Staffordshire leaders call for a coordinated county-wide approach to devolution  

Business leaders and local MPs from Staffordshire have made a rallying cry for a coordinated county-wide approach to maximise the opportunities presented by devolution. 

The call was made during the launch of the Staffordshire Gateway Growth Panel report at The Hub at St Mary’s in Lichfield, which was attended by over 60 delegates.  

The report unveiled 17 policy recommendations designed to ensure the county’s transition to a devolved Strategic Authority delivers real benefits for local firms. 

Briefing the attendees about the key findings, GBCC senior policy advisor Ruth Fleet explained the project goal was to identify the opportunities for growth in Staffordshire and help businesses understand what the transition to a new authority might look like.  

Emily Stubbs, Head of Policy at the GBCC led a fireside chat with Josh Newbury, Labour MP for Cannock Chase and Dave Robertson, Labour MP for Lichfield. The discussion focused around understanding business priorities in Staffordshire and one of the key takeaways was the need to have regular roundtables to keep in touch with business needs.  

They also stressed the importance of skills and transport developments needed in the long run through further devolution of powers and funding to a new strategic authority.  

Jonathan Roberts, CFO of M6toll and Chair of the Staffordshire Gateway Growth Panel also led a business panel discussion with Amrit Virk from Burton and South Derbyshire College, Tony Price from Trent & Dove Housing, and Fiona Rouse from Pi-Kem. 

Tony Price stressed the need for a county wide infrastructure strategy while Amrit Virk raised the importance of greater collaboration between FE and independent training providers with businesses to fix the skills gap of the region.  

Fiona Rouse said: “Over 95 per cent of Staffordshire businesses are SMEs, and they form the backbone of our local economy. 

“To support their growth, we need to ensure there is a range of business premises that truly meet their needs, backed by strong support structures. This should go beyond incubator spaces and provide flexible, long-term solutions for businesses at every stage of their journey.” 

The report is a culmination of the Staffordshire Gateway Growth Panel, a research project conducted by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC), in partnership with Burton and District Chamber of Commerce, Cannock Chase Chamber of Commerce, and Lichfield & Tamworth Chamber of Commerce. 

Pictured from left to right: Amrit Virk, Jonathan Roberts, Ruth Fleet, Tony Price, and Fiona Rouse