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South Staffordshire shines in 2026 Staffordshire Tourism Awards shortlist
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South Staffordshire’s vibrant visitor economy has been well-represented in the line-up of finalists for the 2026 Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards, with four local businesses and individuals earning places on the shortlist.
The awards, now in their latest edition, celebrate excellence across the region’s tourism, hospitality and leisure sectors, highlighting outstanding contributions from enterprises large and small. The winners will be revealed at a gala ceremony at Statfold Country Park in Tamworth on Thursday, 19th March.
🧸 New Tourism Business of the Year: Hockerhill Playbarn
Hockerhill Playbarn, based in South Staffordshire, has been shortlisted in the New Tourism Business of the Year category. This exciting addition to the local visitor offer provides a creative and welcoming play space for families and has quickly become a popular destination since opening its doors. Its selection on the shortlist recognises strong early growth and appeal to both residents and visitors alike.
🍹 Pub of the Year: The Littleton Arms, Penkridge
The Littleton Arms in Penkridge has been shortlisted in the Pub of the Year category. Renowned for its warm hospitality, locally sourced food, and welcoming atmosphere, the pub has become a favourite for both residents and visitors, reflecting the best of South Staffordshire’s dining and social scene.
🐾 Small Visitor Attraction of the Year: WILD Zoological Park
The WILD Zoological Park has earned a place as a finalist in the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year category. Known for its engaging animal experiences and educational programmes, WILD continues to draw interest from animal lovers and families seeking immersive and memorable days out in Staffordshire.
👏 Team of the Year: Play @ Lower Drayton Farm
Play @ Lower Drayton Farm has been shortlisted for Team of the Year, a category that recognises outstanding teamwork and a commitment to delivering excellent visitor experiences. As part of the broader Lower Drayton Farm offering, the play team has helped make the farm a destination where guests of all ages can play, learn and explore.
🌟 Unsung Hero Award: Sophie Galentini, Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn
In the Unsung Hero Award, Sophie Galentini of Hockerhill Adventure Playbarn has been nominated for her exceptional dedication and contribution to her local tourism business. This award celebrates individuals whose passion, drive and impact might otherwise go unnoticted but who play a vital role in enriching the visitor experience.
These finalists reflect the diversity of South Staffordshire’s tourism scene, from creative play facilities and wildlife attractions to hardworking teams and inspirational individuals. Their achievements not only spotlight South Staffordshire on the county’s tourism stage but also contribute to the region’s growing appeal as an outstanding place to visit, explore and enjoy.
Changes to business rates from 1 April 2026
 From 1 April 2026, changes to business rates will come into effect following the next national revaluation by the Valuation Office Agency, which updates rateable values for all non-domestic properties every three years.
A new five-multiplier system will replace the current two-tier approach, with multipliers based on property use and rateable value.
Retail, Hospitality and Leisure properties with a rateable value below £500,000 will benefit from a reduced multiplier, while properties with rateable values of £500,000 or more will pay a higher rate.
Businesses can check their current and new rateable values, and estimate future bills, on Valuation Office Agency - GOV.UK
Further information can be found by clicking here.
Carbon Literacy Training – Struggling to commit to a full day of training or two consecutive mornings? We’ve got the perfect solution for you
📅 Workshop 11th February 2026
📍 E-learning online course
🔥 What’s Included?
✅ 5 hours of selfpaced online learning
✅ A live, 3hour online workshop to consolidate your knowledge 💻 Learn anytime, anywhere — with maximum impact and minimal disruption
This training is part funded by: Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Tamworth Borough Council, South Staffordshire Council, Stafford Borough Council, Cannock Chase Council and Staffordshire County Council.
🌱 This course is ideal for anyone who wants to make a meaningful impact on sustainability — whether you’re just beginning or looking to influence change within your organisation.
Extremely good course, with great information on Carbon issues the planet is facing and how we can help
Robert Marshall, Weedon PSC Ltd, Cannock
South Staffordshire start up programme supports new podiatry clinic in Wombourne
South Staffordshire Council is pleased to highlight the success of another local entrepreneur through its UK Shared Prosperity Fund Start in South Staffs programme. The support has enabled the launch of the new Solewise Clinic, founded and owned by HCPC registered podiatrist Susan Jones, offering high quality podiatry services to the Wombourne community.
