Five industry experts addressed business leaders at the bet365 Stadium on Friday, offering a glimpse into the future of business in Staffordshire.
Staffordshire Chambers’ Big Business Breakfast event returned for its third instalment, Transforming Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, and provided pivotal updates on the infrastructure and policy changes that are set to shape the region’s future.
Attendees gained valuable insights into transformative projects, including developments along the A50/A500 corridor, the West Midlands Interchange and regional transport plans.
Rachel Laver, CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, praised the success of the event, saying: “This was a fantastic opportunity for the local business community to gain essential insights into the key projects that will shape Staffordshire’s future.
“The exchange of knowledge and ideas this morning was absolutely vital as we move forward with transformative initiatives.
“The Big Business Breakfast event series has proved to be hugely popular, with a fantastic appetite from the local business community, and we’re looking forward to arranging further events in due course.”
Sarah Spink, Strategic Partnerships Lead at Midlands Connect, led a comprehensive presentation on the impact of regional transport initiatives, covering key projects like the M54 to M6 link road, A50 Central Section, and the Birmingham Motorway Box.
Key updates were delivered by Jon Rouse, City Director of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and Darryl Eyers, Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills at Staffordshire County Council.
They addressed local economic strategies, including the 2023-2030 economic vision for Staffordshire, exploring plans for sustainable growth, innovation, and job creation, particularly through projects like the Fifty500 initiative and the promotion of the green economy.
Michael Kirkland of West Midlands Interchange provided an in-depth exploration of the new rail service logistics development and how it will boost business opportunities across the region. Richard Hickman from Indurent, formerly St. Modwen Logistics, discussed the company’s evolution and its focus on positioning Staffordshire as a hub for industrial and logistics warehousing.
The event concluded with a lively Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers.
The next Big Business Breakfast event will be confirmed on the Chambers’ event listing page, here.
