North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce
Working for your business
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:
Cheshire and Warrington’s local authorities and business leaders have today welcomed a government green light for the HyNet green project.
The government today confirmed Cheshire-based HyNet will share £22bn of funding with a similar project in the North East of England – Net Zero Teesside.
The multi-billion HyNet hydrogen production hub will be built at the Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
The government in today’s announcement confirmed £21.7 billion of funding will be made available, over 25 years, to make the UK “an early leader in two growing global sectors, CCUS and hydrogen”. Confirming the investment today the government said the two projects will sustain important British industry, and help remove over 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year – the equivalent of taking around 4 million cars off the road. The government said the projects will see “billions of private investment into communities” of the two sites. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer; Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband are due to formally announce the programme at Encirc, the glass plant at Ince, Cheshire later today.
The funding confirmation has been enthusiastically welcomed by the region’s local authorities and business representatives who said the HyNet investment will enhance the region’s collective efforts to make Cheshire and Warrington the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK.
The investment was also heralded as an important part of a North West Net Zero Industrial Cluster plan, which centres around a £30bn pipeline of clean energy projects to unlock billions in investment and remove over 40 million tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere every year, as well as creating and safeguarding thousands of jobs. Chair of Cheshire and Warrington’s sub regional leaders board Cllr Louise Gittins said: “I am delighted to welcome the Government’s announcement. This is excellent news for Cheshire and Warrington bringing £5½ billion of investment and 6000 new jobs to the area. The three local authorities are committed to making Cheshire and Warrington the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK and this investment is a further substantial step towards that vision. It is also the key first part in our even more ambitious £30 billion plan that will make the North West and North Wales the home of the UK and the world’s first net zero carbon industrial cluster by 2040.”
And Steve Purdham, chair of the Business Advisory Board which provides strategic advice to the region’s three councils said: “HyNet is a game-changer for Cheshire and Warrington, the North West and North Wales, marking a new era of economic opportunity, technological leadership, and environmental progress. This monumental investment will inject billions into our region, create thousands of jobs, and firmly place us at the forefront of the global green industrial revolution. It’s a powerful signal that Cheshire and Warrington are open for business, innovation, and sustainable growth. With the removal of millions of tonnes of carbon this will also pave the way to a prosperous, low-carbon future for generations to come.”
HyNet say the project will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by industry by up to 10 million tonnes every year – the equivalent to removing four million cars from the road.
And officials said the investment will allow it to position Britain “as a world leader in the global net zero economy” as well as creating 6,000 construction jobs and long-term operational roles.
David Parkin, Chair of the HyNet Alliance said the investment “will create new roles and safeguard existing jobs, attracting investment and catalysing growth.”
Picture & story courtesy of https://businessmondays.co.uk/
National Fitness Day organisers ukactive brings back theme; ‘Your Health is For Life’ for a second year running
In support of National Fitness Day Everybody Health & Leisure will throw open their doors across Cheshire on Saturday 21st September to offer FREE activities for everyone to try as part of National Fitness Day 2024 – which is set to be the UK’s most active day of the year.
The campaign organisers, ukactive, are encouraging fitness, sport and leisure providers across the UK to make the campaign movement a great success, by breaking down the barriers and getting more people more active.
The campaign now represents the UK’s most active day of the year and is powered by thousands of gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres, sports clubs and other providers, hosting a huge range of free activities including Everybody who are offering a body composition scan which includes a FREE blood pressure check as part of their Feel 5 Years Younger campaign.
Everybody will be hosting activities including: (see webpage below for class timetable)
Last year, 10.2 million people in the UK were directly motivated to participate in some form of activity on National Fitness Day, whether for the first time or for the hundredth time.
Dominic Crisp, Head of Operations at Everybody Health & Leisure, shares:
” We are so excited to be back celebrating National Fitness Day in our centres this year. We can’t wait to welcome everyone, both members and non-members to come along and try out our free sessions to show people what our facilities have to offer. Our staff are ready to give you all the best health and fitness experience possible!”
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive said:
“It’s clear that our nation’s gyms, pools, leisure centres, fitness studios and sports clubs have never been so in demand, showing how much people value physical activity for their physical and mental health. It’s great to announce the date for National Fitness Day and some fantastic partners in the shape of Endurance Zone and Movember, to help us make this year our biggest yet.”
Huw Edwards continued:
“National Fitness Day really is a fun day with a serious message and this year, with the potential for a General Election and an exciting summer of sport, we have a golden chance to highlight the value of physical activity at all ages, and the role of our members in building a happier and healthier nation.”
To try Everybody Health and Leisure’s free activities on National Fitness Day 2024 visit www.everybody.org.uk/national-fitness-day-2024/
Share your fitness inspiration on social media using the hashtag #FitnessDay and tagging @FitnessDayUK.
