Chase Chase Chamber Patrons
CONTACT: Chris Plant T: 0845 603 6650
In Brief
More than 4,000 businesses across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have signed up to get free up-to-date alerts and advice to help them combat crime. Business Crime Alerts, delivered through the
Staffordshire Smart Alert service launched by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire Matthew Ellis, provide specifically targeted updates to for businesses and their staff. Updates may include
details of crime prevention measures, descriptions of offenders and appeals for information alongside more general updates to keep crime down. Business Crime Alerts are free for business. Mr Ellis has also launched the Business
Crime Matters strategy. This includes a free specialist service offering support to business crime victims, run by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce.
Staffordshire businesses have been urged to back the local armed forces community in the country. The request has been made by Mick Harrison, chairman of the Staffordshire Armed Forces Community Covenant Partnership, and comes not long after the country commemorated the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. The Staffordshire Armed Forces Community
Covenant is a partnership of public organisations, charities and the local armed forces community in the county. Mr Harrison said: “Following Armed Forces
Day celebrations, we are encouraging businesses to pledge their support to our very own armed forces community here in the county.” He said businesses could show their support
in a variety of ways, including employment policies supporting veterans, reservists and forces’ families, and offering discounts for services/products through the defence discount service or by simply supporting Armed Forces Day every June.
Development of a Staffordshire business park, set to support 2,200 jobs on one of the county’s largest brownfield sites, has been given a major boost following the completion of supporting road and infrastructure works. Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local
Enterprise Partnership, Staffordshire County Council and regeneration specialist St Modwen, which jointly funded the works at Meaford, near Stone, marked the milestone at an event attended by business and civic leaders. Following a 12-month construction period,
the new infrastructure provides a roundabout on the A34, improvements to Meaford Road and an access road serving St Modwen’s Meaford Business Park. Meaford Road has been realigned and
access for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders has also been improved.
30 CHAMBERLINK October 2016
MP puts brakes on cuts to bus services
Cannock MP Amanda Milling (pictured) has launched a petition against proposed changes by bus firm Arriva to withdraw and reduce some of its services in the area. Ms Milling said that
Arriva was looking to change a number of bus routes in the area, with these changes including some services being withdrawn completely. Local residents are opposed to these plans, and are now being backed by their MP.
The changes include: • Number 3 service - withdrawal from the Norton Canes Green Lane area;
• Number 19/20 service - withdrawn completely;
• Number 60 service - withdrawal of late evening Sunday buses to and from Lichfield;
• Number 61/62 service - re-routing of these services and frequency changes.
The Cannock Chase MP has received many
messages from residents who are opposed to these changes and the impact they will cause. She has now launched an online petition collecting signatures against these unpopular changes. She said: “Again I am having to fight Arriva
from withdrawing bus services in Cannock Chase. Over the last couple of years we have had to fight to save services in Norton Canes. Yet again Arriva are proposing to withdraw these services as well as other services across the area which local residents rely on. These changes will have a detrimental impact on our communities.” The MP added: “In
early July Arriva asked me to support their ‘Catch the Bus Week’ campaign. Now we are in a situation where I am trying to protect local bus services which residents are dependent upon to get to local shops, the GP and community facilities. I would strongly urge local residents to sign the petition that I have launched.”
Anyone wanting to sign the petition can do so at
www.amandamilling.com
Strictly business at school
A Staffordshire school which provides vital support for physically disabled children is hoping a new 'businesslike' approach will pay handsome dividends. Saxon Hill Academy at Lichfield, a member of
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, is tapping into the West Midlands business world with a range of enterprising new ventures. The special school, which only converted to
academy status last November, is aiming to raise vital revenue through its on-site cafe and craft barn to help support its crucial work with severely disabled youngsters aged two to 19. Wes Morris, the school's assistant business manager, said the school faced 'massive challenges' catering for 98 disabled pupils, many bussed in from throughout South Staffordshire. "I do not think that you will find an identical
school like this anywhere in the UK. Parents are fighting to get their pupils into this school. "If we can make any surplus through the
enterprises it benefits the school directly. The Saxon Hill Community Cafe has been open for a
couple of years. Our children get behind the counter and it gives them the benefits of working. "The other aspect of
our enterprise work is our scrap store, the Saxon Hill Craft Barn at Chasewater. "We collect clean business waste
such as card, paper and general items which businesses no longer need and sell on to arts and craft groups. "Our pupils also visit Shenstone Garden Centre
one day a week and they work there filling shelves or behind the tills. "This sort of work is really important to us. Our
ultimate goal is that when our more able pupils leave school they can come back as a volunteer." Wes urged businesses across the West Midlands to back Saxon Hill's business ventures. "We are working nicely but there is a lot more
we could do. We are steady but need that little bit of extra support.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64