034: Good News for Stoke & Staffordshire

Morning Knotters! Local firms championed at Love NUL Business Awards 2024, Stoke-on-Trent Day announced, JCB produces its millionth engine and more…

Good News 🎉

🥨 Local Firms Championed At Love NUL Business Awards 2024. Twelve local businesses scooped awards at an event hosted by Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, which was opened by the city’s new poet laureate, Nick Degg. Beauty & Personal Care Business of the Year Award went to The Hair House, which also won New Business of the Year Award. Cafe of the Year Award went to Piccoloco and LoveNUL Community Champion of the Year Award was Community Junction Cafe. Little Vic was crowned Classic Pub of the Year and Best Bar/Night Time Venue was Cappello Lounge.

The Independent Business of the Year Award went to Hollie’s Haberdashery, while San’s Funky Kitchen picked up Market Trader of the Year Award. The Professional Services Award went to Saferhand Care Solutions, Retailer of the Year Award was Dougie Mac and Restaurant of the Year was STOCK by FEASTED. Visitor Attraction of the Year was hidden gem the Brampton Museum, while the recently-retired Henry Cheadle of H Cheadle & Son butchers received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

More than 170 people attended the Love NUL Business Awards 2024

📝 New Poet Laureate for Stoke. Stoke-on-Trent’s very own Centenary Poet Laureate is Nick Degg, who was born and bred in Porthill. His love of the city is reflected in many of his poems, including I Come From a Town, which he read at the Stoke-on-Trent centenary launch event at Gladstone Pottery Museum this July. Degg will represent the city through poetry throughout the Centenary year in 2025.

🥨 Celebrate Stoke on Trent Day in 2025. There will be a three-day celebration beginning on 05/06 to commemorate the city’s centenary, which marks 100 years to the day that King George V declared Stoke-on-Trent a city. The council is asking everyone to create a carnival feel for the very first Stoke-on-Trent Day. That includes residents’ associations, sports clubs, educational institutions, businesses, charities, youth groups and performing arts group. Visit the website to find out what’s happening and how to plan your event.

👧 Number of Children in Care Drops. Multi-agency programme Family Matters gives families in Stoke-on-Trent access to advice and opportunities to thrive. The programme’s work is already having an impact on the numbers of children in care, with the current figure of 1,110 down 46 from 1,156 children in March. Since its launch nine months ago, it’s helped 322 families alongside the police, schools, the voluntary community and faith sector.

🏡 Have Your Say on Homelessness. In a bid to identify the prevention measures that need to be in place for residents who may become homeless, a review has been launched to help identify what more can be done to support the city’s most vulnerable residents. Stokies are invited to submit their views by 24/11 here.

👷 JCB Produces Millionth Engine. One of the county’s biggest employers has marked a major manufacturing milestone with the production of its one millionth engine. Production started in 2004 at JCB Power Systems in Foston, Derbyshire, and expanded to JCB India in 2010 with the opening of a dedicated plant in Ballabgarh, Delhi. From three engines a day 20 years ago, JCB now produces around 500 a day.

Staffs-based multinational JCB celebrate one million engines being built

Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent):

Mon ☁ 15°(12°) Tue ☁ 15°(10°) Wed ⛅️ 15° (10°) Thu ☁ 14° (9°) Fri ☁ 13°(7°)
Sat ☁ 12°(7°) Sun ⛅️ 10° (4°)

Sunrise 28/10 ☀️ 07:00 Sunset 28/10 🌅 16:44

A proper scary Stokie Hallowe’en. Cartoon by Chris Altham

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Really Good News 🎉 Your favourite news from the last week

👻 10 of the Best Things to do in Stoke & Staffs This Hallowe’en: Have you got your plans sorted for the spookiest celebration of the year yet? If not, read our guide!
⚽️ Fans Celebrate John Rudge’s 80th Birthday with Statue Unveiling at Vale Park, Burslem: Stoke fans, look away – Port Vale legend Rudgie has a statue!
🍺 Titanic Brewery Issues Call Out for Grants: There’s cash to be had for community groups and good causes and readers wanted to know how to get their hands on it.

Unsung Heroes ⬇️

🏃‍♀️ Dave Juggins. The 75 year old gold medal duathlete who can run a 5km in 21 minutes. A real running inspiration.
👗 Anya Parker James. Read about the designer that defied the odds and built a career in fashion in Fulford.

🥨 Good Vibes Only: A Word from Helen, Writer at The Knot

Next year is a biggie for Stoke as we celebrate our centenary, and to mark the occasion, the council has appointed Nick Degg as Centenary Poet Laureate, who’s penned everything from bittersweet love poems to comedic rants. We’re made up to hear Nick will be doing some workshops and working with musicians to put poetry into new environments and maximise its appeal. As he points out, “Creativity is in our DNA in the Potteries. I think that poetry has been seen as an elitist art form for far too long, and I aim to prove that it can be entertaining, engaging, powerful and also fun.”

We love a good local awards ceremony and it was absolutely fantastic to see so many businesses old and new championed at the Love NUL Business Awards 2024 on 24/10. If you need a haircut, consider checking out The Hair House on Newcastle’s high street, which scooped New Business of the Year Award and Beauty & Personal Care Business of the Year Award (cut and blow drys start from £40, gents’ barbering from £29).

We’re already on countdown to Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary next June and keen to hear if you’re hosting an event to mark this special occasion, whether it’s a street party or something on a larger scale. Got something organised already? Email us!