Staffordshire County Council are sending out a positive, proactive message to business through their five-year growth strategy, Staffordshire Means Back to Business.
The business recovery strategy, a blue-print to support the county economy in getting back on its feet following the Covid-19 crisis, includes an £870,000 investment in two enterprise centres in Siverdale and Cannock. This is on top of the £860,000 already committed by the county council to support the local economy to recover.
Like the UK, Staffordshire’s economy will suffer a negative impact because of Covid-19, however the strategy looks to build on the county’s established strengths seek new opportunities arising from the crisis.
Unfortunately, some businesses will not survive, however, previous recessions have led to a rise in new and successful companies formed with determination out of adversity.
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce echoes the county council’s priority to support all businesses and offer bespoke guidance and backing to new companies to get through their critical early stages.
Key drivers of the strategy include; the use of external and local funding to assist in the immediate response; development of new programmes that will support the recovery, renewal and transformation of the local economy; ensuring that climate change is always at the heart of thinking and delivery; working with our to deliver the strategy, including accessing funding and lobbying for additional resource where necessary.
Priorities for the next five years are broken down to four phases:
Respond – support businesses and residents through the COVID-19 crisis.
Recover – create the conditions to support our businesses and residents to return to work as soon as possible.
Renew – continue to progress those priorities that will play an important role in achieving ambitions to develop the local economy beyond the current crisis.
Transform – utilise the opportunities presented by the current economic conditions by supporting the transformation of the local economy to be digital, clean and higher value.
The Chambers aims integral part of the delivery of the strategy, through our established support programmes for start-ups, Growth Hub funding support, mentoring, skills agenda, and networking.
We have helped hundreds of people start businesses. Our dedicated start-up advisers offer initial consultations to discuss a new business idea, followed by sessions to equip start-ups with all the basics to launch their business including financial forecasting and accounting, business planning, legal requirements, and marketing. If starting a new business is something you or your employees are thinking about you can contact Peter Ball at the Chambers: peter.ball@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
You can view Staffordshire Means Back to Business: https://bit.ly/2YaARrG
If you want to talk to us about any business issues, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002. We also have a Twitter hour each Tuesday and Friday from 11am – 12noon #StaffsChamberChat
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