Stone Food and Drink Festival 2023

Posted on 14th June 2023 by

Staff and students from the Business School have volunteered at this festival for many years. It has provided very useful training for the students in research methods and also in providing practical training for events and tourism students. Visitor surveys have been carried out to help produce information for sponsors and to evaluate how well the event has performed. This is a fantastic event and it scores very highly on customer satisfaction we would say that it is the best food and drink festival in Staffordshire!

Despite moving from its ‘spiritual’ home of Westbridge Park this year to nearby Kibblestone Scout Camp due to development work, the team behind Staffordshire’s original gastronomic gathering is determined to put on a great show.

Taking place over the weekend of Saturday 15^th & Sunday 16^th July, the 2023 Stone Food & Drink Festival, sponsored by Drac Group, promises visitors an experience where they’ll ‘Eat, Drink, Shop, Learn and Enjoy’ with a mix of fabulous food stalls, great live cookery demonstrations, tastings, live music and family fun.

Celebrating Staffordshire’s culinary talent

With one of its core aims being to celebrate Staffordshire as a foodie destination, this year’s Demonstration Kitchen, sponsored by Aston Marina, features an impressive line-up of homegrown heroes. Heading up the bill is the youngest ever 2 Michelin Star chef and 2020 Great British Menu champion, Niall Keating who, born and bred in Staffordshire, will be joined on stage by the Head Chef from his flagship Lunar Wedgwood restaurant, Craig Lunn. The pair will headline at 2pm on Saturday 12^th; showcasing dishes inspired by their joint love of food, travel, life, sustainability, local produce and working with some of the finest restaurants in the world.

Top chefs – Niall and Craig will be demonstrating their skills

Other chefs taking the stage on Saturday include Adam Smith, who heads up the kitchen at the Dog & Doublet Inn at Sandon; Ben Manifold, Senior Sous Chef at No.26, Aston Marina; Jake Lowndes of Stone’s Michelin Guide-listed Little Seeds and BANT Registered Nutritionist Eva Humphries, otherwise known as the Wholefood Warrior. Sunday’s line-up includes James Cracknell, Head Chef at The Moat House in Acton Trussell; Head Chef at Aston Marina’s No.26 Lee Lawson; Sous Chef Stuart Bruce from The Woodlands Restaurant at The Chase Golf & Country Club; Amarpal Harrar of iCookIndian and Oksana Harris from COOK! Ukraine. All cookery demonstrations are included within the festival’s gate price, with no need to pre-book.

Get a taste of Staffordshire – and beyond…

In addition to Live Cookery Demonstrations, there’s a packed programme in the festival’s Talks & Tastings Tent, sponsored by local engineering specialist IEIS. Here you’ll find everything from local brewery beer tastings to cocktail making masterclasses, tips on foraging, the art of creating authentic Indian dhals – and pretty much everything in between. There’s also the chance to learn the stories behind some of the festival’s fabulous producers, with lots of tasting opportunities along the way.

People preparing food — The Talks and Tastings tent is always very popular

When you’ve worked up an appetite, you’ll find a host of Street Food stalls proffering global flavours, as well as the Butcher’s Block pop-up restaurant for those seeking a more refined dining experience. Drinks wise, a host of pop-up bars serving coffee, gin, cocktails and fizz alongside great local breweries and artisan cider producers will ensure you remain well-watered whatever your favourite tipple.

Shop till you drop – then party!
The festival’s Gourmet Marquee will once again feature a host of gastronomic delights – from cheese and savoury snacks to exotic rubs and cooking sauces, enticing spirits and sweet treats. Meanwhile, a new Home & Garden Marquee will see a hand-picked selection of traders showcase luxury goods for the home and garden.

When you’re done shopping, head to the Live Music Stage, jointly sponsored by Granville’s of Stone and Barlow Motors, where a great line-up of local bands will entertain the crowds. Saturday’s acts include local performing arts students from Rooftop Studios, The Black Tie Bandits, Legends of Sound, Rock Choir and Brass Monkeys. On Sunday, Vibealicious, Block Jeans, Rock Choir and Hello Felix will provide the party soundtrack.

