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Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Warrington councils ask government to be considered for devolution priority programme

Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Warrington councils ask government to be considered for devolution priority programme

Leaders of Cheshire and Warrington’s three councils have written to the government asking for the region to be included in its priority programme for devolution.

This would formally open conversations with government about potential new powers and funding Cheshire and Warrington could receive if it goes ahead with devolution.

The letter, to Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon, follows the publication of a White Paper in December 2024, which sets out the government’s commitment to devolution across England. It states the three councils’ aspirations to seek a devolution agreement that would include an elected mayor.

In the letter, Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council; Councillor Hans Mundry, leader of Warrington Borough Council, and the leader and deputy leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Nick Mannion and Councillor Michael Gorman, said: “The three local authorities, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington, are committed to working in partnership to progress a devolution agreement with His Majesty’s government and establish a mayoral strategic authority by May 2026.

“We look forward to working with you and your colleagues in 2025 and are grateful that you have recognised all the previous pre-planning work we have done together that has resulted in us being recognised for inclusion in the Devolution Priority Programme.”

Before any agreement, views will be sought from the region’s residents, communities and businesses on how devolution could benefit Cheshire and Warrington. Any formal devolution agreement would need to be agreed by each council as well as the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee, which provides leadership on strategic economic issues for the region.

The leaders added: “It’s clear that devolution would bring significant power and funding to the Cheshire and Warrington region. We’re ambitious for our region and we want to seize this opportunity to benefit our residents, communities and businesses.

“Devolution would allow us to make more decisions here in Cheshire and Warrington, rather than decisions about our region and its almost one million residents being made in London. Being part of the government’s priority programme would put us at the front of the queue for the potential benefits of devolution – and reaffirms that we are working together to get the best outcomes for our region.

“Devolution is about national government transferring powers and resources away from London and into regions. It’s not about merging councils. Individual councils would retain their current responsibilities and continue to provide services for local people.”

The Cheshire and Warrington region comprises Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester and Warrington councils, working alongside Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington.

 

Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards are now open for entry

Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards are now open for entry

The Department for Business and Trade’s Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards are now open for entry and will close at 23:59 on 9th March 2025.

The UK invents, creates, develops, makes and engineers amazing products and services that are sold to the world. These awards recognise and celebrate the exporting success of small UK businesses.

Our winners in 2024 all showed remarkable success in international markets, and we’ve been celebrating them since. Will your business join them as a 2025 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards winner?

2025 winners will receive:

  • a year’s free business membership to the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade
  • a working capital masterclass with Lloyds Bank
  • bespoke promotion on the Department for Business and Trade’s channels
  • professional photos of their business and usage rights
  • an invitation to the winners’ reception in Parliament
  • a trophy, certificate and digital badge
Do you want to be recognised and celebrated for selling internationally?

Apply to any one of the below categories:

  • Advanced Manufacturing & Construction
  • Agriculture, Food & Drink
  • Consultancy & Professional Services
  • Creative Industries
  • Digital & Technology (new)⭐
  • Education & EdTech
  • Financial Services & FinTech
  • Healthcare
  • Infrastructure & Engineering
  • Low Carbon Energy
  • Retail & Consumer Goods
  • Export Services (new)⭐

What’s in it for you?

This year we have partnered with Lloyds Bank, alongside the Chartered Institute of Export and International Trade. Through this partnership, we are offering an expanded package for our winners’ and highly commended prizes.

 

Visit our website to find out more and submit your entry.

Unlocking Your Future

Unlocking Your Future

Much is being written about the possibility of life for many people being extended up to and beyond 100 years. This increased longevity brings challenge, but huge opportunity if we’re prepared to take time to reflect and consciously plan for the latter stages of our career. Anticipating the second half of life can bring a sense of unease, with fear of change, loss and perhaps a tendency to cling to the familiar. Our goal is to provide a generative, challenging but supportive space to explore future possibilities and opportunities.

