Chase Cannock Chase
Chamber of Commerce
Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 6036650
Chase Chamber Patrons
SMEs inspired by Amazon Academy
Rugeley is great: Gary Norton
More than 100 small to medium businesses and entrepreneurs from across the West Midlands attended an ‘Amazon Academy’ event in Rugeley. The free event, aimed at helping SMEs to
export their products and services by embracing digital technology, was held at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Rugeley. The event featured keynote speeches,
workshops and panel discussions with export, technology and marketing leaders, including Abel & Imray, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Department for International Trade (DIT) and the Chamber. The Amazon Academy is run in collaboration
with small business support network Enterprise Nation and the DIT. Gary Norton, site leader at the fulfilment
centre, said: “Rugeley is a fantastic place to run a business and that’s why we brought the Amazon Academy to our town. We want to inspire businesses in Rugeley and across the West
Midlands to embrace digital technology and export their products and services for growth.” Since launching in 2016, the Amazon Academy
has helped more than 2,500 SMEs and entrepreneurs across the UK learn how to grow their businesses through greater digital adoption, and forms parts of the company’s ongoing efforts to help SMEs from across the UK grow their businesses, in particular by boosting their e-commerce and export sales. As a result, eight-in-10 UK-based businesses
selling on Amazon now export abroad, with more than half of all sales on Amazon's global sites coming from SMEs. Emma Greenfield, from Enterprise Nation, said:
“The majority of questions posed by the audience were focused on exporting, which demonstrates that entrepreneurs in the West Midlands are feeling optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead for businesses who are using platforms like Amazon to reach new markets.”
Lender hits significant milestone
A provider of alternative business finance in the West Midlands is celebrating a new lending milestone. BCRS Business Loans has announced that,
since 2002, it has lent £50m to 1,450 small and medium sized businesses across the region. BCRS steps in to support viable businesses
that are unable to access finance from traditional sources, such as banks. BCRS chief executive Paul Kalinauckas said:
“We have always been committed to supporting the growth and prosperity of businesses in the West Midlands and surrounding areas. SMEs are the backbone of our economy – contributing to the prosperity of our region and providing jobs for local people. “In fact, by lending £50M, we have generated
an extra £263m of value in the West Midlands economy and helped to create or safeguard almost 10,000 jobs, which is something we are incredibly proud of.
Milestone: The team at BCRS Business Loans, who have lent £50m to businesses in since 2002
“What’s really exciting is that this is just the
start for BCRS Business Loans. Our team has now grown to 20 and we aim to extend our support for SMEs by increasing our lending by 25 per cent per annum over the next five years.” BCRS Business Loans offer loans from £10,000
to £150,000 to organisations in the West Midlands and immediate surrounding areas.
Round-up
A multi-million-pound road project aimed at boosting growth and easing congestion in Stafford is poised to reach another milestone. The new road is the Stafford Western
Access Route, and will enable millions of pounds worth of new housing and business development to take place. It will also improve traffic flow in the town centre, particularly by the railway station. The road will link the A34 at Madford Retail
Park to the A518 at Castlefields junction and the latest milestone will take the shape of a new roundabout at Doxey Road. Linked to this will be the demolition of various
buildings, including the former home of construction material supplier Saint Gobain, who are moving to nearby Redhill Business Park. Interestingly, the masonry from the buildings being demolished will be crushed and reused in the road scheme. The road is being funded by developers and
with £15.5m secured by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Enterprise Partnership, through the government’s Local Growth Fund. Staffordshire County Council’s economic
growth leader Mark Winnington said: “Work is now well under way on this long-awaited project which is vital for Stafford’s future growth. “This is a significant milestone – changing the
landscape off Doxey Road by removing vacant industrial buildings. We are pleased Saint Gobain relocated to Redhill, continuing its operations and providing employment in Stafford. “The Stafford Western Access Route will
enable future development contained in the borough’s local plan – notably the delivery of thousands of new homes and business, office and retail space. It will also reduce congestion in the town centre, particularly around the railway station.”
Cannock Chase Council is offering discounted business rates on empty retail units in Rugeley, Hednesford and Cannock. The council is hoping to fill vacant premises in
the three towns by using what is known as ‘Town Centre Discretionary Business Rate Relief’. The council developed this
rate relief policy in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and it can be used in any case where the applicants can demonstrate benefit to local taxpayers of the District. Chase councillor Gordon
Alcott (pictured) said: “The council wants to do everything it can to bring empty shops and business premises in Cannock, Hednesford and Rugeley back into use and to encourage businesses to take them on. “A business that meets the essential criteria
will receive 100 per cent discount on their business rates for either a 12 month or 24 month period or a maximum £10,000 contribution towards the business rates, whichever is lower. This is a great opportunity for new or expanding businesses.”
December 2019/January 2020 CHAMBERLINK 51
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