Families with young kids, meanwhile, will also find plenty to keep them entertained – the Little Foodies’ Zone includes a Children’s Farm stand and Panic! Family Circus, both of which offer free activities over the weekend, with circus rides, face painting and slushie-building fun also on offer.

To make getting to the event as easy as possible, free shuttle buses, sponsored by Stonegate Wealth Management, will ferry visitors from several stops around Stone town centre to Kibblestone, while on-site parking and a nearby Park & Ride service are also on offer.

The 2023 Stone Food & Drink Festival will take place on Saturday 15^th & Sunday 16^th July. Tickets are now available online at www.stonefooddrink.org.uk – £12pp/day (£10pp online before 30^th June) or £20pp for a 2 day pass (£18pp online before 30^th June) – accompanied under-16s get in free.

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BSc Business Management (Tourism) at Staffordshire University

New Staff Profile – Kieron Chadwick

Posted on 30th May 2023 by

Kieron Chadwick has switched from his role as External Examiner for the School of Justice, Security, and Sustainability at Staffordshire University, to join the team permanently as a Lecturer in Business.

Kieron holds an MSc in Management with Human Resources from the University if Lincoln, and a BA (Hons) Business Management achieved as part of the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship (CMDA) at Glasgow Caledonian University. He holds the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 8 Award in Strategic Direction and Leadership and is a PRINCE2© Project Management Practitioner. In addition, he is a Chartered Manager (CMgr MCMI) with CMI and a Fellow (FHEA) of the Higher Education Academy.

Kieron’s working background is in apprenticeships. Starting out as an Assessor/Coach, he progressed to Internal Quality Assurer, End-Point Assessment Manager, and most recently Head of Work Based Learning for Derby-based provider Workpays; alongside his freelance role as an External Quality Assurer for the awarding organisation, QNUK.

In May 2019, Kieron founded education start-up Academy of Assessors Limited, winner of SME News’s ‘Best Distance Learning Training Provider – 2020’ award. He later exited the business as part of its sale to a consultancy group. Kieron is also a self-published author, his book ‘Intrapreneurship – a guide for stakeholders’ explores the competencies needed to achieve transformation as part of a multi-stakeholder approach.

Having been an apprentice four times in the past and about to embark on his fifth (academic professional), Kieron has a keen research interest in apprenticeships. Being from a local working-class background, Kieron aims to further the social mobility of academic study through non-traditional entry routes, accessibility, and programme design.

Kieron will be teaching on the Operations and Departmental Manager Apprenticeship (ODMA), CMDA, and Senior Leader Apprenticeship (SLA). His modules will include ‘Improving Your Performance’ (ODMA), ‘Introduction to Management’ and ‘Professional Skills for Senior Managers’ (CMDA); and ‘Organisational Performance’ (SLA).

Email Kieron or his Linkedin profile is here

Launch of the Centre for Business, Innovation and the Regions, 8th June

Posted on 19th May 2023 by

A new research centre is being launched at Staffordshire University that brings together internationally-recognised academics with a commitment to applied impactful research that engages with policy and practice. Its work analyses:

inequalities, employment and welfare;
innovation and leadership;
and regional economic development, regeneration and foundational economies.

Reflecting the civic mission of Staffordshire University, the Centre has collaborative partnerships with leading public and private organisations in the UK and abroad.

Please sign up to this free event (lunch included) full schedule 12.00-3.00 on 8th June

Speakers

Arianna Giovannini is Associate Professor/Reader in Local Politics and Public Policy at De Montfort University. Arianna has published widely on devolution, levelling up and the changing landscape of local government. Between July 2019 and February 2020 , she was seconded to to the Directorship of IPPR North, the leading think-tank for the North of England.

