Former World Squash Champion Angela Smith is considering her future having been offered a prestigious position at the helm of Chinese squash.  Angela has been offered the role of Academy Director at the Asia Pacific Squash Academy (APACSA), which is challenged with the task of introducing squash in China and beyond to a wider and younger audience.  Squash is tipped …

Keith Bott Brewers today welcomed the decision in the Budget to scrap the Beer Duty Escalator and to take one pence off the price of a pint.  Keith Bott, of Titanic Brewery is among brewers who have led a campaign to scrap the duty which has seen beer taxes hiked by 42 per cent since 2008.  The move is likely …

Architect Carl Croft is urging residents to get involved as planning get underway to regenerate Middleport.  Middleport played a major part in the growth of the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent but has seen many residents move away in recent years as old homes fell into disrepair.  Now a Community Design Festival is to be held with local people being challenged …

Neighbours in two Stoke-on-Trent streets have been set an energy saving challenge by Staffordshire Housing Association. Armed with energy saving devices, the families in Ruskin Close and Shenton Street, Longton, are competing to see who saves the most energy. Staffordshire Housing Association has challenged the residents to go green for three months and has provided gadgets such as energy meters, …

A growing web company stepped up to the challenge to develop websites for a water aid charity and an organisation encouraging school pupils to become young entrepreneurs.  Yellow Circle Web was commissioned to develop websites for Water for Africa and the National Enterprise Challenge – both based in their home city off Stoke-on-Trent.  Yellow Circle, based in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, was …

The beer and pub trade is worth more than £30 million to the local economy, Stoke-on-Trent North MP Joan Walley told Chancellor George Osborne. Ms Walley made an impassioned plea to the Chancellor to scrap the Beer Tax Escalator during a Parliamentary debate. The Labour MP spoke out on behalf of pubs and Titanic Brewery, based in Burslem at the …

A graphic design company is on the move as it forges a new partnership with a well known North Staffordshire brand.  eyefourdesign was set up by Lisa Gilliver eight years ago and has helped many companies in the area with their brand and creative identity requirements.  Now Lisa is looking to expand through a partnership with M&M Signs and Graphics.  …

Beer lovers in the East Midlands have raised a cheer to Titanic Brewery’s Plum Porter.  The rich fruit beer took first prize at the Castle Rock Awards in Nottingham.  It is the fourth first prize for Plum Porter since it was launched by Stoke-on-Trent based Titanic Brewery in 2011.  The brewery puts the success down to the tastes of a …

Staffordshire brewery Director Keith Bott delivered a “message in a barrel” to Chancellor George Osborne at an event in Westminster.  Keith, the Managing Director of Titanic Brewery, was in Parliament in his role as Chairman of SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) to campaign for an end to the controversial beer tax escalator.  He was joined by representatives of the British …

A pensions expert is warning of a potential scam which could leave savers out of pocket.  Emily Jacobs, a Director at Richard Jacobs Pension and Trustee Services, of Newcastle, Staffordshire, says she has seen evidence of  people being approached with a pension liberation offer.  People are being offered the chance to release pension cash immediately as a loan or lump …