Foreward from the Chairman

Many changes have occurred during 2010 the most notable perhaps being a change in the political scene and a new coalition government in power.

There have been many new initiatives as a result. These include the impending disappearance of business support agencies, such as Advantage West Midlands and Business Link, and the emergence of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP’s) to replace them.

Although there has been a difficult transition period the Stoke and Staffordshire LEP has been amongst those most warmly received by central government. As a result we are now well placed to take advantage of funding opportunities such as the Regional Growth Fund. This is a £1.4 billion funding pot available until 2014. The Government has stressed the importance of applications for this funding being private sector led and needing to have a real influence on the creation of new private sector jobs. Although there will be competition for this funding across the country, Stoke and Staffordshire applicants will be well placed in view of the County’s previous reliance on public sector jobs. I think we are all aware that the severe cuts in public sector spending will result in the loss of significant numbers of jobs in this sector. The government will be looking to address this situation with the creation of private sector jobs achieved through this type of additional funding.

I believe this offers significant opportunities for us but we need to be innovative and plan well ahead to make it work!

Perhaps even more exciting for us all is the emergence of the Low Carbon Economy and the opportunities that will present themselves in the future. There can be little doubt that this new economy will see the biggest changes since the industrial revolution and we must be prepared to take advantage of this “one off” opportunity.

Staffordshire County Council has already played its part by commissioning SBEN to complete a “Green Collar Jobs” report to make sure the County does not miss out on ANY of the opportunities the change will bring. The report has identified that the Stoke and Staffordshire Low Carbon Economy is already worth around £1.5 billion, supporting 13,000 jobs and 800 businesses. During the next five years the UK market for the low carbon economy is expected to grow by around 40% to £150 billion. If the same growth is experienced in Stoke and Staffordshire this could amount to a local economy worth around £2.1 billion.  This, as already mentioned, is a “one off” opportunity we simply cannot afford to miss!

Amongst many other recommendations contained in the report is the need for a Low Carbon Board and a dedicated officer to drive forward the Green Collar Jobs initiative. We, for our part, need to “think outside the box”, innovate and if necessary diversify into these new markets. We all know that many of the County’s established industries have either failed or are failing. There has never been a better time to look to the new industries emerging from this new economy. There has also never been a more poignant saying than “if you always do what you have always done you will always get what you have always got!!”

Throughout these changing and challenging times SBEN will continue to provide help and support to its members. It now has its highest membership ever of almost 400 companies and still sees its role as providing support and training for these companies on all types of environmental issues.

The 2011 programme of events will retain its mix of Breakfast Seminars, Half Day Training Events and Enviro Visits. As ever, the programme has been devised with the help of members of the Organiser’s Group, Partners and Consultants to ensure that we provide what businesses want and not what we think they might want!!

Our aim continues to be to ensure that, wherever possible, our members emerge from this recession, leaner and greener than ever. We want to ensure that with the arrival of the new Low Carbon Economy local companies are in the best possible position to take advantage of what will be on offer.

During the coming year we will continue to work with our partners including Staffordshire University, Keele University, Groundwork West Midlands EBS, WRAP, North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Midlands Environmental Business Company and the Business Brokers to ensure we have access to a wealth of expertise to support our members.

In addition, SBEN will work hand in hand with the new “Green Collar Jobs” initiative and the recently established Staffordshire Wood Fuels (biomass wood chip supply backed by SCC).

As in previous years, and I would remind everyone that the history of SBEN goes back to 1992, our members are at the heart of everything we do. Activities continue to be driven by member’s requirements and there is steerage through our Management Team and Organiser’s Group.

As I have already alluded to these focus bodies ensure that the Network provides what business wants not what individuals might think they want!

As Chairman, I would like to thank all those who continue to make the Network the success it is today. SBEN is rightly seen as a role model for others to follow and we should all be proud to have such an organisation in the County.

 I sincerely hope the next twelve months will provide us with the opportunities I have previously outlined. One thing I can be sure of is the quality of support and service SBEN will continue to provide to its members.

Staffordshire County Council as ever deserves particular thanks for its substantial and continued support.

Janet Bailey
Chairman
Staffordshire Business & Environment Network
April 1st 2011