Uniting to put Staffordshire on the map at UKREiiF

Following an incredible few days for Staffordshire and our eight district and borough partners at the UKREiiF Investment Conference, Alan White, Leader of Staffordshire County Council, shares his reflections on the event, including what it means for our county to be involved and how sharing our vision and progress benefits us and our partners.

Around the world, countries, regions and counties are taking stock and reassessing their priorities; setting a future vision for their places in the months and years ahead, and for the generations to come.

In Staffordshire, we have a clear vision to deliver a thriving and sustainable county, full of opportunities for its people. A Staffordshire that continues to feature on national and international stages and offers a thriving environment for business.

This week (16th – 18th May 2023) Staffordshire County Council and all eight of its district and borough councils, came together at the national UKREiiF conference under the collective We Are Staffordshire banner. It was an opportunity to showcase our incredible investment, economic and educational opportunities, as well as the fantastic quality of life our county offers.

As leader of the county council, I get the chance to meet many people and explain what a great place Staffordshire is, but when spoken with a collective voice, that message is far more powerful.

In a two-tier county, collaboration and partnership is essential; working together to provide the strong leadership and direction we need to achieve continued economic growth, job creation and prosperity.

Reflecting on our united attendance with colleagues from all corners of Staffordshire, I believe we have shared a powerful, coordinated and compelling vision. Together we have promoted Staffordshire’s unique story and assets to national and international audiences, alongside a prospectus featuring £1 billion worth of major investment opportunities that will transform the county.

We have provided a single front door for investors, developers and central government in our bid to secure inward investment and economic growth across Staffordshire.

Attending events such as UKREiiF allows us to speak on main stages, attend exclusive policy discussions, and hold conversations with key stakeholders with the aim of securing investment and development in the future.

We showcased the £160 million of planned investment in our bustling and vibrant towns, £77.2 million in new education facilities, plus the potential benefits of High-Speed 2 (HS2), which will bring around 1.5 million people to within 45 minutes travel time of central London.

A huge thank you to our sponsors and partners; Keele University, Staffordshire University, county council highways partner Amey, and development partners Stoford, St Modwen, Nurton Developments, and Harworth Group.

We have big ambitions for the future and Staffordshire is ready to welcome you.