Winter driving comes with its own set of challenges – icy roads, reduced visibility, and unpredictable weather can make even short trips stressful. That’s why M&M Vehicle Repairs has put together this handy guide to help you navigate the season’s toughest conditions with ease and confidence.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Icy roads can be treacherous. Reduce your speed, keep your distance from other vehicles, and avoid sudden braking or sharp turns. Smooth, steady movements give your tyres the best chance to grip the road.

Know Your Brakes

If you’re driving a car with ABS (anti-lock braking system), don’t pump the brakes. Instead, press firmly and let the system do its job. Without ABS? Pump the brakes gently to prevent skidding.

Gears

Gears play an important role in icy conditions, if you’re heading down bank or on a slope use 3rd or 2nd to maintain grip, if you can slow down using gears you won’t slide as you would with the brakes.

Tyre TLC

Good tyres are your best friend on winter roads. Check your tread depth and tyre pressure regularly, and consider winter tyres for maximum grip in snowy or icy conditions.

Keep Clear Vision

Frosted or misty windows are a recipe for disaster. Ensure your windscreen and mirrors are clear before setting off. Use the heater and demisters effectively, and always have a scraper and de-icer to hand.

Stay Lit

Poor visibility is common in winter, so make sure your headlights, taillights, and indicators are clean and functioning. Upgrade to brighter bulbs if you’re struggling to see or be seen.

Beware Black Ice

Black ice is often invisible and catches drivers off guard. It tends to form in shaded areas or bridges. Stay alert, and if your car begins to skid, steer gently in the direction you want to go – don’t slam on the brakes.

Plan Your Route

Stick to well-gritted roads whenever possible. Avoid rural lanes or shortcuts that may not have been treated. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and allow extra time for your journey.

Maintain a Safe Gap

Stopping distances can increase up to tenfold in icy conditions. Keep a greater distance between you and the car ahead to allow for a safe stop.

Be Prepared

Carry a winter emergency kit in case you get stranded. Include essentials like a blanket, torch, snacks, and a shovel. A little preparation can save a lot of stress.

With a touch of caution and a dash of planning, you can navigate winter roads with confidence. Keep calm, drive safely, and make it through the colder months without a bump.

I spent last week settling in at our new home in the centre of Stafford.  Our second Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce Members’ Lounge is…officially open and ready to welcome our members for ad-hoc hot-desking, client meetings and networking opportunities with your fellow members.

It’s five years since we opened the Members’ Lounge at our Festival Park office in Stoke-on-Trent.  An empty office was brought back into life with some bright, funky office furniture and a warm and welcoming layout.  Who knew that within less than a year, the space would be empty again, with the entire country forced into lockdown, due to the pandemic.

Back in the Spring of 2020, meeting colleagues on Teams and Zoom, became the norm, along with the all too ubiquitous call of, “You’re on mute!”  Thankfully, lockdown came to an end and over time, we took the decision to re-open our Members’ Lounge and welcome members back into Commerce House.

Our Members’ Lounge perfectly serves the needs of those who prefer not to spend the whole time working from home.  Chamber membership is all about bringing members together and over the last five years, there have been countless connections made, generating new business and contacts.  Two people sat next to each other as complete strangers at 9.15AM, have started chatting and by 9.29AM have realised the potential benefits of connecting.  Having a hot drinks dispenser on hand, also helps!

With the success of our Stoke Members’ Lounge, we’ve decided to open up a Stafford Members’ Lounge.  We’re in the open plan area to the rear of Ground Floor Reception at Staffordshire Place 1 (Or SP1). It’s Staffordshire County Council’s main office in the centre of Stafford and getting here couldn’t be easier!  We’re less than a 10-minute walk from Stafford Station, which serves a number of local and national destinations.  Pay and display car parking is available across the road at Civic Centre on North Walls, or nearby at The Waterfront Car Park.

SP1 is sandwiched between Stafford Library and The Verso Lounge.   The Members’ Lounge is open to Chamber members only. On arrival, sign in at SP1 Reception and you’re in!   You can connect your device to Gov WiFi. To create a Gov WiFi account, text ‘Go’ to 07537 417 417. You will then receive a unique Username and Password, which you will use whenever you access WiFi at SP1. 

You’ve found a free desk and chair and connected to the WiFi.  All you need to do is make a brew and you’re ready for some productive work!  If you’re popping out for a break, please remember to support our diverse mix of town centre retailers.