Steven Griggs is Professor of Public Policy in the Business School at Staffordshire University. Steven has published widely on local government, collaboration and the new municipalism. He recently chaired the Executive of the Association for Public Service Excellence’s Local Government 2030 Commission whose Local by Default final report was published in 2021.

Key roles and staff in the new centre

Centre Director – Prof Stephen Griggs

REF lead and Deputy Director – Prof Jon Fairburn @profjonfairburn

Impact Lead and REF deputy – Dr Muddasar Khwaja

Partnerships – Ema Talam @ematalam

PhD lead – Dr Fred Nyakudya

ECR lead – Dr Itoro Ekpo

Recent research from staff in the centre are here February 2023 and February 2022

Staff were entered into the Business and Management UoA in REF2021 and we were ranked joint 16th out of 108 in the country for our research impact and joint 51st overall in the country on research.

Book onto the launch event 12.00-3.00 (lunch included) 8th June

Ema Talam - a new PhD student in the Business School

New Course Director in Entrepreneurship – Dr Susan Sisay

Posted on 11th May 2023 by

Dr. Susan Sisay is the new Course Director Entrepreneurship at the Staffordshire Business School. She holds a PhD in International Entrepreneurship from Wrexham Glyndwr University, Wales. Susan has worked in academia for over a decade, both in the UK and internationally developing and delivering across a range of subjects.

More recently, her focus is around entrepreneurship and related subjects, such as innovation, and small business management. Susan joins Staffordshire University from Birmingham City University, where she taught across a range of provision including apprenticeships, funded programmes for small businesses and also led the DBA programme.

Prior to academia, she was a legal practitioner. Alongside her practice, she delivered bespoke executive programmes for government and commercial organisations as well as initiate and/or participate in several justice and legal reform projects, specifically around women’s rights and access to justice. The experience of leading and managing these projects culminated in her doing her MBA (specialising in Law and Management) at Bangor University, Wales.

Her current areas of research interest are entrepreneurial education, ethnic minority businesses and international entrepreneurship, specifically entrepreneurship within the African context. She currently supervises doctoral students in these areas. She is also interested in exploring the intersection of faith and entrepreneurship and open to explore opportunities to collaborate across the stated areas of interest.

Email Susan susan.sisay@staffs.ac.uk and Linked in

Visitor Attraction and Resort Management – A Meeting of Minds!

Posted on 25th April 2023 by

By Amanda Payne – Senior Lecturer in Business, Management and Leadership

Here at Staffordshire University we are extremely proud of our Visitor Attraction and Resort Management degree programme. The course is designed in accordance with guidelines published by the Events, Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism (EHLST) network, and delivered in close association with Alton Towers Resort.

The course is unique to the UK, with only one other similar course worldwide taught at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, USA – who have their unique partnership with Cedar Point amusement park.

On the 21^st April 2023 we met our siblings who were on a field trip to the UK……!!! This is their experience….

The two sets of students initially met at the teaching facility at Alton Towers. They chatted all things course related, life experiences, ambitions and ‘marmite’ – apparently a preferred food of the students! It was amazing to watch like minds instantly connect, it only took a matter of minutes, and the chatter began to grow…..

Taking the students away from their conversations we were lucky enough to all jump on a ride (Galactica) and enjoy the thrills…

We then had a ‘behind the scenes’ tour after the park closed. We were escorted by Kirsty (the Learning and Development Assistant with the Human Resources department) who took us to the (usually restricted) top of the historical ruins of Alton Towers stately home and are the source of the park’s name.

Seeing the surrounding area was breath-taking and we could see the vast expanse of the park itself. If you look closely you’ll see the ‘Wicker Man’ eerily peering between the trees!

Following this we had an escorted tour of the various accommodations on offer such as the themed ‘Gangsta Granny’ and ‘Ice Age’ rooms which were a feast to the eyes!!!!

It was all too brief – so much so by the end of the day, students were sad to part ways and contacts were quickly shared:

“I’ve been speaking with some of the students… and they seem incredibly passionate about how attractions operate outside of the UK, and considering how many laws and regulations differ between countries. The opportunity allowed us to keep growing our network with the other course and open new opportunities in the future” (Kenzie – Level 4 VARM student).

