Sara’s Blog: Sad times as Wade Ceramics enters administration
It was sad news to hear last weekend that Wade Ceramics has gone into administration.
In existence since 1867, Wade moved to its state-of-the-art factory on Festival Park in 2011.
As a Chamber we have incredibly strong ties with Wade as their MD, Paul Farmer OBE was our President from 2016 to 2019 followed by a three-year stint as Honorary Treasurer.
Not only have we lost another iconic local pottery company, but the decision will sadly result in the loss of around 140 jobs just three weeks before Christmas.
The decision is due to the challenges facing customers and the current economic challenges, including rising energy and supply costs.
Ceramics firms have been up against internationally uncompetitive energy and compliance costs for some time and the terrible and protracted war in Ukraine has led to unsustainably high gas prices. This puts even more pressure on firms unable to easily move away from reliance on gas to fuel the kilns.
Our ceramics businesses sit at the very heart of UK manufacturing. Without the brick, tile, and clay pipe manufacturers there would be no housebuilding. There is no glass or steel industry without the refractories and there is no heat from waste without advanced ceramics.
Energy costs are the number one business concern and must be a top priority for the Government.
A British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) survey in October found almost half of SMEs say they will find it difficult to pay their energy bills once the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme ends on 31st March 2023 and some saying that they will not be able to pay their bills at all after 31st March.
While current Government support is welcome, there is a cliff-edge looming, and firms will struggle to see beyond it. They need certainty on what will happen in April so they can plan with increased confidence in a market where energy prices are certain to remain volatile.
There are other levers that Government can pull to relieve cost pressures, such as a reform of business rates to compensate firms that see energy support reduced or phased out.
With a lack of competitiveness in the business energy market firms are struggling to get quotes from different providers, and they are not guaranteed access to fixed-rate contracts.
Ofgem should be given more power to strengthen regulation of the energy market for businesses, ensuring suppliers offer fixed-rate contracts to business customers, and that competitiveness is increased.
One thing for certain is that the Chambers will remain dogged in the fight to protect all Staffordshire businesses and we will not let up on the pressure we exert on those in power from our own MPs to the Prime Minister. And we will continue to fight for renewable sources of power to be available – from district heat networks, heat to power plants, solar arrays and wind power. We know that businesses want to invest in these too and need help from planning and the National Grid upgrade to make it happen.
Staffordshire businesses have proved a spirit of togetherness through the pandemic and the current financial turbulence. There are so many people out there who offer their time and expertise for the good of us all and the Chambers is the place where they all come together, be that through our sector forums, area boards, events, seminars or through direct contact with our team.
As always, I would urge anyone with a question or a concern to get in touch via the channels below. Your voice is important to our continued representations to those in government who have the power to act for the good of business.
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
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Sara’s Blog: Take outs from our AGM, Bank of England presentation & patron event
I was humbled that around 70 members turned out on a cold and dull late November morning for our 73rd AGM. It’s quite a procedural affair where we approve the annual accounts, our President, Kate Beardmore, reviews the previous year’s performance, we appoint our auditors and approve the election of Members to the Chambers’ Council.
Glynn Jones gave a fascinating insight of the state of our economy caused by the ‘four shocks’ of war in Ukraine, the state of the labour market, Government fiscal policy and financial market volatility. We got a real insight into the wealth and depth of information that the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) needs to consider when they decide on whether interest rates will go up or down each month. The bad news is that the Bank thinks we are in for a prolonged recession tempered by the slightly better news that it will not be as deep as the one caused by the 2008 global financial crash.
The current skills crisis is having a marked effect on UK plc’s overall performance. It is estimated that around 600,000 people have ‘disappeared’ from the labour market since the pandemic, either due to illness, mental health or through taking a decision to step away from work following the huge upheaval caused by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
Where older experienced workers have moved from employment, we have been left with a widening skills gap that in the words of Glynn Jones: “will take time to unwind”.
Forgive me if I repeat myself but therefore, I am so pleased that that Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce will lead the development and delivery of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Giving us the opportunity to build upon our skills delivery work to date and bring together employers, training providers and other key stakeholders across all sectors (via our sector forums) to enable us to respond to local skills priorities.
This initiative must work as without the skills we won’t have growth and the local economy and in turn, the population will suffer as a result. I’m confident it will work if we all get involved and I would ask anyone with a vested interest in skills to sign up to our short survey which will be running for the next six months. To get involved please email: skillshub@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
Our Patron events are always a real pleasure and yesterday’s lunch was no exception.
