8 million sq feet – or the size of 140 football fields? Whichever way you look at it, the West Midlands Interchange (WMI) site in South Staffordshire will be a huge commercial development in our county. Situated between junction 12 of the M6 and the West Coast Mainline at Gailey in South Staffordshire, WMI will have a significant impact on Staffordshire’s economy as the site takes shape in the next decade.

WMI is a joint venture between Logistics Capital Partners (LCP) and Oxford Property Group and is regarded as ‘The UK’s most significant new rail served logistics development,’ offering up to 8 million sq. feet of prime logistics facilities.   In our recent Planning & Infrastructure (P&I) forum meeting, we received an update from LCP on the development of WMI.

On-site activity started in earnest during the summer of 2023, with the flattening of plateaued land, guided by a construction principle of ensuring that no soil leaves the existing site and no soil is brought onto the site.

Community engagement is a key priority for the development, with approximately 109 acres of land being set aside as a community park. Local residents are being asked about what amenities they would like to see in a community park.  The park will also be used by the 8,500 workers who will be employed at WMI, once the site is complete.

The WMI site will seek innovative construction of buildings to ensure that there is relatively low energy consumption. Buildings across the site will offer up to 150 acres of roof space, onto which photovoltaic cells will be attached.  This will generate energy for the entire site.

A rail head facility will open in 2026, allowing freight to move in and out by rail, connecting with the West Coast Mainline between Stafford and Wolverhampton.  Once this is opened, further development of the site should accelerate, with demand for space expected to be high.

During last week’s P&I forum, we also received an update from locally based social enterprise, Mondrem, which wants ‘to help make public services brilliant, everywhere and all of the time’.  Mike Astbury of Mondrem explained that his team is working with planning teams at local authorities, helping them to deliver a faster and better customer experience, improve productivity and deliver their work within budget.

Delays in turning around planning application decisions can often be attributed to a lack of capacity or challenges with staff recruitment and retention.  Mondrem encourages local authority clients to recognise the importance of making human connections, as being human is what we all have in common.  Another key element is the need to build shared understanding, trust and confidence.  A faster, better service is seen as a by-product.

Our P&I forum is tasked with exchanging information on planning policy, construction and regeneration. It also steers Chambers’ representations on these matters and receives updates on developments in planning law.  We meet again on Tuesday 23^rd January 2024 and if you would like to learn more about the valuable work of this and our other policy forums, please drop me a line:

declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

HMP Sudbury, in collaboration with its Employment Advisory Board (EAB), hosted a unique careers event that united local businesses and the prison community to explore pathways for workforce reintegration.

The Employment Advisory Board, comprising prominent local business leaders, played a pivotal role in connecting businesses with the potential workforce available within the Sudbury Prison community. Their collaboration showcased a commitment to fostering second chances and opening doors to meaningful employment for those currently incarcerated.

The event drew a diverse range of businesses representing sectors such as warehousing, manufacturing, construction, as well as specialised companies offering self-employment guidance and tailored support across various fields. The attendees were deeply impressed by the wealth of talent and untapped potential within HMP Sudbury.

Particpants expressed their eagerness for more opportunities of this nature, and emphasised the importance of similar events involving businesses from across the country, especially from regions like the West Midlands and London, where many of them will be released.

This collaboration between HMP Sudbury and the Employment Advisory Board exemplifies how collaborative efforts can ignite hope among prisoners for realising their potential upon release. By providing access to quality employment opportunities, this initiative aims to break the cycle of reoffending and secure a brighter future for the individuals involved and their families.

Next month sees the inaugural meeting of our new International Trade forum, and we’re calling on Staffordshire’s importers and exports to get involved and join the meeting on 20 November.

Our Chamber forums provide a unique and invaluable opportunity to meet with other Chamber members, share best practices, discuss sector issues and uncover new opportunities for your business. What are your main challenges when it comes to exporting? Is your business having any issues with export documentation paperwork? What can we do to encourage more local businesses to take the plunge and look at overseas markets for growth? Get involved with the Forum at Commerce House on Monday, 20 November, from 9:00am. The Forum, which is free-to-attend, is available exclusively to Chamber members. Spaces must be booked in advance via our website, here.

We welcome new faces in all of our policy forums but what’s in it for you and your business? It’s a chance for your views to be heard and the opportunity to work collaboratively with your fellow Chambers’ members in influencing our policy role on specific topics. You also get the chance to grow your networking contacts in similar sectors. It could also be a perfect development opportunity for one of your team, helping to empower confidence.

Some of our forum members have gone on to join British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) policy groupings, getting their voices heard at a national level.

Being a part of our policy forums is not a huge commitment with no more than four meetings a year and meetings typically start at 9am and last no more than an hour or so.

Being the voice of business is what we do but why not get involved and play your part. For further details on our policy forums, please contact Declan Riddell.

Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce is regarded as the voice of local business in Staffordshire but what does this really mean? We deliver ten policy forums, covering the topics of :

• Charity
• Digital
• Energy, Environment and Sustainability
• HR, Employment and Skills
• Manufacturers’
• Money Matters
• Planning & Infrastructure
• Rural Business
• Social Value & Procurement
• Transport

Each forum is made up of representatives from our member businesses and meets up several times across the year. Key topics for discussion are identified, guest speakers are brought in and our forums pick up that role of highlighting the matters that concern our members, at both a national and regional level. Each forum has its own Chair, who will steer both the meetings and objectives of that particular forum.

