Business News
This month’s special focus is on the thriving brewing town of Burton. Our March focus will be on Future Faces.
From humble origins to a thriving town
The town of Burton in Staffordshire has its origins in an abbey founded in the 7th Century by St Modwen, although by the time of the Domesday book this had been replaced by a Benedictine abbey on the banks of the Trent. During the 12th and 13th Centuries, streets
began to spring up around the abbey, and Burton quickly established itself as a thriving market town. Key to the growth of the town was a medieval
bridge over the Trent, which was not only an important crossing point but the site of major battles, in 1322 and 1643. Not long after the latter, Burton began to see
the establishment of breweries, and the town came to dominate this trade during the 19th Century.
‘It gives me great confidence as president to declare that Burton and District is open for business’
Today, brewing is still an important part of the
town’s economy. Also important is the bridge – the medieval version was replaced in 1863, and a second bridge, St Peter’s, was opened in 1985. Both bridges have been closed for major
repairs in recent times, and although Burton Chamber president Nik Hardy declared this a ‘testing time’, he was keen to stress that the town had remained ‘open for business’ and continued to perform well in terms of jobs and investment.
Membership is booming in Burton thanks to Costas
Chamber membership in Burton has boomed during the last six months, and this is in no small part due to the town having its first ever dedicated business development manager - Costas Damianou (pictured).
Costas Damianou has spent more than 20 years in sales. For most of that time, he has been self- employed, which he said has given him a valuable insight into businesses and how to run them. He joined the Chamber just seven months ago,
but has already signed up 33 new members in Burton, bringing the membership total in the town and surrounding region to 182 businesses. That represents an increase of around 20 per cent. He said: “I’ve spent a lot of focus on building
relationships – a lot of people didn’t know there was a Chamber in Burton or what it did. “I’ve spent as much time speaking to as many
people as possible. There are a lot of small businesses in Burton – and we have signed up quite a few start-ups. Events have increased in numbers, with people looking forward to them. There’s been a good atmosphere at them, and relationships have become stronger.” Costas’ approach has been based on his
experience of being self-employed, and he said: “I’ve got a lot of knowledge in building a business and what you need to do. “My focus has been treating Burton as a
business in itself, and that’s how it needed to be treated.” The next stage of the Chamber membership
campaign in Burton will be focused on the town’s business parks, of which there are around 60. A campaign aimed at encouraging businesses
at these locations to join the Chamber will be launched in spring, and Costas said: “There are a lot of businesses on business parks who don’t know who we are. “There is a campaign coming up to target
business parks – the idea is to leaflet drop and knock on doors, and put on workshops to talk to potential new members. It will be very targeted. “We have built some really good relationships
in the town, so we are now taking it to the next level and being more strategic.”
Among new members is Burton graphic
design firm Seventy Three Design Limited. Seventy Three’s Vicki Lovegrove said: “The
reason I have joined the Chamber is for the opportunity to meet new people. “I have started a new part to my business,
coaching creative business owners, which means I need to reach out beyond my existing network. “The overall feeling to the Chamber at the
moment seems to be much more open and inclusive to how I had experienced it in the past. This positivity is definitely what I want to be surrounding myself with.”
February 2020 CHAMBERLINK 17 He told last year’s Chamber annual general
meeting: “With a number of exciting developments planned for the town and investment opportunities available to employers across the region, it gives me great confidence as president to declare that Burton and District is open for business. I have little doubt that we can continue to grow this Chamber, not just in terms of membership, but also in our ability to help our members deliver growth and profitability.” Just six months later, Chamber membership in
the town is booming, following the appointment of Costas Damianou as business development manager. See other story on this page. Also see page opposite for Nik Hardy’s view
on the town’s economy, and what the prospects are for the future.
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