Major investment in employment sites, extra support for small businesses and multi-million-pound funding for post-16 skills development are helping Staffordshire’s economy to continue to grow and creating new opportunities for residents.
A six-month progress report from Staffordshire County Council highlights successes across the county and its continued ambition to attract investment, create good jobs, support businesses, develop skills, and strengthen local communities.
The county council’s work ranges from promoting Staffordshire nationally and supporting its visitor economy to developing major employment sites, improving skills, and helping urban and rural businesses innovate and grow.
Among the successes is Marks & Spencer’s £67 million investment in a new warehouse at Fradley Park in Lichfield. Staffordshire has also been showcased to investors and developers at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum with planning underway for the 2027 event, while the Made in Staffordshire quality mark is promoting local products, manufacturing, and innovation.
Major employment developments are progressing too. Chatterley Park has the potential to create up to 1,700 jobs, while West Midlands Interchange is projected to create up to 8,500 jobs over its lifetime.
The county’s visitor economy continues to grow and is now valued at £2.84bn. One of the county council’s own initiatives, the Staffy Trail programme, attracted thousands of people and were estimated to have generated up to £180,000 for the local economy. Screen Staffordshire, the county’s first film office, has marked its first anniversary by announcing that it had generated an estimated £1.3 million for the local economy from an initial £125,000 investment in its first year. It supported 250 production shoot days and generated more than 3,300 overnight stays.
Businesses are being supported through the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub with its new Build and Scale programme, while more than 200 businesses attended the first Staffordshire Business Support Conference.
People can find out more on the county council’s business support programme webpage.
The county council has been working closely with Staffordshire’s colleges to lobby for more funding for post-16 education. And in the summer the Government has announced £34 million for further education projects in Staffordshire following work between the council and colleges to identify future needs. This follows a further £10 million for the Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence Centre in Stafford.
Robin Hall, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said:
Having thriving businesses, better jobs, and more opportunities for our residents is one of the main priorities for the county council.
Our plan centres on giving small businesses practical help to grow, promoting Staffordshire to attract new investment, and working with colleges and employers to develop the skills our economy needs.
None of this happens in isolation. By working with businesses, councils, education providers and other partners, we can build on Staffordshire’s strengths and ensure this success story continues.”
The county council will continue working with partners to build on these successes and make Staffordshire an attractive place to invest, work, visit, and do business. Its Economic Strategy progress will be considered by scrutiny members at a meeting this week.
WATCH: Mike and Rachel Bailey talk about their business expansion with county council support.
