Policy update: Devolution must deliver for Staffordshire businesses – here’s how to get involved.

It’s just under two weeks since Andy Burnham moved into 10 Downing Street, to become the UK’s seventh Prime Minister in a decade. 

We recently wrote to Mr Burnham.  In his previous role as Mayor of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, he championed the many benefits of devolution and in the past decade, Greater Manchester has become the UK’s fastest growing city region, with annual growth and productivity outpacing the national average.

Our message to Mr Burnham was simple.  As a huge advocate of devolution, we have asked him to do all that he can to ensure that regions such as Staffordshire are not overlooked on the path to devolution.

Staffordshire is a county of world-renowned brands, a highly skilled workforce and a region with outstanding transport connectivity, which makes it a great place to do business.

Yet Staffordshire is also a county which is very much behind the curve on the path to devolution, having only recently announced that the region’s ten existing councils will be replaced by two unitary authorities, with effect from April 2028.

Looking to the north, south and east of our county, neighbouring Combined Authorities are ahead of us and can already access devolved funding streams.  We need to close the gap and catch up!

As a Chamber, we’re committed to pressing the case for business to remain at the very heart of this transition of local government.  Quite simply, business must have a voice in this journey.

We will continue to work closely with local authority partners and stakeholders throughout the transition.  We want to help businesses to make sense of what comes next, from understanding the transfer of contracts and services and keeping that business voice at the heart of future discussions.

Once the landscape settles and new authorities are established, we’ll continue to promote the interests of the business community, particularly in areas such as inward investment, planning, skills and transport.  All of which can play a huge role in both retaining existing businesses and also attracting new businesses.

Mr Burnham has demonstrated the prize of getting devolution delivered in the right way and we hope that he will help regions like ours to reap the benefits of devolved power for skills, transport, housing and business.

A dedicated Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) working group of Chamber member businesses has been established.  The group is helping to shape and influence our lobbying work in this area.  If you would like to join our LGR Working Group (which next meets on Tuesday 4th August), please send me an e-mail:

declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk