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Help shape Staffordshire’s long-term economic growth plan
People and businesses in Staffordshire can now help to shape an eight-year plan setting out the county’s economic growth priorities which will support increased prosperity and opportunities.
In addition to the main economic strategy for Staffordshire, people can also give feedback on a strategy for the rural economy which will play a vital part in the county’s future growth.
The consultation is open now and will close on May 30. People can go to: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/economicstrategiesconsultations
Building on recent successes and Staffordshire’s resilience through the pandemic period, the economic strategy will help to strengthen partnerships with district and borough councils and other organisations, in addition to influencing central Government and attracting investors.
Main priorities are the regeneration of town centres, supporting start-ups and growing small businesses, ensuring Staffordshire has a higher skilled and higher paid workforce, supporting development of sites so they’re ready for business and strengthening transport corridors such as the A50/A500 and A38.
The strategy also identifies the county’s reputation for innovation, the importance of supporting businesses on their journey to net zero carbon and maximising the use of county council investment to unlock external funding.
The rural economic strategy focuses on the growth of smaller towns in Staffordshire, tourism, sustainable agriculture, enterprise and digital connectivity.
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Over 11,000 students trained to start-up in Staffordshire
 Over 11,000 college students across Staffordshire have received focused training to set up their own business thanks to a brand-new business initiative.
More than £165,000 has been invested by Staffordshire County Council in the Ignite programme; a brand new scheme to support final-year college students across the county with the know-how, contacts and confidence they need to set up and be their own boss.
The business-savvy lessons, five-day intensive course and mentoring from business leaders across the county is part of the Staffordshire Means Back to Business support scheme, a £3.4m investment scheme kick-started in the pandemic to support businesses and individuals to not just survive but thrive and grow.
The Ignite scheme is running across Newcastle & Stafford College’s Group, South Staffordshire College, Burton & South Derbyshire College and Buxton & Leek College until August 2023.
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Hairdresser’s start-up dreams come true thanks to county council loan
 The owner of a South Staffordshire hair salon in has seen her dreams come true after applying for an interest-free loan to take on her own business.
Sarah Riley, owner of Antidote Hair Ltd in Perton, had worked at the salon for 16 years before taking it over during the pandemic, using a £5,000 loan from the Staffordshire Means Back to Business scheme.
A year on, Sarah’s business has hit her first-year target of taking almost quarter of a million pounds.
The interest-free loans are part of a unique partnership between all the district and borough councils in the county and Staffordshire County Council to invest in small businesses to help them set up, survive and thrive during the pandemic.
Unsecured, interest-free start-up loans of between £3,000 to £5,000 are available from the scheme for brand new businesses or businesses less than two years old.
More information is available at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/StartUpLoans
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Keele University’s new digital support programme for businesses
 A new programme to help local businesses and entrepreneurs to harness the potential of data and digital technologies has been launched by Keele University.
Linked to Keele’s new Digital Society Institute, the fully-funded programme will enable SMEs and enterprising individuals to work with industry experts, academics and digital advisors to understand how data can be deployed in different parts of the business and how new and emerging technologies can improve productivity and increase competitiveness.
Available exclusively to those based in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, the programme features three support channels, each created to suit organisations at varying stages of their digital journey.
The programme forms part of the business support package available through Innovation Centre 7 – a new, purpose-built facility which, once opened in Summer 2022, will also offer opportunities for organisations to partner with Keele and access specialist facilities such as digitally-enhanced data visualisation spaces and superfast computers.
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Mental Health Awareness Week
 Mental Health Awareness Week takes place on the 9 – 15 May.
This year’s theme is ‘Loneliness’.
Loneliness isn’t about the number of friends we have, or the time we spend on our own. Loneliness is when we feel we don’t have the meaningful relationships we want around us.
Being connected to other people and our community can have a positive impact on our mental and physical health.
So why not get your workplace involved in this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and encourage your colleagues to make those positive connections.
For ideas and resources, visit the Mental Health Awareness Week website.
For people who may need some extra support to ‘get back out there’, then Everyone Health Staffordshire offer free ‘social isolation and loneliness’ and ‘physical activity’ support services to adults living in Staffordshire.
For more resources on mental health, visit Staffordshire County Council’s Workplace Health webpages.
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