We have now 26 Patrons, representing manufacturing, professional services, education, healthcare, utilities and local government.
Between them our patrons provide thousands of jobs and apprenticeships and contribute millions of pounds to our local economy.
However, the real value lies in the network of support they provide which underpins the Chambers business community. All our patrons are willing to give back to create further growth in the local economy. They provide their expertise, knowledge and guidance to steer the Chambers policy and service delivery and help to amplify the voice of business.
In turn, we provide Patrons with regular access to key influencers and decision makers in Government and other agencies. They are invited to the Annual British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) conference and earlier in the year several Patrons joined our trip to the Houses of Parliament to meet local MPs and Government Ministers.
This contact with our local MPs is vital as they are our direct conduit to government and with an election not too far off, we expect to see increased contact with MPs as they look to defend their seats.
Reflecting on the day later made me realise just how fortunate we are to have such an incredibly supportive and positive Chamber and business community who are able to rise above external factors, help one another and get on with the job.
Thank you all.
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
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BusinessLodge Stoke recognised for Excellence in Customer Service in nationwide FlexSA Awards
BusinessLodge, the flexible space provider with innovative office spaces in the North of England and Midlands, has received two shortlistings in the UK’s national flexible space accolades – The FlexSA Awards.
Both their Stoke-on-Trent and Bury sites have been recognised for their Excellence in Customer Service.
BusinessLodge will now go on to compete with 12 other office space providers, with five overall winners being announced on Thursday 24th November in the Awards at London’s iconic Landmark Hotel. A highlight of the industry calendar, the FlexSA Awards will bring together the flexible workspace industry for an evening of celebration and networking.
The Flexible Space Association (FlexSA) is the professional trade body for flexible workspaces across the UK, representing hundreds of members. Its members comprise the operators of serviced and managed offices, coworking space, business centres, workshop units and virtual office providers, as well as providers of services to the flexible workspace industry.
Kate Holt, MD at BusinessLodge said: “We couldn’t be happier to be shortlisted for not one but both of our BusinessLodge locations. We take Customer Service extremely seriously and have a community-focused approach so whether you are a one-man band or 120-strong team, we offer a friendly, inclusive atmosphere. We’re told time and again that both locations are professional, friendly working environments and this is testament to the approach we’re taking. We can’t wait for the Awards night.”
FlexSA Chairman, Freya Cross, commented: “I was very pleased with the large number of entries we received this year, from Flexible Space Association members of every size. They felt a real celebration of the best of the flexible workspace industry, and there were some very hard decisions for the judging panel to take in deciding on the finalists. I’m looking forward to presenting the awards to the winners at our Gala Dinner at the end of the month.”
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National award win rounds off huge year of growth for six-year-old Lichfield business
A Lichfield business which was started less than six years ago by two people with a vision of ‘service above profits’ has brought home the silver after winning a national building and construction award.
Legionella & Fire Safe Services won the silver award for Contractor of the Year (contract value up to £5m) in the 2022 National Building and Construction Awards at a glitzy ceremony in London.
The accolade was in recognition of a challenging 2.5 million-pound programme of work carried out at Jordan House, a 13-storey apartment building in Castle Bromwich which is home to 50 families and individuals.
Danielle Bayliss, operations director at LFS, said: “Winning this prestigious award is a huge recognition for every single member of the team and their contributions to the business.
The judging criteria recognised how the business has developed in the last 12 months in areas of innovation, how obstacles have been overcome, and overall success in delivering key projects.
“From starting less than six years ago to being recognised at a national awards ceremony is an achievement we are extremely proud of.”
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Sara’s Blog: Interest rate rise, International Trade Week & events up to Christmas
The decision to raise the base rate to 3% comes as no surprise following the market turmoil caused by September’s mini-budget.
The Bank of England has laid down a clear marker that it intends to bring inflation down by placing further pressure on consumer demand.
But raising the interest rate is a very blunt instrument to control inflation that is largely the result of global factors, including soaring energy costs and supply chain disruption.
This is further bad news for businesses who find themselves trapped between rising costs of raw materials, energy and borrowing, and weakening consumer demand.
The Bank is now clearly indicating the UK economy is set for a prolonged recession. Chamber research shows that business confidence has been falling at an alarming rate over recent months, driven by runaway inflation.
