President 's column: Businesses fighting back against costs

As we head into early summer, I am filled with optimism as May brings plenty to celebrate from both a local community and business perspective, writes Shaun Gray.

Of course, this month also brings an extra bank holiday for King Charles III 's Coronation. It 's great to see a whole host of family-friendly celebrations taking place with The Big Burton Coronation taking place in Burton 's marketplace and Uttoxeter Races with its Rocking Royal race day.

This sense of community really does continue through the month with the first networking meeting of the Burton upon Trent Story Champions taking place on 24 May at Burton Rugby Club. Representatives from large organisations, SMEs and individuals who are enthusiastic about the town are invited to attend and help put Burton upon Trent firmly on the map as a great place to live, enjoy and do business. I 'll definitely be there, and you can sign up too by visiting www.ThinkBurtonuponTrent.com. I really do believe everyone working together will help attract investment and create a more successful economy for Burton.

As a local Chamber, we are delighted to be in the final stages of choosing a charity of the year to support with fundraising and help spread the word about their incredible work. I 'd like to recognise the following charities which were nominated: The BAC O 'Connor Centre; Burton Albion Community Trust; SARAC; YMCA Burton; Staffordshire Community Foundation and the National Memorial Arboretum. The charity of the year will be announced on Tuesday 16 May 2023 at our Annual General Meeting.

When it comes to doing business across our region, I was really pleased to learn from the latest Quarterly Business Report from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce that there are 'growing levels of confidence ' amongst firms throughout the area, in the face of a range of 'broader economic challenges. '

Of course, it does continue to be tough out there but there is a sense of businesses fighting back hard against spiralling energy bills and soaring inflation with upsurges in turnover and anticipated profits. The sales surge saw 46 per cent of firms report an increase in domestic sales, up from the 40 per cent reported in the fourth quarter of 2022. A total of 53 per cent of manufacturers saw their UK sales increase over the last three months while service sector sales rose for 44 per cent of firms, up from 42 per cent. Meanwhile, firms are expecting a balance sheet boost with 42 per cent of firms in the two sectors combined anticipating that their advanced domestic orders will increase over the next three months. The report also saw growth in investment activity, particularly in relation to capital expenditure and training staff.

All of this is particularly reassuring given the broader economic challenges businesses are facing on a daily basis as spiralling energy bills, soaring inflation and global supply chain disruption continue to hamper economic activity both home and abroad. I 'm really hoping that this momentum continues as we move further into the year.

As always, I would like to recognise some of the excellent work taking place by businesses and organisations in our own local area.

Congratulations to Trent & Dove for winning the RoSPA Public Service & Local Government Industry Sector Award for health and safety excellence and becoming White Ribbon accredited.

Well done to Hardy Signs apprentice Harry who met Kate Kniveton MP with Nik Hardy, MD of Hardy Signs, to share how last year 's Jobs Fair helped him find his job and what 's happened since.

Congratulations to Burton & South Derbyshire College who are part of a group of colleges who are helping to lead the way in the latest developments in the automotive industry, after each securing a hydrogen fuel cell car as part of the Government 's Strategic Development Fund.

And finally, don 't forget it is the Burton & District Chamber of Commerce AGM on 16 May which provides a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the work of the Chamber over the past year.

If you would like more information on Burton & District Chamber of Commerce or to attend one of our networking events, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or Richard Brooks on [email protected]

Shaun Gray is President of Burton & District Chamber of Commerce and European Managing Director of Burton-based Ginho Group. The article first appeared on the Burton Mail on Tuesday,2 May 2023.