An iconic landmark on the Stoke-on-Trent skyline is to be preserved, thanks to a grant from Historic England. Kirklands Properties, the owner of the Phoenix Works, Longton, has made a successful bid for 90 per cent of the £100,000 costs of repair and renovation of the former pottery works. 90ft high chimney. The company has been carefully restoring the Phoenix …

A kitchen design company has been so busy since lockdown lifted that the owner has taken on a second designer. Staffordshire Kitchens opened its first showroom in North Walls, Stafford, in mid-March, only to close it again as the UK locked down to fight coronavirus. But owner, Sandra Johnson, an interior designer, continued to provide support to clients during lockdown …

A charity is offering an innovative way to blow off the lockdown cobwebs, get fit this summer and support vulnerable families. The Alice Charity has teamed up with fitness platform Strava and is challenging everyone to ride a virtual Tour de France. Just like “le tour”, the Tour de Alice takes place from 29th August to 20th September 2020. You can …

Photo: Becky Kilday, new Commercial Manager at Beta Commercial Finance  A commercial finance company is defying the gloomy economic forecasts for the UK and planning its second expansion in 2020. Beta Commercial Finance is on course for record turnover levels in 2020 and has already double its team from two to four and Managing Director Tom Wilkinson is set to …

A renowned chef who has catered for international sports teams and the RHS at Hampton Court has embarked on a new venture, bringing his sumptuous service to homes across Staffordshire. Gavin Evans has launched his new company Gavin the Chef and he plans to cook up a storm in customers’ kitchens. The Staffordshire Moorlands based head chef will bring fine …

Cheshire hygiene specialists Qualkem Brands has struck a unique deal which will support UK vulnerable children and put a smile on shoppers’ faces from next Friday, with the launch of its SafeT kits. The SafeT kit contains a unique triple protection face covering designed by Qualkem Brands’ Managing Director Ivan Anketell-Clifford and a bottle of Covid-busting Electrosan On the Go …

By Lizzie  Ward, Managing Director of SAS Water Ltd, legionella control specialists, based in Leek. Many holiday complexes, leisure facilities and sports clubs are emerging cautiously from lockdown. If facilities include spas and hot tubs, there’s lots to consider as seen in new guidance from the UK Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG). Operators should seek specialist support and  carry-out …

The first widespread survey of stress levels in the UK workforce is set for launch following a partnership between an award winning Staffordshire-based wellbeing coach and Keele University. Nicky Bartley of Thrive and Shine has developed an audit to help businesses identify and measure stress in the workplace with the help of Keele’s KRISP business support programme and is now …

A network of Staffordshire businesses successfully switched almost 250 members to online video meetings when the coronavirus lockdown hit the UK and has unveiled growth plans, even though face to face meetings are unlikely to return for several months. BNI Staffordshire hosts a mix of breakfast and mid-morning network meetings each week with chapters across the county. Executive Director Tony …

Plans to sanitise schools with a safe, non-alcohol based anti-viral killing mist are being proposed by hygiene experts as a way of getting UK children back in their classrooms and allow adults to return safely to work. As fears mount over the damaging effect of lockdown on children, Repclif Chemical Services Ltd says it has the answer to how to get …