But even as evidence of a recession mounts, cost pressures on businesses may yet continue as the energy price cap expires next April (See our event Building resilience for your business in a time of recession below).
With the Chancellor and Prime Minister both signalling that the Autumn Statement is likely to result in spending cuts and tax rises, businesses will be extremely worried about what the future holds.
It is crucial that the Government sets out a long-term plan that stabilises the economy and focuses on growth.
Glynn Jones, Deputy Agent, West Midlands and Oxfordshire for the Bank of England will be the guest speaker at our AGM on 30th November. The AGM is open to all Chamber members and you can book here: Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Annual General Meeting – Staffordshire Chambers
More information on the Bank of England’s decision to raise interest rates can be found here.
This past week has been International Trade Week, highlighting all the support and guidance available to potential and seasoned exporters and importers, through the Chambers and The Department for International Trade.
At Staffordshire Chambers, every week is International Trade Week for our International Trade team who offer a complete solution to international trade operations – with award-winning guidance, documentation and declaration support from our expert team who have helped thousands of Staffordshire businesses to trade globally over many years.
Services on offer include export documentation, certificates of origin, EUR1s and attested invoices, customs declarations and a wide range of international trade training.
They also offer advice and guidance on any new legislation and systems such as registration with the new digital customs declaration system (CDS), to be able to import any products into the UK.
To find out more General international trade queries call the International Trade Centre team on 01782 224405 or email allison.tomlinson@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
Now, we may be into the last two months of 2022 but there are still plenty of great Chamber events with opportunities to network, showcase your business or just have fun.
Our next speed networking session takes place on 17th November at Commerce House. If you haven’t been to speed networking before you are in for a treat. It’s a chance to talk to over 40 other businesses in about an hour, presenting yourself and your business and making connections who can help you.
On 24th November you can boost your plans to protect your business at our seminar – Building resilience for your business in a time of recession.
With inflation soaring, interest rates rising and fuel bills increasing, planning is vital.
Chamber patrons and leading national law firm Freeths LLP will deliver an informative webinar giving practical tips on ways that businesses can best protect themselves during a recession.
The Staffordshire Skills Summit takes place on Friday 25th November with discussions around the new Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and an exclusive talk from Kelly Nicholls, the CEO of TechSkills. We now have a real opportunity to catalyse partnership across the skills and employability sector, and I would strongly urge anyone affected by skills shortages and wanting to have a say on the LSIP agenda to attend.
The event takes place at the brand-new Catalyst Building at Staffordshire University and breakfast is included.
Finally, our hugely-popular Chamber quiz, is back – this time with a festive twist. We’ll be hosting Quizmas with DJH Mitten Clarke on 6th December at Port Vale, finding out who’s the smartest Staffordshire enterprise as we welcome back guest host, Matt Hustwit of DJH Mitten Clarke.
Teams of up to six people can enjoy a two-course meal, charity raffle and put their general knowledge to the test.
I would urge early booking events to avoid disappointment. View our full range of events and book here: Events Archives – 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
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Sara’s Blog: Speaker Summit featuring Lioness Jill Scott, International Trade event & Let’s Do Business
Autumn is an incredibly busy time of year as the summer holiday season fades into memory and we all get back to business.
It’s also a very exciting time events-wise in Staffordshire as we hold one of our flagship events, The Staffordshire Business Festival.
Our headline event at the Business Festival on 19th October at Uttoxeter Racecourse is our Speaker Summit.
I am extremely proud that we have been able to host such a talented and impressive line-up of speakers for the Speaker Summit – topped by England Lioness and Euro 22 winner Jill Scott.
Jill, who retired from football shortly after the tournament, will discuss her experiences as a female football player, drawing on the leadership qualities and strategies she implemented throughout her career that saw her win nine domestic honours and feature in 10 major international tournaments.
She will also talk about the parallels between elite sport and the day-to-day management of the Manchester coffee shop ‘Boxx2Boxx Coffee’ which she opened earlier this year.
Jill will be joined by Raj Athwal, club president at Indian Super League football club Odisha FC, Maxime Belingheri, human rights manager at L’Oréal and Anuja Boopathy, general manager at Amazon Rugeley.
I can’t think of another Chamber event in which we have had so many high-profile speakers in one room – and this is a great opportunity to hear their stories firsthand and enjoy an insight into how they have all achieved success in their respective fields.
