PARTNERS CHASE CHAMBER PATRON


LEP reassures local firms L


ocal economic issues were high on the agenda for Cannock businesses at a breakfast event organised by Chase Chamber of Commerce. Business leaders met to discuss key concerns such as the impact of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and creating new jobs to tackle unemployment. Brian Francis, CEO of Gestamp Tallent Automotive and Cannock Chase representative Board Member on the LEP, said: “The LEP is committed to the development of the area and new initiatives signal the potential for growth. “The LEP, which represents Greater Birmingham and Solihull and incorporates Cannock Chase


‘The LEP hopes to play a key role in driving economic growth and tackling the problem of unemployment through the creation of jobs’


hopes to play a key role in driving economic growth and tackling the problem of unemployment through the creation of jobs. “The new Jaguar Land Rover plant which will be opened off the M54 in Staffordshire is expected to


create 750 jobs and an expected 2,000 positions within the supply chain. Amazon’s arrival in Rugeley is expected to create another 700 job vacancies.” Businesses were advised to engage with schools and colleges, act as mentors to highlight the importance of literacy and numeracy skills, and potentially offer training and placement opportunities for young people which would help to retain and utilise graduates within local businesses. Fred Pritchard, chief executive and chairman of Pritchard Group, who helped to organise the event


said: “Local Enterprise Partnerships through the Board of Directors representing that area, will give a conduit and a channel for businesses that have any concern whatsoever, particularly regarding their own area, to feed into the national network and indeed Government at a high level.”


Let’s go karting (left to right): Luke Butler, Ash Longdon (in hat), Frazer Killops (in jumpsuit)


Students rev up their skills at kart event


Motorsport mad students from South Staffordshire College have taken part in a test event at the Curborough sprint track near Lichfield, featuring three Honda GX160 go-karts all built from scratch. The 15 BTEC Level 2 Motor Vehicle Repair and


Technology (Motorsports) students helped build the karts. Motorsports course leader Amy Walker said:


“The students built the karts to meet the requirements of their course units, and also help build on their theoretical knowledge, as well as improving their team work and communication skills. Every student took on a role within their kart team, and they worked together not only to build the karts, but organise the events and logistics.”


Deciphering mobile contracts


A Rugeley-based telecommunications firm claims that some phone companies are ripping off customers by using long- winded and baffling contracts. Matt Small, business development director of


Telecom 150, which is based at Towers Business Park, Rugeley, said many firms had ended up trapped in lengthy and expensive contracts which often used dodgy small print to hide additional costs. He said his firm was offering companies


locked into such contracts a lifeline, by analysing the agreements for free. He said: “In an ever-changing market place


End the phones rip-off: Matt Small


where costs fluctuate rapidly, customers should be free to choose or be given the choice to reduce their costs further and have the freedom


to change suppliers if not satisfied with the service. “Have you ever been offered a capped rate for


your minutes or a fixed cost per month for an unlimited amount of calls only to find that every call you make costs a minimum of 5p, even if the call only lasts 10 seconds and unlimited of course has a limit, otherwise known as fair usage? “If you have taken these deals then you have


removed yourself from a fair trade market place where utilities are paid for in units based on actual usage and will be paying well over the national average per minute or not receiving true value for the amount you use. “Would you pay your local butcher £10 per


week if you only shopped there once per month and bought a dozen eggs?”


NOVEMBER 2011 CHAMBERLINK 23


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