Susan engaged with South Staffordshire Councils start up programme to develop her new business and ensure the clinic launched on strong foundations. The programme provided structured business support that helped Susan build essential knowledge and confidence as she prepared to begin trading. The sessions explored topics such as business planning, financial preparation, understanding customer needs and creating an effective approach to running a healthcare practice.
Through the programme, Susan also secured grant funding that enabled her to purchase important clinical equipment. This investment has played a vital role in preparing the new clinic for patients and strengthening the long term viability of the service.
Susan explained that the support she received has been instrumental in turning her ambition into a fully formed business. She described the guidance and grant funding as key factors that helped transform an early idea into a practical and achievable next step for her career and her family.
Unlock your business growth with fully-funded expert support
If you are a business aged 2-5 years based in Staffordshire, we have great news for you! You are now eligible for additional FREE support designed to help your business thrive.
We’re offering businesses aged 2–5 years in Staffordshire the opportunity to work with an experienced Business Growth Consultant. This is your chance to:
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Create a clear, actionable growth plan tailored to your business goals.
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Tackle specific challenges you’re facing with expert guidance.
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Identify new opportunities to strengthen and scale your business.
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Gain practical, deliverable steps that you can implement immediately.
Whether you want to refine your strategy, improve operations, or explore new markets, our consultants will work with you one-to-one to help move your business forward.
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out on this chance to accelerate your growth.
English Tourism Week 2026 – Get involved
English Tourism Week will take place from 13 to 22 March 2026, offering the tourism industry an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the value of English tourism. A toolkit of assets for industry partners is now available on the official website to help organisations get involved.
The annual campaign highlights the quality and economic impact of English tourism, one of the UK’s most valuable sectors. This year, the campaign is supported by the slogan:
“Local Stories. National Growth. Celebrating English Tourism Week”
which emphasises the sector’s potential to inspire visitors and support local economies across England.
English tourism contributes around £76 billion in domestic visitor spending to the UK economy, supporting thousands of small and medium-sized businesses and millions of jobs.
Industry partners are encouraged to download the toolkit and share the campaign with local tourism networks, partners, and stakeholders. Activities and stories can be shared using the hashtag #EnglishTourismWeek26.
WILD Zoological Park recognised among the UK’s best with prestigious BIAZA accreditation
WILD Zoological Park has achieved a major milestone by being awarded BIAZA Accredited status, recognising it as one of the leading zoos and aquariums in the UK and Ireland. This prestigious accreditation confirms that WILD! meets the highest world-class standards set by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA).
WILD! is among the first organisations to be accredited under BIAZA’s newly launched scheme. The rigorous process goes beyond standard zoo licensing requirements and includes expert site inspections, detailed questionnaires, and extensive documented evidence. It highlights zoos and aquariums that demonstrate exceptional commitment to animal welfare, conservation, education, and environmental responsibility.
WILD Zoological Park is proud of its many achievements, including the successful breeding of critically endangered species such as the blue-throated macaw. The park also educates thousands of visitors each year through immersive experiences and displays, including WILD WINGS, the UK’s largest free-flight bird display and one of the largest in the world. In addition, WILD! provides outstanding animal husbandry, veterinary care, and welfare standards, alongside a wide range of educational programmes for all ages.
Dr Jo Judge, CEO of BIAZA, congratulated WILD! on the achievement, stating: “Receiving accredited status is not an easy thing to do. It is testament to the passion and hard work of every member of staff. Our accreditation programme assures visitors that BIAZA zoos and aquariums are dedicated to the highest standards of animal care and inspirational conservation and education work. We need good zoos more than ever as we face a global nature crisis.”
In 2023, BIAZA-accredited zoos and aquariums welcomed 32 million visitors, supporting 1,650 conservation projects, 1.2 million educational sessions, and 1,346 research initiatives worldwide and in the UK.
Zoo Director Zachary Hollinshead said the accreditation is a true reflection of the dedication and professionalism of the entire WILD! team. He highlighted the efforts of animal care staff, education leaders, and frontline teams, noting that the year-long evaluation demonstrated not just claimed best practices, but proven excellence.
This accreditation reinforces WILD!’s position as a leading conservation-focused zoo, dedicated to creating a better future for animals and people alike.
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