Unlocking the Benefits: Why Every Homeowner Should Consider Fitting a Key Safe

Local manufacturer JCB has secured a contract for 535 militarized versions of JCB’s 437HT wheeled loader with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to be supplied over the next decade. The contract is the third to be signed by the USMC, which five months ago placed a $45 million order for a militarized version of JCB’s 4CX backhoe loader. That followed a $39 million deal in 2024 for Multi Terrain Loaders, a militarized version of the JCB Teleskid compact tracked loader. Chris

If you’re venturing into the town centre today, Saturday the 24th of January, you’ll notice that a few shops are closed due to unforeseen circumstances. Included are Boots on the High Street and the Bread Basket. We told that this is due to a power outage and we spotted a couple of National Grid vehicles so we hope the disruption doesn’t take too long to fix.

Make sure you submit a Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) report for a workplace accident where necessary. RIDDOR puts duties on employers, the self-employed and those in control of work premises to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and specified dangerous occurrences. The Health & Safety Executive's website has further information about RIDDOR , including: the types of incident that must be reported

What's On: Local Wildlife Talk - created 21st January 2026

On the 5th of January, Cheadle Town Council had its first meeting of 2026, where, among other things the town’s assets were discussed. Background Local government reorganisation (LGR) will see Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) and Staffordshire County Council (SCC) dissolved in favour of a single council by 2028. We are told this is to make local government more efficient. Town and Parish Councils could take on assets currently managed on behalf of the public wh

A large new notice board was sited at the top of Tape Street Car Park last week. The new addition will provide a prominent space for local community organisations to provide vital information for residents and visitors. Project managed by former town councillor Paul Keeling, this has taken an extraordinarily long time to complete, and without his tenacity and creativity, we would not have it at all. We're grateful to him and to Leek Building Society, who sponsored its creatio

Long-awaited work to redevelop the Nicholson Institute in Leek will start this month. The Nicholson Institute in Leek The £3.8 million improvement programme, led by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, will deliver major improvements to the Grade II listed building including: Refurbishing the entire lower ground floor and bringing it back into use as a flexible, multi-purpose space for events, activities, and community functions Redesigning the library to create an acces

Staffordshire Police are warning people to be extra vigilant this month and not fall victim to social media or local selling scams, after a number of counterfeit notes were found in circulation in Staffordshire. After Christmas, many individuals are trying to sell unwanted gifts or are searching for bargains themselves and s ellers often use social media platforms to advertise items, and at the point of sale, could be handed counterfeit notes by fraudulent buyers as payment.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent's position as a leading location to invest and do business will again be showcased at a national investor event in May. A delegation will be returning to promote the area at UKREiiF (UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum) in Leeds next May to over 16,000 attendees. The three-day event is in its fifth year and brings together local and regional public sector organisations with government, investors, funders, developers, housebuil

Small businesses up to five years old are being urged to find out more about a support package provided through a Staffordshire County Council programme. Get Started and Grow offers FREE, fully-funded 1:1 support and advice. Pick the support that suits you: Expert accountancy & cash flow planning Legal advice to keep you compliant A professional website (up to 7 pages – FREE!) Branding & logo design that stands out Social media & digital marketing support tailored to your nee

A new visitor mascot for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent was launched at a major tourism conference at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Thursday 15th January.  The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) has introduced ‘Staffy’ – a charming Staffordshire Bull Terrier mascot, who is ready to put his best paw forward to promote the region’s attractions and lifestyle offer.   Staffy was brought to life with the help of award-winning Stoke-on-Trent animation s

This article from Innovate Uk shares their extensive work into retrofitting homes. It's a rising tide for our economy, our workforce and our communities. Without a doubt reusing and repurposing what we already have is better for the environment that anything we can create from scratch and housing is no different from any other item in this regard. We believe this information is crucial for reimagining our homes we offer it to inspire and educate anyone involved in this area.

Thought Leadership Series - Tom Adeyoola, Executive Chair, Innovate UK Kicking off a 2026 series, Innovate UK’s Executive Chair, Tom Adeyoola  sets out the UK’s competitive advantages in the global innovation race. In this latest piece, Tom digs into the UK’s “right to win”, where our true edge lies, and the big strategic bets which could define 2026 and beyond.If you care about innovation, growth or the future of the UK, this one’s well worth a read. Read the full blog here.

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst - Investor Partnership Round 2  Applications close: 3 Feb 2026  Innovate UK Growth Catalyst is a programme designed to help growth-oriented start-ups from seed to Series A. This competition combines grant funding, aligned private investment and structured support services to help innovators progress through key growth milestones. This competition comprises a £100 million programme to support innovative companies in these fields: Advanced Manufactur

Applications close: 4 Feb 2026 Up to 60 awardees, more than any previous round, will receive a package of support that includes a grant of up to £75,000, bespoke business support, and a suite of training, networking and role-modelling opportunities. There has been 10 key changes to the Awards based on feedback from the business community - including clearer eligibility, improved application processes and closer alignment with the UK’s Industrial Strategy.   Find out more or a

2025 is the third warmest year on record, following 2024 and 2023 according to a Met Office report issued this week. The three-year run of record warmest years saw 2025 conclude at 1.41±0.09°C above the 1850-1900 global average, according to the HadCRUT5 temperature series, collated by the Met Office, the University of East Anglia and the National Centre for Atmospheric Science. 2025 is the third warmest year on record and is the third calendar year exceeding 1.4°C. Met Offic

The Health and Safety Executive's Working Minds campaign has launched a new webpage to help employers recognise how work-related stress develops and why prevention matters. The page explains the impact stress can have on health, absence and productivity. It also reinforces the importance of good work design. To understand the risks of stress at work and take the first steps towards preventing it in your workplace, visit the new page: Understanding the impact of stress at wor

Former Catholic priest Alexander Bede Walsh has been convicted of a non-recent sexual offence against a boy. On Tuesday, January 13, Bede Walsh, 72, of HMP Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was found guilty of indecent assault on a child after a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Walsh committed the indecent assault at a church in Cheadle during the 1980s. He is presently serving a 22-year prison sentence, having been convicted in 2012 of two sexual offences and 19 counts of indec

This may be a strange subject to talk about on a local news outlet, but it affects local residents where it hurts most: their pockets. We are lucky enough to have a building society in our town that keeps our savings safe for that summer holiday which we are thinking about in all this cold weather. But if you have money elsewhere, there may be a problem coming soon. The United States is at a record high level of debt, and one of the factors that keeps their currency stable is