A popular Stoke-on-Trent carpet store is to undergo a major revamp. United Carpets, Victoria Road, Fenton, is among the first stores in the nationwide chain to be given a makeover worth tens of thousands of pounds  as part of a major investment in the company’s stores. “I have held the franchise and ran the store for 10-years and it’s our …

A specialist food safety lawyer is warning food businesses that they must act proactively to prevent safety incidents and avoid potential legal action as local authorities gear up to enforce Natasha’s Law. Local authorities across the UK have received Defra and Food Standards Agency funding, totalling £1,529,855, to help them cover the additional costs incurred when ensuring that Natasha’s Law is …

A master distiller working from a garden shed in rural North Shropshire is taking on the big names and creating world class gin, vodka and rum. Tony Hobbs, the founder of Tranquil Still, says he’s moved from helping folk in low spirits to making high spirits after abandoning a highly successful career in mental health care for life in the …

campaign to build a dementia friendly garden in Leek has received a major boost. But with just days left of a Crowdfunder campaign by Approach Dementia Support, further donations are needed to turn plans for a site at St Edward’s CofE Academy School, Leek, into reality. Members of the St Edward’s Lodge have handed Approach Dementia Support a cheque for …

A Staffordshire mortgage expert is urging home buyers to check whether they can get a green mortgage. Aga Gronkiewicz, of GRN Financial Services, is reminding buy to let landlords they may be required for newly let properties have an EPC rating of C or above by 2025, and an A, B or C rating for all let homes by 2028. Green mortgages involve potential better …

An award-winning training franchise, which faced losing every customer during lockdown, is planning to add new staff and add more course offers after completing a remarkable turnaround. With all face-to-face training banned and no prospect of further sales, Roy Johnson, of Biddulph, Staffordshire, faced the meltdown of his Sandler Training (M6 Corridor) business when the UK locked down in March …

An award-winning online beer retailer has handed majority control to its eight-strong team in a move worth £650,000. Best of British Beer founders Gill and Will Sherwin have created an Employee Ownership Trust making them minority shareholders in their business. The husband-and-wife team say the move creates a legacy and rewards their staff for their “outstanding commitment” to a growing …

Insurance claims specialist Oakleafe Claims have been crowned as the UK’s Loss Assessor of the Year for the third year in a row. Judges at the prestigious British Claims Awards 2022 commended Oakleafe’s high standards of customer service, transparency and clever use of technology. A family company, dating back eight generations, Oakleafe has a 42-strong team across the UK. Midlands …

A travel expert is setting out to inspire people to seek new adventures. John Lehnert,  the owner of North Staffordshire-based Get Set Go Travel, has developed a new website based around travel experiences. “I am a Not Just Travel consultant and I have a website where people can look at the holiday offers available and find out more about the …

Schoolchildren are set to work alongside residents affected by dementia in a ground-breaking project based in Leek. Staffordshire-based charity Approach Dementia Support has agreed to run an inter-generational dementia support gardening project with St Edward’s CofE Academy school, Leek. Now a fundraising drive has begun to transform grassland at the Westwood Road middle school. The plan involves developing raised garden …