, activists, pioneers, charities, community groups and everyone with an interest in creating positive change in this weekend event which will see an extensive line-up spanning world music, workshops, group exercise classes, panel discussions, meditation sessions, family activities and much more.

Speakers throughout the festival will include Greenpeace, the National Farmers’ Union, Harper Adams University and Amnesty International as well as motivational individuals and organisations a little closer to home too, including Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, YMCA, B Arts, Feasted and Wavemaker.

Other highlights include The World Music Stage on Piccadilly featuring bands from all corners of the world as many local musicians. There is also a folk and acoustic stage near Hanley Indoor Market.

The Health & Mindfulness Retreat is taking over Albion Square, with activities including family yoga Pilates, dance, and nutrition coaching.

The Kidzone located in Bethesda Gardens will feature circus skills workshop and demonstrations with Circus In A Box; spoken word and poetry workshops; arts and crafts workshops; drum making and face-painting.

I would urge everyone to support this brilliant festival to make the first of hopefully many more in the future, a great success for the city. More information can be found here – Better World Festival 2021 – Stoke BID (stokeontrentcitycentre.co.uk)

The past year has seen many big changes for businesses across Great Britain and around the world. While the impact of the pandemic is still being felt, business owners and managers have embraced the changes and adapted to new ways of working to protect their clients, their staff, their business and their bottom line.

Anyone who manages a business knows the importance of embracing changes, both big and small. A small change like switching to a smart meter could make a big difference to your business. While some changes may be short-term, smart meters are here to stay and will help your business, in the long-term.

Now more than ever, it is important for business owners to know how much they are spending to keep track of unnecessary energy waste or additional costs. Energy is a key expense, in particular for hairdressers, beauty salons and other close contact services, which makes it a crucial area for these businesses to save money and take control of their finances.

A smart meter could give businesses additional visibility over energy use and costs to make it easier to identify where changes and savings can be made.

If your firm has 10 employees or less, your business could be eligible. To see whether smart metering can work for your business, contact your energy supplier. To find out more please click here info@staffordsirechambers.co.uk To find out more visit: Smart Meters for Small Businesses | Smart Energy GB

You can also contact your energy supplier or broker. It could be one of the best calls you make this week.

If you want to talk to us about any other 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

The impacts of the pandemic will be felt well into the future but for now, businesses are taking their first steps in gradually reopening.  Coffee shops and cafes are welcoming customers inside, hairdressers and beauty salons are switching on their lights and workers are starting to return to the office.

Despite these first steps, trading will continue to be difficult for small and medium-sized businesses, who will have seen their cash flow significantly hit and who need to take a firm control on what they are spending.

Smart meters enable accurate billing, helping to take the stress out of budgeting and putting you back in control. Plus, smart meters send your gas and electricity readings directly to your energy supplier so you don’t have to.

Firms with 10 employees or less could be eligible and as a first step businesses should contact their energy supplier. To find out more please click here.

It is Armed Forces Week next week, an opportunity to celebrate our armed forces, military personnel, and the role they play protecting the UK both at home and overseas.

During the past year military personnel from the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy have been a key part of the UK’s COVID-19 response both at home and overseas with the armed forces currently engaged in the UKs world beating COVID-19 vaccine programme.

Two key days within Armed Forces Week are Reserves Day on Wednesday 23rd June and Armed Forces Day on Saturday 26th June.

The Armed Forces community includes regulars, reserves, veterans, spouses and both cadets and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from our four cadet services – Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, RAF Air Cadets, and the Combined Cadet Forces.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce have always had strong links with the armed forces, and we know that many local employers and employees play a vital role in their support of our reserve forces.

We have our very own Honorary Colonel of the British Army, in ex-Chamber President Mike Frewer, who represents the Armed Forces on the Chambers’ Council. We are also extremely proud to have West Midlands Reserve Forces & Cadet Association (WMRFCA) as patrons and very pleased 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.

WMRFCA are holding a special webinar entitled ‘A Rich Source of Talent’- Recruiting from the Armed Forces’ 1pm – 2.30pm Tuesday 22 June.

I understand recruiting well-trained, work-ready talent is a growing challenge for many businesses. With employers looking for skilled staff with the right attitude and attributes to support their growing businesses, every year in the West Midlands, veterans are leaving the Armed Forces with exactly this mix.

This webinar aimed at anyone recruiting staff will give a comprehensive overview of the free support available to employers who wish to recruit from the Armed Forces community. You will hear from the following organisations:

· Career Transition Partnership

· Forces Families Jobs

· RAJA REME

· Officers’ Association

· 37 Signals –Reserve Forces presentation

· The Poppy Factory

· Buildforce

There is also an opportunity to find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant.

You can register for this event by visiting the Eventbrite page: https://bit.ly/3wvIKH8 or by emailing John Dargavel at wm-ee@rfca.mod.uk.

Please do forward out to your colleagues and your external networks to help promote the value of employers signing the Armed Forces Covenant and working with defence.

If you are planning any social media or digital activity the hashtags are #ArmedForcesWeek and #SaluteOurForces and the twitter tag for WMRFCA is @WMRFCA.

Details of Armed Forces Week can be found at: https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk and https://www.wmrfca.org

On Monday, the Prime Minister confirmed a four-week delay to lifting of all restrictions in England beyond the original date of 21st June. Current restrictions will remain the same across many areas including capacity limits for sporting events, pubs, and cinemas. Nightclubs will remain closed and event pilots such as Euro 2020 and some theatrical performances will continue.

You can be assured that we will be lobbying the government to provide further cash grants and delay the tapering of government payments into the furlough scheme, planned for the start of July. We are also asking that they ensure forbearance is in place for those who have used government lending schemes and already started to repay their loan without being able to open fully. An extension of the VAT deferral scheme and the 100% business rates relief should also be considered given the length of the delay and the impact on hospitality and leisure firms.

If you have any issues regarding the extension, please contact us by calling 01782 202222 emailing info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk or ask a question in the new Virtual Members Lounge: https://bit.ly/3xrYf2Q

If you want to talk to us about any other 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