Claire Leigh A recruitment agency has carried-out its first survey of employers focusing on staff motivation techniques.  Brampton Recruitment asked its clients for information on how they handle staff relations and juggle varying workloads throughout the year.  Claire Leigh, Managing Director of the Newcastle-under-Lyme based agency, plans to repeat the survey in 12 months time and believes the findings will …

Plans to transform a disused historic building into shops and apartments have been granted planning permission by Stafford Borough Council.  Stone car dealership Hill and Swift have won permission to revamp the former Joules Maltings and to build an apartment block on neighbouring land.  The Maltings, in Adies Alley, Stone, were on the brink of being demolished when English Heritage …

Jewellery designer, Julie Linn, will add sparkle to a Department of Trade and Industry visit to Denmark as she explores possible new markets for her unique designs.  South Cheshire based silversmith Julie creates innovative jewellery for daytime and evening wear and has built a loyal client base in the UK.  But the DTI trip is an ambitious attempt to explore …

Trustees from landmine research charity, Find A Better Way, are meeting with experts at Imperial College’s centre for Blast Injury Studies (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/blastinjurystudies) to broaden the charity’s mission from Research and Education into supplying direct humanitarian support for those affected by landmines. Find A Better Way, founded by Sir Bobby Charlton, is already sponsoring unique research aimed at finding a technical …

Former garage worker Justin Smith is celebrating after a change in career plans resulted in him being crowned as Temp of the Year.  Justin, aged 21, of Wilmslow, Cheshire, was placed as a temp at the Information Commissioner’s Office in his home town by North Cheshire recruitment agency, Brampton Recruitment.  His “can do” attitude led his boss, Paul Wilson, to …

M-viron’s technical expert Andy White had a sneak preview of the Blackberry10 before its launch and liked what he saw.  Exciting and innovative, Blackberry’’s latest offering could spark a major renaissance for it manufacturer, RIM.  Once loved by many business users, Blackberry has perhaps suffered while Apple and Android made major gains in the smart phone market.  But Blackberry 10 …

A Stoke-on-Trent IT specialist is highlighting the value of sound forward planning after it helped to get a local firm up and running quickly following a major fire.  Several small businesses lost their premises when a recent fire destroyed part of the former Twyford’s building in Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent.  But UK Business IT was able to help a local telecoms company …

Staffordshire accountancy practice is helping change lives for the better by participating in an innovative aid programme.   Dove Accountants Tax and Business Advisors have joined the Buy1Give1 scheme which gives businesses the opportunity to donate to specific courses in exchange for services sold.  A recent course in social media organised at Dove Accountants’ Uttoxeter town centre offices resulted in a …

Question and Answer session with business guru Lord Sugar is on offer to finalists in a new national challenge to find the UK’s most enterprising young people.  The Apprentice star will be turning his attention to a younger audience when he appears at the final of The National Enterprise Challenge, a newly launched competition for school children aged between 11 and …

Older people living in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands can get a free winter home check from the Revival Home Improvement Agency.  Revival, part of the Staffordshire Housing Group, has teamed up with the area’s district councils to provide a service designed to give residents peace of mind this winter.  The scheme is aimed at home owners and some private …