A Stoke-on-Trent leadership consultant who has led system and team level transformation in both large government departments and the private sector has now turned her focus on leadership in the business world, including those in her home area of North Staffordshire. HW Leadership Consultancy founder Heather Whitehead, a psychologist and former Prison Group Director in HM Prisons and Probation Service, is …
Entrepreneur Steve is helping keep business local with his growing trusted partners’ network
A North Staffordshire based business network, founded by business and training entrepreneur Steve Rushton has generated over £500,000 in new business in just nine months. The Training and Business Solutions Ltd trusted partners scheme now has 30 member companies, with the majority being based in Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and the Staffordshire Moorlands. “Much of my business life is about putting …
11 incredible Southport garden caves pics – Liverpool Echo
Thanks to the Liverpool Echo for posting these brilliant photos (see my previous post for more details) – https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/gallery/11-incredible-images-caves-mans-32381704
Extraordinary Southport cave garden is a 30-year labour of love
Southport garden caves, described by TV architect George Clarke as extraordinary, will be open to the public as part of the National Open Gardens Scheme. Inspired by a visit to the famed Blue John Mines at Castleton, Derbyshire, Francis Proctor has created a unique space which includes a cavern, 20ft below ground. The garden led architect and Channel 4 Amazing …
New learning and apprenticeship programmes are providing inspiration and raising aspiration in Stoke-on-Trent
Careers and apprenticeship specialists the Spark Group is gearing up for the arrival of new apprentices and learners, just weeks after the conclusion of a programme which helped to turn around the lives of young attendees. The Stoke-on-Trent based Spark Group will welcome six property maintenance apprentices, four gas maintenance apprentices, and eight learners on an introduction to work education programme. …
Making waste management easy is paying dividends for Staffordshire’s Sixtowns Waste
A North Staffordshire company established just over two years ago is showing incredible growth. Sixtowns Waste offers holistic waste management solutions, for almost all waste streams. Owner Ben Trickett of Barlaston, Staffordshire, says expertise, coupled with a new sales strategy, and high customer service standards means business is booming. “This July was 393% better than last July and is …
Legionella warning as Climate Change creates more UK heatwaves
Building owners in the UK must take more care than ever before to guard against Legionnaires’ disease. The new State of the UK climate report (published in the Royal Meteorological Society’s ‘International Journal of Climatology on July 13, 2025), concludes that weather extremes are now the norm in the UK, with record temperatures and rainfall becoming more frequent. As the …
Loui’s Kitchen to launch The Tuesday Club bringing young and old together.
A family run café has cooked up a unique inter-generational project in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The Tuesday Club will offer free meals for older people at Loui’s Kitchen, the Westlands, each Tuesday, between 12.30 and 2pm, with the meal made and served by young people from the Keele-based Caudwell Children charity. Loui’s Kitchen was set up by Special Connections CIC in 2023 …
Hanley Economic Building Society Awards Nearly £30k to Local Charities Through Hanley at Home Fund
Hanley Economic Building Society, in partnership with the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire, has awarded a total of £28,907 to seven local charities through its Hanley at Home Fund. The funding will support a wide range of community initiatives aimed at promoting independence, education, and housing stability in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands, Newcastle Borough and Stafford Borough. The latest round …
Cyber Essentials is now a ‘must have’ for business, says Staffordshire IT expert
North Staffordshire cyber security experts SyTech IT is advising more businesses to ensure their data is secure as possible. Managing Director Darren Kirby is working to support companies to reach the Government’s Cyber Essentials standard and to go further to gain the gold standard Cyber Essentials Plus certification. The cost of a cyber attack on business has been highlighted by …