To celebrate the occasion, we’ve released 30 tickets with at 50% discount which are now priced at just £25 for Chamber members, inclusive of a networking lunch.
These tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis. To claim yours, use discount code SUMMIT50 at checkout. Chamber members should ensure that they are signed into the website for a further discount.
On the same day, we also have our free international trade event, Broaden Your Markets.
This event is specifically for any business that currently imports or exports or plans to grow through trading internationally.
We’ll be joined by leading policy experts Alex Veitch and Liam Smyth from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), and Graeme Chaplin from the Bank of England.
Alex will give an insight into the trade agreements worldwide, how the Chamber network can help businesses make more use of trade agreements and the role of the international Chambers of Commerce in supporting UK exporters.
Liam will be talking about changes that the Government plans to international trade in the months and years ahead and will highlight opportunities to drive down the cost of trading to improve cashflow.
Graeme Chaplin is the Bank of England’s Regional Agent for the West Midlands & Oxfordshire and will present the Bank’s most recent forecast for the UK economy and discuss the global economic outlook, as well as domestic demand and supply conditions.
You can book on these events or register for Let’s do Business here: Events Archives – Staffordshire Chambers
Then on the following day, 20 October, it’s the return of Let’s Do Business, the region’s biggest business show!
Stands are fully booked for the event but there’s still time to secure your free delegate ticket if you’ve not done so via the website, here. It really is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to network, showcase their services and, most importantly, do business!
I look forward to seeing you at Uttoxeter Racecourse!
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
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Sara’s Blog: Digital survey findings & Staffordshire Chambers Digital Forum
Earlier this week a survey from the British Chambers of Commerce of almost 900 SMEs across the UK, including businesses based in Staffordshire, revealed the issues they are facing managing their digital tools (broadband, audio, visual conferencing tools and collaboration tools) within a challenging economic environment – with cost, a lack of time and inflexibility being the leading challenges.
The findings come at a time when SMEs are already facing an uphill battle to survive with rising inflation, spiralling energy costs and low growth risking long-term prosperity.
The management of digital tools stood out as a significant cause for concern for SMEs, with almost four in ten (38%) believing they did not have the capacity to effectively manage multiple ICT suppliers, contracts, and licences.
A quarter (25%) of SMEs did not feel that their digital tools were resilient enough to help protect their business from emerging trends, just over a fifth (22%) did not feel that their digital tools were secure, whilst 17% disagreed their current suppliers of connectivity tools enabled them to adapt to changing circumstances.
In an environment where businesses are facing spiralling energy costs, record inflation and a declining economy, firms must feel confident in the technology they rely on to serve their needs and carry them into the future.
This Connectivity Survey has highlighted significant areas of concern for businesses, with firms expressing particularly low levels of confidence in the flexibility and value for money offered to them by suppliers.
With BCC data highlighting the huge challenges businesses are facing in the current economic environment, now more than ever, they need help wherever they can find it. Finding the right connectivity tools for firms can not only save time and money, it can also help future-proof businesses against further challenges down the line.
You can view the survey infographic here: PowerPoint Presentation (britishchambers.org.uk)
Suppliers of digital tools and services must work with businesses, particularly small and medium-sized businesses, to ensure that they find their right fit and reap the benefits of a flexible and secure connectivity offering.
I do feel that we are tackling the connectivity problem head on in many parts of Staffordshire and the work currently being undertaken by LilaConnect as they roll out their full fibre network around Stoke-on-Trent, Leek, Uttoxeter and other parts of Staffordshire.
We are extremely proactive with digital technology and we have a Digital Forum which exists to drive the growing digital sector in Staffordshire enabling businesses to freely exchange information, share best practices and discuss digital innovation, information communication technology, the digital skills agenda and artificial intelligence.
Forum members include Keele and Staffordshire Universites, local authorities and many of our cutting-edge IT and digital businesses.
The Chambers also has two digital advisers Alan Bloomfield and Ben Hocking. They can advise on all aspects of digital technology and help you make the best use of it in your business. For more information on the Digital Forum or to speak to Alan or Ben email: digital@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
And finally, we have a special digital section at our Let’s do Business expo at Uttoxeter racecourse on 20th October where you can meet the experts and talk to them about all things IT and digital. Register for Let’s do Business free here: Let’s Do Business – 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
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Sara’s Blog: Boosting women in business is back and reaction to mini budget
Next week we launch the third cohort of our Boosting Women in Business programme.
