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The hospitality sector is bracing itself for a challenging first few months of the year as people rein in their spending, a lobby group has warned.  Many venues are deciding to cut capacity by 20 per cent as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, according to Kate Nicholls,

New research by The Centre for Retail Research has found that 17,145 shops across the country closed their doors for good during 2022 – up by almost 50% on 2021. The group’s survey also found that over 5,500 of the shops went bust, while more than 11,500 closed as larger

Commuters returning to work following the Christmas period have been urged to avoid travelling by train as industrial action continues to disrupt services. ‘Significantly reduced’ train services will impact travellers from today, 3 January, throughout the week, to Sunday, 8 January. Travellers are then warned to expect ‘knock-on disruption’ to

Hundreds of households across Stoke-on-Trent are getting help with their fuel and food bills this winter. Stoke-on-Trent City Council has distributed a further £300,000 to three organisations which are supporting families in need with fuel and food vouchers. The funding has been shared between Beat the Cold, who received £150,000,

CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Sara Williams has been awarded an OBE in the 2023 New Year Honours list. Sara, who has received the award in recognition of her service to the community in Staffordshire, said: “I am humbled and, at the same time, enormously proud to receive this

We’d like to wish all Daily Focus readers a very Merry Christmas, a peaceful and healthy break and a prosperous New Year.  Thanks for all your support during our technical launch month. Feedback has been excellent and in just three weeks our reader numbers are better than those of campaigns

A sizeable proportion of British firms are having problems dealing with the European market post-Brexit, a business survey reveals.  More than three-quarters of firms for whom new rules are applicable say the revised arrangements are not helping to increase sales.  More than half of companies face difficulties adapting to the

Tableware giant Steelite has given jobs to 22 former Wade Ceramics employees after staging a special recruitment open day.  Around 140 Wade factory and office workers were invited to come along to discuss vacancies at Steelite just days after 155-year-old Wade ceased trading earlier in December.  Interviews took place on

A double-award winning electric mini excavator manufactured by JCB has notched up a significant milestone – the production of the 1,000th machine.  JCB went into full production with the world’s first volume-produced all-electric mini excavator in 2019 at its Compact Products factory in Cheadle, Staffs. Now the latest 19C-E model has rolled