As local media contracts, Daily Focus has bucked the national trend by launching a daily business news service for Staffordshire delivered free to subscribers’ inboxes.

The service currently has 11,000 subscribers, significant seo rankings and impressive analytics.

Now the i-creation and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce staff behind Daily Focus, all but one of whom are Staffordshire University alumni or current students, have been entered for Team of the Year in the Staffordshire University Business Awards.

Daily Focus Editor Nigel Pye said: “The team has successfully launched and sustained a comprehensive daily business news service for Staffordshire which reaches thousands of readers every day and has quickly become the biggest daily b2b communications network in the county.
“From day one it was clear that this capable, muscular team would punch above its weight in terms of speed of delivery, professionalism, resilience, teamwork and support. They have great fun working together too.
“Both i-creation and Staffordshire Chamber’s total commitment to the project runs through each team member… and is all the more impressive when considering each of them has a ‘day job’ too.”

The team includes Gemma Whalley, Head of Marketing for Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and Staffordshire University alumni, alumni Nigel Pye who has been a journalist for 30 years, graphic design alumni Olly Buxton, journalism alumni Tom Hammersley and Hayley Johnson, Ryan Dakin who is studying for a Digital Technology and Solutions Degree Apprenticeship at Staffordshire University, and Ron Quenby, a journalist with 25 years of experience.
Nigel added: “We’re proud that all bar one of the team are Staffordshire University alumni or currently studying there – i-creation and Staffordshire Chamber have strong links with the university, the chamber as a major strategic partner and i-creation in initiatives like the Staffordshire Digital Innovation Partnership and through its work experience, placements and internships.
“It’s clear our team is very special. Watching them work together and analysing their output are proof of that. We’re proud that, through the partnership between the chamber and i-creation, they can now learn and develop together, through taking part in short courses and workshops which are expanding their skills in areas like seo, digital publishing and innovation.
“Everyone in the team has an opportunity to ideate and expand what the project is all about, and less than four months after launch their ideas are already leading to expansion of the service to seven days and exciting new features for the site and daily bulletin.”