Catherine Raines is this week’s guest blogger while Nick Bell is on leave.
You may have seen on the news this week that a major UK company is looking to move to the i54 site in South Staffordshire. i54 is a tremendous location for business: it stands at the heart of the UK transport network; the West Midlands is renowned for its engineering expertise; there is a massively motivated workforce; and there is a higher education and university sector that is plugged into delivering the technological skills and training that modern enterprise needs to grow and prosper. The site has already proved a great hit with the technology sector, with Moog and Eurofins Scientific having already announced their plans to invest. The fact that there is so much interest in i54 is a huge boost for Staffordshire – i54 is the natural home for the world’s top technological enterprises.
On the topic of enterprise, I also wanted to take the opportunity to congratulate two Staffordshire businesses that have been awarded the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for 2011: Addmaster (UK) and JCB Excavators Ltd. Portmeirion Group Plc from Stoke also received the award.
Both of these things are really good news. We will only achieve our vision of a prosperous Staffordshire by working with local businesses, supporting their growth and by encouraging new businesses to the county.
Finally, I’m especially pleased to be asked to guest blog this week because it gives me a chance to remind you that the Staffordshire Hoard will be on tour this summer. From 2 July to 24 July it will be on display at the Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford. From there it will go to Lichfield Cathedral (30 July to 21 August) and Tamworth Castle (27 August to 18 September). It will be free to enter but you will need a timed ticket to enter, so find out more on the website. Look out for news of a special preview evening for County Council employees which we will be announcing very soon.