Forum dates are available on the events area of our Staffordshire Chambers website, here.

Newcastle under Lyme Business Improvement District (BID) is thrilled to announce that Keele University has been confirmed as the headline sponsor for the prestigious LoveNUL Business Awards. The inaugural awards ceremony will celebrate the exceptional contributions of local businesses and community champions, fostering a sense of community and recognising the vital role these enterprises play in the town’s growth and development.

The LoveNUL Business Awards is an initiative aimed at recognizing and celebrating the outstanding efforts of town centre shops, restaurants, pubs, service providers, and individuals who have gone above and beyond to create exceptional experiences for their customers and clients. With a diverse range of 15 awards categories, the public has the opportunity to show their appreciation for their favourite establishments and community figures.

The awards sponsorship comes following the recent announcement of Keele in Town, a digital hub situated on the Ironmarket that will offer a gateway between Newcastle-under-Lyme and the University.  The LoveNUL Business Awards provide an excellent platform for the university to reinforce its support for the local business ecosystem and its commitment to building further relationships with the public and key partners.

Professor Trevor McMillan OBE, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, expressed his enthusiasm for the sponsorship, stating: “We are proud to be confirmed as the headline sponsors of the inaugural LoveNUL Awards.

The Awards celebrate the very best of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and as a University, we recognize the crucial role that local businesses play in driving economic growth and fostering a thriving community. Many businesses and talented individuals make a positive contribution to our town, and these awards provide a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on their work.”

The public nomination period for the LoveNUL Business Awards has now concluded, with the voting phase set to commence on Friday August 11th. The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, September 15th at the Newcastle under Lyme Performing Arts College. The event will bring together shortlisted businesses, BID levy payers, and key partners in Newcastle under Lyme, celebrating their achievements and contributions.

For more information about the LoveNUL Business Awards, award categories, and further sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.lovenulawards.co.uk or follow @newcastlebid

Join the Skills Revolution campaign aims to increase small and medium-sized enterprises’ awareness of a range of government programmes including apprenticeships, T Level industry placements and Multiply numeracy courses.

The campaign encourages employers who are considering hiring employees, offering work experience or upskilling existing staff to sign up to these programmes.

The campaign webpage features an overview of the full range of government training and employment schemes employers might be interested in.

As widely expected, the Bank of England has raised the interest rate by a quarter of a percent to 5.25%.

The rise in the interest rate comes as no shock, and we believe we are past the peak in inflation, but at 7.9% it is almost four times the Bank of England’s 2% target. However, the Government has pledged to reduce inflation to 5% by the end of 2023.

Data from the Office for National Statistics clearly shows that input cost pressures for firms are finally falling. And recent BCC research backs this up, with 45% of companies now expecting to increase prices, a 15-percentage point fall compared to six months ago. We are also likely to see a further substantial fall in inflation in July as last year’s energy price rises drop out of the data.

Vicky Pryce, of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Economic Advisory Council, said that “Businesses will be hoping that today’s rise in interest rates is the last they will see. While many firms will have already factored this increase into their plans, it is clear from the recent rise in insolvencies that the economic environment is becoming stacked against smaller firms. They are the ones with less cash reserves in the bank and greater exposure to finance”.

While inflation remains the top concern for businesses overall, interest rates have emerged as the second top concern, with 41% citing this as more of a worry than three months ago in the BCC’s latest survey.

And there are concerns now that the economy could be pushed into recession as it takes 18 months for changes in interest rate rises to filter through. With all the cumulative pressure of past rises yet to come, business will be watching closely for any further indications on the Bank’s plans.

At the same time, it is encouraging that the Government has recently expanded the list of shortage occupations to recruit more workers from abroad. Hopefully, it will now be considering what more can be done to ease staff pressures.

We are really pleased that Vicky Pryce will be the headline speaker at our forthcoming ‘Economic Conference’ on Wednesday 22nd November.

The conference will focus on what the business community may expect to see in 2024. In addition to Vicky there will be other speakers and a programme of panel discussions.  We will confirm the venue and booking details in the next few weeks so save the date in your diaries.

If you have any questions or issues around the latest interest rate rise or any business issues, contact our policy advisor Declan Riddell: declan.ridell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk

Chamber welcomes its latest patron.

Earlier this week I was delighted to welcome international construction company, Swietelsky as our latest patron.

The Swietelsky Group is a leading construction company operating in Central and Eastern Europe with around 12,000 employees. The firm is proud of its ‘big family’ philosophy, nurturing a supportive and collaborative environment to help drive toward a common economic future. They offer a full range of construction services and are known for their high quality, flexibility and adherence to deadlines.

As a patron of Staffordshire Chambers, Swietelsky joins a vibrant community of businesses who are dedicated to promoting economic growth and supporting the development of local enterprises.

Becoming a patron of the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce identifies a business as a leading and strategic player in the Staffordshire economy. We provide our patrons regular access to key influencers and decision-makers in government and other agencies ensuring that they are well placed to influence and make the optimum contribution to growing our economy.

Patron’s support and expertise is priceless. Personnel from all our 27 patrons populate our Board of Directors, Council and our member forums. They give freely of their time to offer their expertise which covers every aspect of business, education and skills and make a huge contribution to local good causes and charities through their corporate social responsibility activity.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a patron contact Karena Pawlak karena@stafforsirechambers.co.uk or call 01782 202222

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