We are pleased to be able to provide a special invitation for Chamber members to join our programme which is specifically designed to support people in planning how they will live the next few decades of their life to the full.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

  1. Reviewing the passage of life so far;
  2. Look at our strengths – the key skills, knowledge, experience and many abilities that have go us successfully to this point in lives.
  3. Thinking about the untapped resources that are waiting for us – unfulfilled parts of our life perhaps?
  4. Identifying and examining the key drivers that influence our default ways of being..
  5. Could there be more other interesting and personally rewarding ways of operating that remain unexplored?
  6. What could we do right now to prepare us for living the next 30 years with real meaning and purpose?

For more information about the programme and to register your interest visit https://unlockingyourfuture.co.uk/

High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise

High Sheriff’s Awards for Enterprise

Welcome to the High Sheriff’s Enterprise Awards 2024/25.  I am delighted that you have landed here.  The Enterprise awards are focused on you, your team and your organisation.  We want to celebrate your hard work, flair, creativity, and innovation and the many other aspects that enable your organisation to be successful. The Awards are a wonderful way to celebrate your achievements and are now an important date in Cheshire’s annual calendar, so we hope to see you there.

The date for our presentation evening will be in  March 2025, the venue being the prestigious Churchill House, home of University of Chester’s Business School.

The partnership between University of Chester and The High Sheriff of Cheshire enables  business and academia to work together to ensure we have the skills, people and innovative climate we need in Cheshire to achieve our vision to be the most sustainable, healthy, inclusive and growing economy. And we want to celebrate you and your organisation, the people of Cheshire, that bring that vision to life.

As a business leader and entrepreneur focused on leadership and strategic engagement who has coached, facilitated and chaired boards, senior management teams and leaders across the globe over the last 30 years working across many industry sectors, I know that you will have had to make difficult decisions, worked hard and been very determined.  I also recognise that award applications processes can be time consuming, so we have made a couple of small changes.  We have consolidated the awards and linked them to the King’s Enterprise Awards’ categories, so that you can build on the work and time you put into these awards if you decide to apply for a King’s Enterprise Award.

So, whether you are a pan-global business or charity, an entrepreneurial startup or anywhere in between, share your story with the experienced judges of these awards.  As High Sheriff I want to celebrate your achievements and profile the success that you are achieving that embodies all that is progressive in Cheshire and the UK.

This year includes some categories that profile more overtly than previously issues around environmental sustainability  and also social mobility, both of which reflect early 21st century imperatives.  The range of award categories are designed in part to include at least one within which any business or charity can participate.  I do hope that you wish to do so.

I would also like to thank our sponsors: Grosvenor, Barlow, Mornflake, EA Technologies, and Warrington Borough Council. Thank you for enabling the awards and for sharing your expertise and knowledge.

To enter visit: https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/high-sheriffs-awards-for-enterprise/

Clare Hayward MBE DL
High Sheriff of Cheshire 2024/25

Future-Proofing Businesses: Innovation & Insights for Tomorrow’s Challenges

Future-Proofing Businesses: Innovation & Insights for Tomorrow’s Challenges

Unlock the Future of Business Today
Join industry leaders and innovators to explore the
technologies and strategies shaping the future of
business. This exciting morning event brings
together experts to discuss advancements and
challenges – from artificial intelligence to sustainable
practices – that will impact your business. Discover
actionable insights and network with professionals
focused on sustainable growth and technological
adaptability.

For more information or to book a place, click here

Westfield Health Winter Wellbeing Resources for your Staff

Westfield Health Winter Wellbeing Resources for your Staff

Adapting to the changing seasons is tough at the best of times. Dark nights and falling temperatures can make us feel lethargic, and we may feel extra stress in our already busy lives.

Westfield Health have created a series of resources to help our members support their people for Stress Awareness Week and International Men’s Day. You can access these free resources here:

Winter wellbeing resources (gated)