“an incredible opportunity to network with the Ohio students more and get a better sense of the theme park landscape of USA and how it’s different to the industry in the UK… it was a great experience and gave us an ‘in person’ perspective of the industry worldwide and will help us with our studies and writing our assignments” (Sam – Level 4 VARM student).

Moving forward we are to expand upon the relationship, BGSU are due to visit again next year, and we are already planning on collaborating again in the form of a incorporating a VARM/RAAM student project.

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!

Courses and projects such as these are vital: the visitor attractions sector is experiencing tremendous growth both in the UK and overseas with tourism, hospitality and events recognised as major contributors to the UK economy.

As an indicator of THE’s value, travel and tourism contributes significantly to the economy in the United Kingdom (UK) and in 2021, an estimated £131.5 billion of GDP was generated, directly and indirectly, by this sector.

To achieve and sustain this level of economic contribution it is critical that the sector is able to access highly qualified, skilled graduates who can become the leaders of tomorrow.

So, if you’re looking to establish a career in visitor attractions that growth is great news. But if you’d like to give yourself an edge when it comes to seeking employment, our Degree in Visitor Attraction and Resort Management, developed in partnership with Alton Towers Resort, could be for you…

Click here for a link to the course!!

New member of staff – Dr David Cook, Senior Lecturer in Business and Marketing

Posted on 6th April 2023 by

Dr David Cook has recently joined as a Senior Lecturer in Business and Marketing, in the Department of Business and Law, School of Justice, Security and Sustainability, Staffordshire University, United Kingdom.

Although still occasionally mistaken for a student himself (admittedly less frequently these days!), David has over ten years’ industry experience, working for organisations such as 3M, Kantar, Molson Coors, and most recently in a senior managerial role within the Commercial Team at Marston’s PLC, as Customer Experience Manager. He is a certified Market Research practitioner, holding the MRS Advanced Certificate in Market & Social Research Practice.

Dr Cook has also worked within Academia for almost a decade, with previous Lecturer and Senior Lecturer positions held at Coventry University and Nottingham Trent University, teaching across a range of Business, Sport & Events, and Marketing courses, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. David also currently holds External Examiner roles at Birmingham City University and Nottingham Trent University.

David holds BA Hons (Business & Marketing) and MSc (Marketing Management) degrees from UCLan in Preston, as well as a PhD awarded by Coventry University on the topic: ‘Sponsorship of Major Sport Events: A Creating Shared Value (CSV) Approach’. The study extended knowledge in four key areas: developing an understanding of how CSV principles can be applied in order to benefit different stakeholders; addressing a growing need for business sustainability considerations; exploring the potential of sport events as co-creation platforms; and advancing sponsorship management methods.

Dr Cook has published several peer-reviewed research papers in well regarded academic journals such as European Sport Management Quarterly, The International Journal of Voluntary and Non-profit Organizations, and The International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, as well as providing a number of published chapters and case studies for academic textbooks. He is currently a member of the Editorial Board for the journal, Event Management.

David can be contacted at david.cook@staffs.ac.uk

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.uk/citations?user=ysvO-nUAAAAJ&hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djcook3112/

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6160-7904

Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57191884485

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David-Cook-34

New staff profile – Dr Richard Ahumibe

Posted on 5th April 2023 by

Dr Richard Ahumibe holds an MSc in Operations and Supply Chain Management and a PhD in Management Studies from the University of Liverpool. Richard started his teaching career during his PhD studies and has lectured at the University of Liverpool, Edge Hill University, and the Global Banking School. He is also a Visiting Lecturer at The University of Law.

Before his PhD, Richard had over ten years of industry experience in several positions in different multinational manufacturing and services organisations in Europe and Africa, including British American Tobacco, Danone Medical Nutrition and AstraZeneca.

