Staffordshire's placemaking organisation, We Are Staffordshire, has published a new 2026-2028 Delivery Plan to guide its work through local government reorganisation and towards devolution.
The plan follows an independent review by international branding consultancy the Institute for Identity. The review examined the impact of the county's place marketing programme and made recommendations for future development, with a focus on attracting new investment, strengthening civic pride and positioning Staffordshire as a key destination.
Track record of the organisation
We Are Staffordshire was formed in 2020 and has grown significantly. Since its creation, the organisation has secured more than £250,000 of private and partnership investment, built a network of more than 350 ambassadors and engaged over 50 schools in civic pride programmes.
Recent achievements include coordinating Staffordshire's delegation at UKREiiF, a top national investor event, convening sector leaders at roundtable events and launching Screen Staffordshire, the county's film office, which is approaching its first anniversary. The organisation has also been shortlisted for three international awards.
What the review found
The independent review confirmed that We Are Staffordshire has successfully established a strong county-wide identity and created a unified voice for the county by bringing together public and private sector partners. It also identified opportunities to build on these foundations ahead of devolution.
Next steps
In the coming months, work will take place to strengthen governance, secure longer-term funding through a mix of public and private sector investment and ensure the organisation is prepared to support Staffordshire through local government reorganisation.
We Are Staffordshire will integrate with partner initiatives including Invest Staffordshire, the Local Visitor Economy Partnership and culture and skills programmes under a stronger, joined-up approach to promoting the county.
Hannah Ault, Chair of the We Are Staffordshire Place Board, said the review had reaffirmed the effectiveness of the collaborative model and the impact of its approach. She added that the new delivery plan provides clear direction to build on success, raise Staffordshire's profile and create opportunities for residents, businesses and communities.
More information is available on the We Are Staffordshire Vision webpage.