It’s so important for us to have a base in Stafford, with lots of many positive developments taking shape in our County Town.   Over a thousand years of Staffordshire’s history is to be brought to life in an exciting new heritage project, with the opening of Staffordshire Heritage Centre.   Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) is due to unveil its Institute of Technology (IoT) in mid-2025, as part of a Station Gateway development.  Stafford Borough Council has acquired The Guildhall Centre and former Co-op store on Gaolgate Street, in a bid to speed up the pace of major regeneration in the centre of the town. 

We’re thrilled to be in Stafford at such a pivotal moment for the County Town’s development and we hope you’ll drop by and join us.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has opened a new Members’ Lounge in Stafford Town Centre, providing their members with a new space for hot-desking, work, and meetings.

Building on the success of the Members’ Lounge at Commerce House, the new Stafford Hub, now based in the recently-renovated SP1 building, will be open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

And non-member businesses who wish to trial the space are free to do so as part of an introductory offer.

Declan Riddell, Stafford Chamber of Commerce Manager, said: “We’ve settled into our new home at the SP1 building and are thrilled to welcome members here for meetings and hot desking.

“SP1 is ideally located in the heart of Stafford, with ample short- and long-stay parking just a short walk away, and within walking distance of Stafford station.

For more information about the office spaces see the Daily Focus article.

If you’re a Chamber member who wants to use the space, or a non-member interested in a trial, please email karena.pawlak@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

A series of health and wellbeing workshops have been launched to help support small business owners in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

Staffordshire Chambers, Momentic and The Better Health Generation have teamed up to offer the sessions after a recent study revealed that over half (56%) of small business owners in Stoke-on-Trent have experienced poor mental health in the past year.

It also found that many owners are struggling with sleep issues, with one-third averaging less than five hours per night.

The report indicates that one in three small business owners work over 46 hours per week, significantly exceeding the national average.

Additionally, three-quarters (73%) of these owners take fewer than 20 days of annual leave per year, far below the 28-day national entitlement.

Anxiety (59%), depression (38%), and loneliness (22%) were reported as major concerns among local entrepreneurs.

In response to these findings, the Chamber will host a series of workshops starting on November 6, focusing on topics such as burnout prevention, resilience, and work-life balance.

These interactive sessions aim to provide business owners with tools to manage their health and wellbeing while running their companies.

Workshops will run through March 2025 and are open to trading businesses in the Stoke-on-Trent area.

Interested business owners can contact the Chamber of Commerce for more information on how to participate.

Rachel Reeves made history last week, as the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer to deliver a Budget.   There was a good deal of speculation on the build up to her maiden Budget and one particular pre-Budget announcement caught the eye, with a decision to raise the National Minimum Wage to £12.21 per hour.

The standout Budget announcement for most businesses was the decision to raise Employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC), to 15% and a lowering of the threshold from when payment of NIC is due, from £9,100 to £5,000.   The Employment Allowance, which allows smaller companies to reduce their NIC liability, will increase from £5,000 to £10,000.  Estimates suggest that this announcement could raise an additional £25billion a year for Treasury coffers but what about the impact on business?

We’ve already heard concerns from some of our members, who are facing up to the challenge of meeting significantly higher costs of running a business.  Some businesses may have to look at cutting back on staff numbers or may choose to pass on the cost to customers.   Other reaction suggests that businesses may choose to respond by pausing any plans to award pay rises to existing staff. 

In our letter to Rachel Reeves, we asked for clarity on the future of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).  This was due to come to an end in March 2025, so we’re pleased to see an announcement that UKSPF will continue to underpin specific programmes of business support (albeit at a reduced level), until at least March 2026.

The pain of proposed tax rises will hopefully lead to gain in the form of sector-specific business rates relief and infrastructure spending for major capital programmes.   The decision to see full expensing and the annual investment allowance made permanent, as well as R&D relief being retained, is positive news. 

Our latest Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), will launch on Monday 11^th November and over the following weeks, we hope you will take the time to complete a survey and share your levels of post Budget business confidence as we head towards the end of 2024.  Watch out for updates as we launch on the 11^th.