Richard is passionate about contributing to industry and academia through education, research and consultancy and describes himself as a scholar and practitioner. An enthusiast of the humanist teaching philosophy and adaptive learning approach, Richard is currently working on developing a research profile.

Richard is a member of the British Academy of Management and the Association of Supply Chain Management and an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Dr Ahumibe teaches various business and management modules at the postgraduate and undergraduate levels.

Email Richard richard.ahumibe@staffs.ac.uk

The ‘Quiet quitting’ Phenomenon: Re-naming something doesn’t mean we are better at understanding it.

Posted on 8th March 2023 by

By Dr Jenny Gale, Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management

Photo by Alan Cleaver licensed under CC BY

I’ve been thinking about ‘quiet quitting’ (the topic, more so than the practice!). Seeing many articles and posts on social media over the last few months, I thought I would add my own thoughts to the mix.

‘Quiet quitting’ is described by HR Grapevine as:

‘…a range of behaviours that correlate with disengagement. That is, when an employee feels like they’re no longer valued, feel burnt out from prolonged periods of heavy workloads, or are generally unhappy with their job and terms, they begin to dial down their efforts and mentally check out.’

Simpson (2022) utilizes another term ‘acting your wage’, fulfilling duties and responsibilities, but not going ‘above and beyond’ while guarding personal-professional boundaries. It is often attributed to experiencing a global pandemic which afforded people an opportunity to reflect on their lives and what was important, including work-life balance and well-being.

‘Quiet quitting’ is bad news for employers, particularly those that rely on employees ‘going above and beyond’. Some articles offering advice often frame it as something to be ‘curtailed’, ‘combated’, and ‘stamped out’. However, it should be noted that many employees would not envisage ‘quiet quitting’ as conducive to their growth and advancement, and even detrimental to their professional ethic and job satisfaction. Therefore, workplaces tend to consist of those who continue to give generously alongside quitters of both ‘quiet’ and ‘loud’ varieties.

Some would recognize ‘quiet quitting’ not as something new, but rather a fundamental contradiction characterising employment relations. We don’t all want the same things, hold the same values, or share the same objectives all the time, harking back to that old managerial dilemma – how to persuade workers to work (the ‘labour problem’). The problem framed in the 21^st Century, post-pandemic world is ‘quiet quitting’ rather than being ‘not engaged’ or ‘disengaged’ (Gallup, 2006), or ‘working to rule’ (adherence to contracted duties). We are good at inventing new terms for this phenomenon and that helps to keep things current and meaningful in a changing context, but understanding is comparatively lacking. This makes it easier to label those who attempt to claw back some balance in their lives as ‘trouble-makers’, ‘uncommitted’, and ‘letting co-workers and the organization down’, than to address the issues that make employees want to ‘quiet quit’ in the first place.

To suggest that people who prioritize their well-being are quitters is insulting (Personnel Today, 21^st October, 2022). People cannot increasingly give ‘more for less’ and it is not unreasonable for work to be decent, fulfilling at least some expectations around life and work. Work evolved as an expressive and meaningful activity for humans that later became appropriated by employers for producing a profit or service. Consequently, many workers end up giving too much of something an employer values (time, effort, commitment) but receiving less of something that they value (decent pay, work-life balance, avoidance of overwork). This can feel unreasonable and even unacceptable initiating individual and collective action to improve working lives.

Flexible working, employee well-being, progressive HR policies, and moving to a four-day working week are all steps in the right direction but, sadly, attitudes are ingrained. The ‘labour problem’ will persist, but an acknowledgement that it is endemic to work relationships rather than simply pathological would increase our chances of understanding and managing it. In many respects jobs are more decent than in the past, but some (including professional jobs) are worse according to some indicators. While there are those on both sides of the employment relationship that promote decent work for all, it is sad that the ‘race to the bottom’ is stubbornly resilient. ‘Quiet quitting’ (or whatever you want to call it) may not be desirable but it remains a rational and legitimate response.

