Help at hand to steer firms out of trouble

ONE of North Staffordshire's regeneration leaders has said: We know what you're going through and we're here to help.

And he says if hard-hit individuals and businesses take advantage of the "unprecedented" range of help that has been put together, the area can emerge stronger and more vibrant – home to a healthy economy with better-paid jobs.

Hardial Bhogal, director of housing improvement agency Renew North Staffordshire, said: "I am genuinely really sorry to read about and hear about the terrible difficulties that individuals and firms are experiencing in this global crisis.

"But I am absolutely delighted with the partnership shown by key agencies.

"In this city we are prepared to come together and put in significant resources to minimise the effects of the credit crunch.

"People need to come forward and take advantage of these opportunities because they are unprecedented."

Mr Bhogal is under no illusions as to the scale of the difficulties faced by North Staffordshire as the recession continues.

Unemployment is rising, vacancies are falling and companies including Steelite, Michelin, and JCB have introduced short-time working.

But he is adamant the help pulled together from the Government and the public sector nationally and locally – and a spirit of co-operation and support from councils – can cushion the blow for companies and workers alike.

He said: "Unemployment in North Staffordshire has increased a lot, and 90 per cent of that has been in the city. Just like the Black Country, it has been disproportionately affected and very badly hit because of its reliance on traditional industries.

"But agencies like regional development agency Advantage West Midlands and the Learning and Skills Council are treating North Staffordshire as an absolute priority.

"Then planners are saying: 'Let's see how we can help you' and making it as easy as possible to get applications through.

"Councils are saying to businesses: 'We will give you a holiday on your payments or we'll relax them to help you with your cash flow.'

"And they are paying their suppliers very quickly.

"These things are critical for businesses to thrive.

"The banks may not be flexible at the moment, but the public sector certainly is."

Mr Bhogal said ambitious regeneration plans such as the Central Business District to the south of the city centre, and the University Quarter must still be a priority.

He accepts timescales may have to be flexible, with public sector cash being used to pave the way for private sector investment from developers wary of the shortage of credit.

But he believes the approach being taken to the improvement of North Staffordshire is the right one.

He said: "Developers are finding it very difficult to shift newly-built properties, when until fairly recently they were flying off the shelf.

"We have gone in with Government aid to free that up and move it along.

"We have got to hold our nerve with the business plan and the direction of travel.

"We are pressing ahead with the University Quarter and the Central Business District and these will bring in the jobs.

"People are becoming unemployed – that's the real world out there.

"All forward planning goes out of the window.

"People don't know if they are going to have a job so they don't spend any money and the whole economy suffers as a result.

"There has to be support for the unemployed and support for people to be able to stay in their own homes.

"This support is actually in place and happening now.

"People need to come forward and take these opportunities because they are unprecedented.

"Through no fault of our own we are in serious trouble here. Individuals are being made unemployed and developments are stopping because of the global credit crunch.

"Rather than wallowing in self pity, though, we have got together a whole lot of support schemes and I would urge people and firms to take advantage."