With summer holidays now behind us and (dare I say it) Christmas on the horizon, it’s time to catch up on all the news and views from our members from across North Cheshire. We all know there is far too much bad news about, so find yourself a quiet corner, settle down with your favourite tipple and be amazed at all the great stories generated by our rich, diverse and entrepreneurial business community.
And remember, if your business isn’t featured this month, every member gets the opportunity to supply 250 words of editorial and a picture FREE OF CHARGE! Just send us your ‘stuff’ to reception@northcheshirechamber.co.uk
Using King’s new campus in Prestbury as the main location for the eight-week school holiday season, the crew are making 10 episodes, which will be edited over Autumn and Winter and broadcast on CBBC and iPlayer.
The production has seen a small army descend on King’s with a core team of around 55 crew including camera operators, sound engineers, lighting, costume and make up staff, with 10 main cast and up to another 50 supporting artists, with 10 extra crew on set piece days.
They arrive early to start filming at 8am and carry on until 7pm. The school’s own Drama Studio has been rebuilt as the fictitious head teacher’s office, new art work and signage has been installed throughout the corridors and entrances, and King’s main Jackson Hall taken over by a mass of the latest tech for each day’s filming. As well as three HGVs on the King’s site, a large Art Department has been built at Macclesfield Rugby Club to service the TV filming.
They chose King’s to stay ahead of the times, as Richard Everiss, Line Producer, explained: “In the past, we have filmed in unused old schools but they were beginning to look out-of-date, as so many schools have been replaced by the new generation of academies, so King’s gives us that perfect, contemporary setting. From the early rushes, it is clear that the new campus here has taken the show to the next level.”
“It also allows us to use some of the King’s pupils and other children from the town who want to be involved as supporting artistes.”
Richard, who has also recently worked on Waterloo Road and Brassic, has temporarily relocated from his home to Macclesfield and says he loves the town. “It’s unspoilt, has a lot of its original architecture and is a great place to live with lots of things to do and great restaurants. I’m loving living here.”
He adds, “Something this scale always makes a massive contribution to the local economy. You might think, with King’s being the main location, that they would be the only ones to benefit but it is estimated that we will have put up to £250,000 into the wider local economy by the time we leave. The cast and crew are using local hotels and houses that we are renting, and we source as much as we can locally, including things like the materials for our sets.”
He added: “That’s why cities like Manchester and Liverpool try so hard to attract film and television companies to their streets, and alongside cities such as Glasgow and Bristol have become significant production hubs for the industry. ”
Caroline Johnson, King’s Director of External Relations, said: “It is fantastic for Macclesfield to be chosen as the location for a long running and much-loved TV show. Its fascinating for the staff and pupils who are in school to get a fly on wall perspective of modern filming and TV production. The pupils who are working as ‘extras’ are learning so much from the experience and some of our Sixth Formers are doing work experience with the crew. One or two staff have also negotiated some cameo appearances!”
The filming wraps up at the end of August, ready for pupils and staff to return for the new academic year.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Pictured are Director Jason Wingard with Producer Richard Everiss.
Pictured is Line Producer Richard Everiss.
Pictured are actor Alex Carter and Make up designer Caroline Rose.
Cheshire East Council, like all councils across the country, has been experiencing unprecedented financial pressures and is required to put forward proposals showing how it can balance its budget. The council approved its medium-term financial strategy (MTFS) for 2024 to 2028 at a meeting of Full Council in February 2024, and this put forward proposals showing how the council could balance its budget for the next 4 years.
The MTFS for 2024 to 2028 included proposal 73: “Libraries Strategy”. This proposal set out the intention to develop a Libraries Strategy to consider the medium and long term future of this service, in particular how it becomes more financially self-sustainable through income generation. This proposal set a further savings target of £615,000 for the Library Service.
Cheshire East Council is now conducting this consultation on a draft Libraries Strategy for 2024 to 2028 (PDF, 4.9MB), and on how this strategy will be delivered and how this savings target will be met. An accessible version of this draft Library Strategy is also available here (PDF, 817KB).
This strategy has been developed based on feedback from past Library Service Consultations, in liaison with key council services including Adults, Childrens, Communities, Customer Services, Public Health, and Leisure Services, and in conjunction with Cheshire East Ward Councillors and Town and Parish Councils.
The final Libraries Strategy will be amended to reflect consultation feedback, with Environment and Communities Committee having a final say on whether it is adopted later this year.
Note that proposals for Prestbury Library are not included within the scope of this consultation, as that library is funded by The Ann Whittaker Trust, which is an independent Charitable Trust first established in the 1600s, and which is a model which could not easily be replicated elsewhere.
To have your say, visit the Council website here
