Chase Chase Chamber Patrons
CONTACT: Chris Plant T: 0845 603 6650
It’s the good life
for Council app Cannock Chase Council has won an award for its recently launched Good Life Deals app. The award were handed out at theLocal
Authority Awards ceremony, hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The awards is now in its fifth year and aim to
recognise the work undertaken by local authorities to support small businesses across the Staffordshire and West Midlands region. The award for collaborative working was won
in conjunction with South Staffordshire Council. The Good Life Deals app is a place where local
businesses can upload discounts and offers for members of the public. Cannock Chase Council teamed up with South Staffordshire Council to give a bigger target market. Cllr Gordon Alcott, portfolio leader for
economic development and planning, said: “I am delighted that the council has received recognition for their two initiatives aimed at helping local businesses.”
New term: Chris Wheeler and his predecessor Paul Wilde
AGM hears of skills forum’s success
Record low claims
for Staffordshire Staffordshire is continuing to see near full employment, two decades after Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) was introduced and when the number of claimants in the county was three times as many. Figures released recently show the
Staffordshire claimant count at just one per cent of the local population. Job Seekers Allowance was introduced back in
1996 when the Staffs figure stood at 3.2 per cent. In October 1996, there were 18,338 claimants
in Staffordshire, compared to 5,080 now. The new figures incorporate Universal Credit and JSA. The West Midlands regional figure is 2.3 per cent and the figure for England 1.7 per cent. Staffordshire County Council’s economic
growth leader, Mark Winnington, said the creation of skilled, better paid jobs was more a priority now than ever. He said: “It is pleasing to see near full-employment continuing in Staffordshire, but our focus must be now be on creating skilled, better paid jobs. “The role of councils has changed dramatically
over the last 20 years and we now play a crucial role in attracting major investment into our areas.”
38 CHAMBERLINK December 2016/January 2017
Chase Chamber’s new ‘Schools Forum’ is helping the region’s education providers turn out students who have the skills that local employers are demanding. The initiative was launched two years ago,
and the Chamber’s Annual General Meeting, held on 25 November, heard that it was meeting with huge success. Chase Chamber director Chris Plant told the
meeting that the forum had been set up to tackle the region’s skills issue.
‘Enhanced employer and education links will make our young people more work ready’
He said: “Skills are the number one priority for most businesses within the Chase area. It is important that more businesses increase their interaction with schools, their young people and staff in a way that benefits all parties. “This forum is for secondary schools with the
aim of providing support to build better links with business, to embed employability skills within the curriculum to ensure that young people enter the world of work with the skills employers demand. “Enhanced employer and education links will
make our young people more work ready, whilst re-assuring employers of the fantastic potential of our young people here in the Chase area.
“We have supported a number of local Chase
apprenticeship events over the last two years through our partnership working with South Staffs College, local MP Amanda Milling and Skills Staffordshire. “Apprenticeships bring considerable value and
ensure our local economy remains competitive. “Businesses across the region are now
increasingly realising the enormous benefits that apprenticeships create.” Chris added that the Chamber had enjoyed a
successful 12 months, growing its membership by five per cent, and was poised to build on that. He said: “We’ve started a review of our membership offerings, along with our entire marketing and communications strategy. Our aim is to ensure that we are delivering great products, offerings and service in a way that is clear and easy to use. “Our website will be redesigned and more
user friendly to reflect a clearer structure and strategy, and I would expect that members and non-members alike will find the Chamber easier to interact with and better placed to help their businesses grow.” The AGM was once again held at The Moat
House, Acton Trussell, and also featured MPs Amanda Milling and Gavin Williamson, who was formerly Parliamentary Private Secretary to David Cameron. The meeting was also attended by president
Chris Wheeler, beginning the second year of his term of office.
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