Make Work Pay (MWP)

Make Work Pay (MWP) plan is a government initiative that aims to improve working conditions, job security, and pay in the UK.  The plan is intended to help grow the economy and raise living standards.   Our British Chambers’ of Commerce (BCC) colleagues have met with government officials on a number of aspects of MWP, including trade union policy, zero-hours contracts, fire and rehire, unfair dismissal, supporting families, pay and wages, the right to switch off, and the economic impact of MWP.   At a local level, we’re calling for businesses to share their views on MWP.  We feel that any legislation needs to be both balanced and flexible, with minimal cost, risk and complexity for business.  You can read more about MWP through the link:

Make Work Pay – GOV.UK

If you have any thoughts, concerns or questions about Make Work Pay, please e-mail details to:

declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Comp Door recently hosted a Next Generation Launch Event at the National Space Station in Leicester to announce all of its new groundbreaking, first-to-market product innovations.

More than 150 installers and industry press came from as far as Dundee and Southampton to attend this momentous industry event.

The event saw the unveil of several brand-new initiatives including SleekSkin, their new door finish which is unlike any other offering currently on the market. Their exciting new partnership with Kubu to offer a range of high-security smart technology and sensors into Comp Doors as standard. In addition to their newly developed luxurious ultimate glass surrounds, border door styles, and enhancements to their marine grade hardware offering.

Richard Diliberto, Sales Director at Comp Door said, “The launch event was phenomenal. Customers instantly took to the new products and were blown away by the unveil, presentation, venue, and demonstrations. We have received an overwhelming response to all of the products launched and have already had a large number of customers signing up to have SleekSkin as part of their showroom display and to be part of the Kubu scheme in preparation for the full integration in December.”

He continues, “Due to the word spreading faster than we ever imagined, we’ve also vast enquires come through from prospect customers that we’ve never had contact with previously. These new initiatives are making real waves across the industry, which was our mission and intention, so that together we can ensure a positive future and growth in demand for composite doors in the UK.”

Comp Door’s newly launched pioneering initiatives were designed with their customers centrefold, created to enable their installers to stand head and shoulders above competitors, further exceeding their homeowners’ expectations, whilst also propelling sales and generating increased demand.

Sam Kay, Managing Director of K Glazing Limited said at the event, “SleekSkin – ‘I love it! This is just what the market needs, I feel customers are really going to appreciate the aesthetic benefits of this product and how it truly replicates a timber door. Kubu is likewise going to be a game changer, the future is here and it is exciting! It’s exactly what we should be providing to our customers as standard.”  

Shauna Brett, Marketing Manager at Emerald Windows & Doors confirms, “The anticipation of what would be revealed by Comp Door was exciting, and the whole day from start to finish did not disappoint. The new products are incredible, a real game changer to my business, the ability to offer my customers a door with so much value-add and real quality puts me on a different level. My homeowners will love this new SleekSkin door finish and will be blown away by all of the other innovations built into Comp Doors as standard going forwards.”

For further information contact Comp Door’s friendly team of experts at: info@compdoor.co.uk, www.compdoor.co.uk, or call 01782 340444.

Local cloud technology company systems.co.uk has announced its sponsorship of the City of Stoke Youth Girls U12 football team, demonstrating its commitment to supporting grassroots sports and empowering young girls in the region.

This partnership aims to inspire the next generation of female athletes, providing them with the tools they need to succeed both on and off the field.

The sponsorship will provide funding for the team’s uniforms, ensuring that the players can focus on honing their skills as they represent Stoke-on-Trent. As a company rooted in the local community, systems.co.uk believes that initiatives like these are vital for nurturing talent and fostering a sense of togetherness.

Juliet Moran, Technical Director at systems.co.uk, emphasised the importance of this sponsorship:
“Empowering young girls to pursue careers and sports that have traditionally been male-dominated is crucial. We’re thrilled to support these talented young players and can’t wait to watch them excel in their matches throughout the year. We’re hoping to see them lift a few trophies along the way!”

Investing in Grassroots Sports: Building Confidence and Community

With women’s football continuing to grow in popularity, systems.co.uk sees its sponsorship as part of a larger effort to break down barriers for young girls in sports. While the spotlight may often shine on top-level teams, it is at the grassroots level where the foundation for future success is built. By supporting the City of Stoke Youth Girls U12 team, systems.co.uk hopes to inspire these players to follow their dreams and challenge the status quo.

