Cannock Chase Cannock Chase
Chamber of Commerce
Murals transform empty town centre shop units
A number of council-owned roller shutter doors in Cannock town centre have been transformed into works of art, as part of an environmental improvement scheme. Cannock Chase Council commissioned Neil
Willis from Auniqueart to create the artworks on 14 shutters, including seven opposite St Luke’s Church, and seven on vacant shops by the Beecroft Road subway underpass. The designs include a stained glass window
effect, as well as traditional style murals. The Town Centre Partnership and other local
businesses in the town centre have supported the transformation and have been extremely positive throughout the process. Councillor Gordon Alcott said: “The artworks
on the shutters have significantly improved the appearance of the empty shop units and have brightened up areas of the town centre. “The council aims for further town centre
improvements to be completed within the next few months, with the exception of the Prince of Wales Theatre. This will take longer to complete due to planning permission and obtaining necessary consents.”
‘The artworks on the shutters have significantly improved the appearance’
This project forms part of a wider programme
of environmental improvements in the town centre. Work on a comprehensive painting scheme is
also underway, items include bollards, signage boards, directional signs, benches and railings. The redecoration will match the existing colour scheme and work is to be completed this month.
Contact: Chris Plant T: 0845 6036650
Chase Chamber Patrons
Amazon
campaign to help
fledgling businesses Helping hand: Gary Norton
Online giant Amazon has launched a campaign to give fledging businesses the opportunity to become part of its worldwide shopping platform. The amazing offer will see the young
businesses given all the advice and support they need to grow online – and sell on Amazon. The offer is part of the newly launched
Amazon Small Business Accelerator, which is giving free online training to some 200,000 businesses. The initiative was launched in June, but really
took off last month during Birmingham Tech Week, when it was the focus of a virtual live panel discussion hosted by Emma Jones, CEO of business support provider Enterprise Nation. Following the event, attendees were invited to
join the Amazon Small Business Accelerator. They were also offered free e-learning training
on accounting, social media, growing production, hiring teams and more. These businesses will have access to new
benefits designed to help them, ranging from discounts on business supplies from Amazon
Virtual tour for small firms
Cannock is among towns being ‘visited’ this month as part of the UK’s first virtual Small Business Saturday. Small businesses across the UK are being
offered a major new package of support and mentoring as part of the initiative, which will see daily ‘virtual visits’ to communities in more than 30 locations across the UK. Small Business Saturday UK will offer an ambitious, vibrant and intensive programme of locally targeted online advice, workshops and mentoring, with the aim of supporting and encouraging businesses facing the challenge of a second wave of Covid-19 restrictions. The virtual tour – which ‘visits’ Cannock on
11 November - will be a key part of the countdown to Small Business Saturday itself on 5 December.
34 CHAMBERLINK November 2020 Michelle Ovens, director of Small Business
Saturday UK, said: “This year has been incredibly tough for small businesses – financially, operationally, mentally and emotionally. “While we’re obviously sad not to be
visiting small businesses on the ground, we are excited to use online to reach more people than ever, and bring small businesses and their communities a tremendously useful package of support.” The online roadshow will include free virtual
mentoring advice on a range of topics, from digital marketing, to time and money management. Small businesses can book virtual one-to-
one mentoring sessions with local experts via the ‘My Business Section’ on the Small Business Saturday website.
Business, to dedicated Amazon Web Services (AWS) training and partner offers. Businesses will also receive 12 months’ free expert support as part of ongoing membership to Enterprise Nation. The Amazon Small Business Accelerator is
being supported by Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Rugeley. Gary Norton, Rugeley site leader, said: “As someone born and raised in the West Midlands, I know first-hand the importance of a strong local economy for communities across our region, and we hope the Amazon Small Business Accelerator will help many small businesses grow over the coming weeks and months.” West Midlands mayor Andy Street said: “It’s
critical that we support local SMEs to enable our economy to recover. We know that companies across the region have had to move their trade online because of the pandemic. Improving their digital capability gives them the potential to increase sales, safeguard jobs and make their business more resilient. “The Amazon Small Business Accelerator will help local firms to do exactly that.”
New president appointed
Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce is to appoint its new president, Gill Durkin, at its annual general meeting this month. Ms Durkin, director at Performance Through
People and vice-president of the Chamber, will be taking over from current president Martyn Jupp, who has served in the role for two years. The handover will happen at the Chamber's
first online annual meeting, taking place on 12 November. The event will also see the appointment of four new executive committee members, a new vice-president, and a report on the Chamber's activities over the last year. Following formal proceedings, there will be a
short question and answer session with the new president. The event is free to attend for members and non-members of the Chamber.
To book a place, visit
www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/networ king-events/events-calendar/listing/cannock- chase-chamber-agm/
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