Email Jenny at J.Gale@staffs.ac.uk

New staff member – Craig Holdcroft, Lecturer in Business and Marketing.

Posted on 7th March 2023 by

Mr Craig Holdcroft has joined as a Lecturer in Business and Digital Marketing. In the Department of Business and Law, School of Justice, Security and Sustainability, Staffordshire University, United Kingdom.

Changes to customer process (Craig Holdcroft) — Craig Holdcroft MSc, B.A (Hons)

Craig, alumni of Staffordshire University finished his MSc in Digital Marketing Management in 2020. Since then has had an interest in both academia and all areas of marketing. His most recent focus has been to develop business pathways in PPC and digital journeys, predominantly for SMEs which span the UK and Europe. This was achieved by opening his own digital marketing agency, offering both digital services and consultancy to small businesses. Alongside this, he holds memberships in both the Institute of Data and Marketing (IDM) and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

From industry to education

Previous job roles Craig has held include the Head of Guerrilla Marketing (Foodhub), Senior Digital Marketing Manager for a restaurant franchise and External Sales Management / Key account management within the industry of electrical wholesaling. Furthermore, he has worked alongside internationally recognised brands Jacuzzi and Teuco as a service engineer and client liaison.

Digital disruption

Craig has an interest in digital disruptive products. These include technologies in augmented reality and virtual reality. During his time in the industry he investigated how AR technologies could enhance the customer journey.

Craig is teaching on the MSc Digital Marketing Management and the Digital Business and Innovation and Project Management for the CMDA apprenticeship degrees respectively this year.

From a future research perspective, Craig seeks to embark on a new research journey in the digital and innovation area. This would include collaborations and personal studies towards further honours in academia.

Connect with Craig Holdcroft on Socials

Want to connect with Craig Holdcroft? Follow on LinkedIn here Craig Holdcroft – LinkedIn. Alternatively, email Craig.holdcroft@staffs.ac.uk for professional connections.

Do you need help with your Digital Marketing this summer?

Posted on 22nd February 2023 by

The January intake of students on the MSc in Digital Marketing Management are now looking for summer placements.

Placements will run between 1st June to 31st September and can be delivered in person, hybrid or fully remote.

To get the placement ready the students will carry out an audit of your current marketing activity, look at your competitors and provide you with a set of strategic options that could be implemented on the placement.

The majority of our students are professionals with several years of experince and you can see their profile on the link below.

The placement can be in the private sector, public sector, charity sector – given the timing of the placement it would be well suited to the tourism and hospitality sector.

If you are interested follow this link which has profiles of the students and a simple form that you can download and return to us

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

We’re not sure what we’re doing with our marketing can you help? You are very suited to a placement. The student will first review your activity and then in discussion with you provide you with options depending on what your needs are.
What is digital marketing? Digital marketing covers a very wide rage of techniques to both get your messages out and to get customers to engage with you. From website design , SEO optimisation, content creation (including podcasts, films and blogs), email marketing, social media, PPC campaigns and more – digital marketing is so much more than just social media. In fact we have found that in general in recent years social media has been quite a way down the list of effective strategic approaches that organisations can take to develop thier digital marketing.
We need someone to set up and run some social media accounts? This has been a common request but so often it is based on very little. What are you trying to achieve? Which social media channel matches the personas of your customers? What is the size of your marketing budget for paid adverts on these channels? Most social media channels have been tightened so organic growth can be very small without a budget.
We’re a B2B business can you help? Yes, B2B often requires a different approach to a B2C organisation. B2B organisations are often sitting on unused assets.
What resources will the placement need? A line manager who can respond to updates and proposed work to give feedback. To provide a recommendation on Linkedin at the end of a satisfactorily completed project.
Will we need to pay for the placement? We have had paid and unpaid placements on the course (the workplacement is credited). Placements that are paid are likely to have access to a wider range of possible students. Some companies have paid a stipend for satisfactory completion of the project. We would expect any organisation to pay for any transport costs and meal allowance if working on site.