The company’s commitment to community involvement extends beyond sports. Through various initiatives—including tech workshops and local event sponsorships—systems.co.uk actively works to provide opportunities for young people in Stoke-on-Trent. This latest sponsorship reflects the firm’s desire to contribute to the community’s development and ensure that young girls have the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

Why Supporting Young Girls Matters

As a technology company, systems.co.uk understands the value of investing in the future. Whether encouraging young girls to pursue careers in tech or supporting them on the football pitch, the values of teamwork, determination, and perseverance remain universal. This sponsorship is a testament to the company’s belief that success starts at the grassroots level, whether in sport or business.

By backing the City of Stoke Youth Girls U12 team, systems.co.uk sends a clear message that it is committed to inspiring the younger generation and helping them develop the confidence to achieve their goals.

Looking Forward

As the football season gets underway, systems.co.uk is excited to follow the progress of the City of Stoke Youth Girls U12 team and share their journey with the wider community. Regular updates on the team’s performance will be posted on the company’s social media platforms.

systems.co.uk looks forward to seeing how the team grows over the next season and remains committed to finding new ways to support local initiatives that empower young people.

Last week we held a meeting of our Rural Business forum. 

This forum serves as a strategic group to promote the interests of the rural business sector in Staffordshire. It champions and lobbies for specific strategies and policies that will benefit members and ensure the rural sector has a stronger voice in our community.

Staffordshire is such a vibrant and diverse county. 

From ceramics in Stoke, to beers in Burton. The urban parts of our county are home to a rich mix of business sectors but in recent years, there has been a growth in the number of businesses moving from towns and cities, into the countryside.   

Rural businesses face their fair share of day-to-day challenges, in comparison to their urban counterparts. Securing fast and reliable digital connectivity can be a headache.   Public transport to rural areas is often too infrequent to be considered as a practical means of getting employees to and from work.

In last week’s Rural Business forum, we discussed the topic of rural crime. Earlier this year, NFU Mutual commissioned a report which found that the cost of rural crime in Staffordshire this year, rose by almost 9%, compared to 2023.   Criminals have targeted rural businesses and left business owners feeling the pain of financial loss.  Rural crime affects large areas of the county but it often goes unreported. Rural crime will impact on insurance premiums, food prices and cause damage to local communities. 

Staffordshire Police joined last week’s Rural Business forum and it was good to hear of plans to fight back hard against the criminals.   The Force has established a Rural and Wildlife Crime Unit, with more than 50 officers trained as specialist Rural & Wildlife crime officers. 

We heard of a determination to bring down rural crime and there is an increased focus on Rural Serious Acquisitive Crime.  A 4P approach of ‘Prepare’, ‘Prevent’, ‘Pursue’, ‘Protect’ will underpin much of this work.   Regular review will include performance review and partnership meetings to build and maintain relationships and engagement with key stakeholders.

Staffordshire Police has launched a Rural Crime Strategy, which outlines its commitment to tackling the issue of rural crime, head-on.  The strategy is regarded as a comprehensive plan which outlines the approach to preventing crime, protecting vulnerable people, and bringing offenders to justice.   At the core of the strategy, there is a strong partnership between the police, local authorities, and rural communities.

It was refreshing to hear that there will be a real focus on protecting the most vulnerable individuals and communities in our rural areas.  There is also commitment to prioritise the pursuit of criminals involved in serious and organised acquisitive crime, using those networks for financial gain.

The rural parts of Staffordshire need this support.  Rural locations are places where residents live, work hard, support one another and contribute significantly to our way of life and it’s vital that all who live and work in these areas, can feel safe and secure.

For further information on the work being done by Staffordshire Police, click on the url:

Rural crime | Staffordshire Police

If you would like to get involved with our Rural Business forum, please send an e-mail to:

declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

NEIDA, a leading manufacturer of precision components, has announced a significant £1.6 million investment in new machinery at its Stoke-on-Trent facilities as part of its plans for growth in 2024. This investment is aimed at increasing production capacity and improving efficiency to meet rising demand from industries such as electronics, automotive, aerospace, and healthcare.

The new equipment includes advanced machines designed to produce highly precise components more quickly and efficiently. These additions will allow NEIDA to better serve its global client base by speeding up production and maintaining the high quality standards the company is known for.

With this investment, NEIDA is not only increasing its production capabilities but also positioning itself for continued success in the precision manufacturing industry. The company’s Managing Director highlighted that the new machinery will help NEIDA keep pace with growing client demand while reinforcing its commitment to quality and innovation.

This move comes as part of NEIDA’s broader expansion strategy, which includes upgrading its facilities and enhancing quality control processes to support its growth ambitions for the coming year.