Challenging times can bring out the best in people
When I wrote my column in February, I could never have imagined the devastation that is being caused by Russia 's invasion of Ukraine. It is shocking and horrific, and words cannot reason, write Shaun Gray.
Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and their loved ones the world over whose lives have been utterly devastated by this crisis.
In the UK we are already heading into 2022 with a cost-of-living crisis and the conflict is bringing even more implications for trading conditions. With fuel prices already rocketing, we can expect even further rises in gas, wheat, raw materials and food stuffs used in manufacturing processes.
As a Chamber we will be working to provide the business community with the latest intelligence on the Ukraine/Russia situation and the cost-of-living crisis. If you are looking to understand the implications for your business, please get in touch with me.
Whilst we are all dealing daily with these big challenges, we have much to be proud of when it comes to doing business in and around Burton. Six businesses from the Burton area, including ourselves at Ginho, were shortlisted at the highly contested Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce business awards, one of the biggest business awards in the Midlands. Congratulations to Branston Golf & Country Club, Burton and South Derbyshire College, Hardy Signs and Burton YMCA.
I 'd like to give a mention to Burton & South Derbyshire College who hosted Minister for Skills, Alex Burghart and some of our great local employers Toyota Manufacturing UK (TMUK), St. Modwen Properties and Autoclenz.
At the visit, the college outlined its plans for launching the Government 's new pioneering qualification, T Levels - and its exciting Stronger Towns Funds proposal in new education and technology infrastructure that will deliver improved skills in a range of subject areas as part of the Government 's levelling up agenda. It was great to hear business leaders talking about their strategic partnerships with the college and how these are specifically designed to meet the current and future skills shortages in our local area. This initiative will really open up exciting educational opportunities in Burton and South Derbyshire which are aligned to the skills required by local businesses - this is very exciting for everyone in Burton and surrounding areas.
Not forgetting, we also have the amazing opportunity to regenerate Burton town centre as part of the multi-million-pound Towns Fund Programme. However, as the main political groups at East Staffordshire Borough Council look to revive the programme, we would encourage a more rapid pace of development, backed with a community engagement programme that keeps everyone informed. The Chamber of Commerce is hugely committed to playing a role in the programme 's development and building a bright future for local businesses and residents.
It's the skills initiatives at the college and the prospect of building a better Burton that helps me to feel optimistic about business and life in general during these difficult times.
Please don 't forget, we are extremely fortunate as a region to have a wide range of business support available via the Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub, including funded initiatives to help businesses drive strong, sustainable growth. I urge all businesses to explore these potential sources of support - you can find out more at www. stokestaffsgrowthhub.co.uk.
Despite the pressures at home and globally, I believe that challenging times can actually bring out the best in people. I am talking here about people with empathy, integrity, with a strong work ethic and strong leadership skills. So although much uncertainty remains, we should be positive about long-term opportunities and about building collaborative relationships with like-minded individuals and businesses with a confident outlook towards future potential and growth.
Shaun Gray is president of Burton & District Chamber of Commerce and managing director of Burton based Ginho Group
This column first appeared in the Burton Mail