25 JAN

Chancellor bowls into Uttoxeter for cinema screen zoom call

By timesecholife on in All News, Uttoxeter news

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, has launched a new digital platform for businesses via a zoom call using a cinema screen at Uttoxeter’s Cinebowl.

The Chancellor paid a visit to the Uttoxeter entertainment venue on Thursday last week to hold a virtual roundtable discussion with 30 small to medium enterprises across the UK.

He also had a go at bowling and tried the venue’s popcorn before continuing on to Stoke-on-Trent as part of a visit to the Midlands.

A Cinebowl spokesperson said: “Chancellor of The Exchequer, Rishi Sunak visited us today at Cinebowl Uttoxeter to launch the Treasury’s new #Helptogrow digital scheme on a zoom call from our cinema screen.

“He enjoyed a quick bowl and some popcorn whilst talking to our staff.”

The zoom call outlined the Help to Grow digital platform which includes a dedicated website providing free advice and support and software vouchers offering discounts of up to £5,000 to boost productivity and help businesses grow.

The Chancellor spoke with businesses about their experiences via the cinema screen and took part in a Q&A session.

Participants included an accountancy firm, a catering and cookery school, a hair and beauty salon and a web designer and posed questions covering a range of topics from how the scheme will be delivered to the digital economy. They joined from across the UK including Edinburgh, Bristol, Bolton, Norwich, Brentford, Peterborough, Brighton, and Yorkshire.

Following his visit, Rishi Sunak said: “Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of our economy, creating jobs and prosperity across the UK.

“When I announced this at Budget, I said we wanted to help businesses become more innovative, more competitive and more profitable and I am excited this programme allows them do that.

“It’s been fantastic to speak to firms from across the UK and discuss how the scheme will benefit them – adopting new technologies is proven to improve processes and boost productivity.”

During his trip to Staffordshire, the Chancellor also toured the former Spode pottery factory in Stoke to see how a £20 million investment from the Levelling Up Fund will help transform the historic site into new homes, shops and a community space.

The Spode regeneration project is one of three successful Levelling Up Fund bids for Stoke, worth a total of £56 million, with £20 million going towards the regeneration of Hanley in the city centre and £16 million to redevelop the Goods Yard near the railway station.

They are three of 11 projects in the West Midlands to receive a share of £196 million from the £1.7 billion first round of the Levelling Up Fund, as announced by the Chancellor in October’s Budget.