On Friday morning, I welcomed a group of members to our First Friday Networking event, held at our Members’ Lounge in Stafford.
It was back in 2019 when our former CEO (Sara Williams, OBE), came up with the inspirational idea of transforming some spare office space at our Commerce House in Stoke-on-Trent, into a bright and vibrant working space for our members. Throw in some funky furniture, a hot drinks machine (which dispenses a decent blend of coffee and hot chocolate!) and add some free parking and free WiFi – …and you get the Staffordshire Chambers’ of Commerce Members’ Lounge!
Less than a year after opening, the country was gripped by the pandemic and our Members’ Lounge was effectively mothballed. Over time, covid restrictions were eased and in 2021, we were allowed to invite a limited number of visitors, subject to social distancing.
As we returned to “normal times”, our Members’ Lounge has grown in popularity and as a Chamber, we’re thrilled to see so many visitors coming to our office to use the Members’ Lounge. We’re just ½ mile from Hanley (City Centre) and can be easily reached from the A500 and A53 – Just follow the signs for Festival Park (Pop ST1 5BE in your SAT-NAV).
Our Members’ Lounge suits the needs of those who prefer not to spend the whole time working from home or wanting to meet clients in a professional and polished venue. Chamber membership is all about bringing members together and over the last six 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, start chatting and by 9.29AM, have realised the potential benefits of connecting.
The success of our Stoke Members’ Lounge has given us the idea of replicating this at our Stafford home. 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 South Walls, or nearby at The Waterfront Car Park. (Pop ST16 2LP in your SAT-NAV).
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.
We hope that First Friday Networking (the name says it all!), will become a regular fixture in diaries and we hope to welcome you when we meet again at our Stafford Members’ Lounge, on Friday 4th April. Click here to book your place:
Stafford First Friday Networking – Staffordshire Chambers Member Zone
If you can’t wait until then, why not check out our Stafford Members’ Lounge for yourself.
