Category: Guides
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Stoke-on-Trent Economy: What the Data Shows
Every council briefing I have read about Stoke-on-Trent carries some version of the claim that this is one of the fastest-growing economies in England. The numbers underneath that headline tell a more complicated story. Here is what the GVA data, productivity figures, and sector analysis actually show for North Staffordshire in 2026.
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Stoke-on-Trent Housing Pipeline: Win Now
There are 4,857 homes across 23 active sites in the Stoke-on-Trent pipeline and the Local Plan goes to government in November 2026. After that, the businesses already known to developers get the calls. This post breaks down where the money is, who it reaches, and what your sales pipeline should look like between now and…
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Stoke-on-Trent Devolution: What Businesses Must Do
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 is reshaping how Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire will be governed, and the clock is already running. This guide cuts through the political language to explain what is actually changing, when it takes effect, and what Stoke business owners should be doing right now. From the Ceramic Valley…
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Supply Chain Hiring in Stoke-on-Trent: 2026 Guide
The mid-level supply chain talent gap in Stoke-on-Trent is not a recruitment problem. It is a development problem. This guide covers why the local picture is harder than national headlines suggest, how to build a leadership pipeline from within, and the practical steps you can take before someone else poaches the people you have already…
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UK CBAM 2027: What Stoke-on-Trent Makers Must Do
UK CBAM goes live on 1 January 2027 and Stoke-on-Trent’s manufacturing base, from ceramics to metals fabrication, has more exposure than national headlines suggest. This guide explains who is in scope, what the £50,000 threshold means, and exactly what you need to do before the deadline arrives.
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Export Sales for Stoke-on-Trent Manufacturers 2026
Only one in ten UK businesses exports, and for Stoke-on-Trent manufacturers the gap between production capacity and international reach is a commercial problem with practical solutions. This guide covers the 2026 trade data, the funded support available right now, and the operational mechanics of building a repeatable export pipeline. If you run a manufacturing, ceramics…
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Digital Inclusion in Stoke-on-Trent: A Guide
Digital poverty in Stoke-on-Trent affects your hiring pipeline, your training completion rates, and your online conversion numbers. This guide explains which local programmes are already funded and running, and what Stoke employers can do this week to engage with them.
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Stoke-on-Trent Business Statistics 2026
The latest data on Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent’s business economy shows falling death rates nationally but rising insolvencies in early 2026, alongside growing demand for flexible workspace and a tight local labour market. This post pulls together the most reliable figures available so founders can benchmark their own situation instead of guessing. If you are starting,…
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Help to Grow Management: Stoke-on-Trent Guide
Help to Grow: Management is a government-backed, 90% subsidised programme for SME leaders who want to build their leadership and people management skills. This guide covers what Stoke-on-Trent business owners actually get from it, how to access it locally through Keele Business School, and how to make sure the twelve weeks translate into real change…
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SME Growth Strategy for Stoke-on-Trent Businesses
Most Stoke-on-Trent SMEs grow by accident rather than design. This guide gives you a practical framework for building a sales pipeline, winning trust in a community economy, automating repetitive commercial tasks, and finding the local funding that can accelerate all of it. No theory borrowed from Silicon Valley. Just what actually works in the Potteries.