Boosting Women in Business is a project funded by NatWest Skills & Opportunities Fund and delivered by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.
People start on their own for a variety of reasons – it may be due to loss of employment or redundancy, or it could be that a nine-to-five job no longer fits their lifestyle.
Whatever the reason, starting a business can be daunting. I have done it myself, so I know from experience! But with help, guidance and the support of a network of professionals and peers willing you to succeed – it becomes a whole lot easier.
Boosting Women in Business provides all of the above, equipping participants with the fundamentals and knowledge to transition into the world of self-employment through practical workshops, one-on-one support from business advisors and mentoring and networking with peers.
The programme leads to the formulation of a business plan and a pitch to win a £1000 cash prize for the best plan.
Lisa Smith, owner of mobile catering business Silver Café Co and first prize winner from Boosting Women in Business earlier this year puts it better than I can:
“The Boosting Women in Business course really helped me understand the importance of business fundamentals such as developing a business plan. Modules were delivered in easy to absorb chunks with time for one-to-one help. Just knowing that there was someone to offer guidance was a great comfort and I am confident that I can make a success of my business, with the support of everyone involved in Boosting Women in Business.”
This is a fantastic opportunity and who knows what lies ahead for our new cohort of enthusiastic ladies as they embark on this new and exciting chapter in their working life.
The next Boosting Women in Business programme is in early 2023 and if you are interested in participating email start@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
Mini-budget reaction
The measures announced in the mini-budget today will be welcomed by many businesses and should act as a catalyst to boost economic growth while encouraging investment.
Reversing the increase to National Insurance Contributions is good news for the business community who need a strong and suitable support package during the current economic climate.
The move to make the Annual Investment Allowance permanent will also come as a relief to many firms. It is a crucial tool which gives them the confidence to push ahead with investment, and will add greater certainty to their plans, now we know it is guaranteed to remain.
Investment Zones could also help finally deliver on the Government’s long-standing promise to Level Up, if the scheme is truly UK-wide. However – lessons must be learned from the past, otherwise they can simply displace growth and investment from one area to another without creating new economic activity.
All-in-all, this has been a good week for businesses, with today’s announcements and the energy support package – and we will now await further detail on a comprehensive long-term economic strategy.
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
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Sara Williams’ reaction to new energy support package
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg has today announced a raft of new measures to help support businesses with their energy costs.
The proposals are a clear step in the right direction and will come as a relief to businesses who have been hugely concerned about energy prices that have sored exponentially during recent months.
Through a new government Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the government will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers, including all businesses, whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices.
This is the equivalent support package to the Energy Price Guarantee put in place for households and the level of price reduction for each business will vary depending on their contract type and circumstances.
Savings will be first seen in October bills, which are typically received in November and, as with the Energy Price Guarantee for households, customers do not need to take action or apply to the scheme to access the support.
There will I’m sure be many businesses who will still struggle to pay their overheads despite this government intervention – and the Chancellor must prioritise those firms in his mini-budget on Friday.
The Government must now issue further support packages beyond the energy scheme so that Staffordshire businesses can continue to plan for the future.
If you want to talk to us about any business issues, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222.
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Sara Williams’ reaction to new PM
Reacting to the announcement of the new Prime Minister, Sara Williams, Staffordshire Chambers CEO, said: “Congratulations to Liz Truss on running a successful campaign to become the UK’s new Prime Minister.
“At the top of her agenda must be the immediate action needed to support the economy. Staffordshire businesses need urgent support to help offset spiralling prices. Our members have expressed growing concerns about energy and material prices – and it’s imperative that the new leader addresses these issues as a matter of priority.
“Businesses are now in a sink or swim situation and unless a support package is rolled out efficiently and effectively, we will see many local businesses shut their doors for good.
“The last few months and indeed years have been difficult for everyone, time is running out and urgent action is needed to deal with the costs crisis.
“The British Chambers of Commerce now believe that the country has already entered a recession and that inflation will hit at least 14% in the months ahead.
“For businesses and households, prices are set to become unsustainable, dragging the economy into dangerous waters and the outlook for both businesses and consumers will be bleak indeed.
“I look forward to seeing what action is taken in the coming weeks and months.”
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