Businesses are being encouraged to give their views on the Government’s new 10-year Industrial Strategy.
Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub have developed a short survey to help ensure the region receives the right support.
The Industrial Strategy sets out a new economic approach to backing the UK’s strengths with plans for eight high-growth sectors.
They are advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences and professional and business services.
Proposals include driving innovation through an investment into UK R&D, new funding for the British Business Bank to support SMEs, speeding up time it can take to connect new business properties to the energy grid and an increased spending on improving UK workers’ skills.
Daily Focus has previously reported that Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics industry felt neglected after there was no mention of including the ceramics industry in the British Industry Supercharger initiative, which subsidises 60 per cent of energy costs for hundreds of companies, a figure which will rise to 90 per cent in 2026/27.
And Tony Hague, CEO of Cheslyn-Hay-based PP Control & Automation, has said he would have liked to have seen ‘bolder plans’ announced.
Declan Riddell, Policy Adviser of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce said: “We would like to encourage our local businesses to share their views on a Strategy which will influence the next decade of both our local and national economy. We need local feedback as the voice of business can help to have a say in making sure our region is adequately supported.”
Rachel Wood, Manager of the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub, added: “Every business knows its own plans over the short, medium and long term, and it’s important that Government hears our views on how to create the right conditions for our companies of all sizes and sectors to thrive.”
The survey link can be opened here and the survey will remain open until 5pm on Friday, 25 July.
