Our Chair Adam Whitehouse
Adam Whitehouse is the Founder and Chair of TMT First.
His company repairs, refurbishes and recycles devices to help build a more sustainable future for technology. From TMT’s headquarters in Newcastle-under-Lyme they process more than 250,000 products per year.
Adam who opened his first circular economy retail store (The Mobile Trader), in the late 90’s has spent his entire career aiming to ‘keep technology alive for longer.’
2026 Foreword from the Chair, Adam Whitehouse
Welcome to the Staffordshire Business and Environment Network (SBEN) as we step into another year of progress, resilience, and shared ambition. As Chair, I’m proud to see how our community continues to grow and adapt in an ever-changing, and often challenging, environmental and economic landscape. With global pressures, shifting energy markets, and new challenges emerging for businesses of every size, SBEN’s role in providing practical support, trusted guidance, and a strong, dependable network has never been more important. Together, we remain committed to helping Staffordshire businesses navigate uncertainty, embrace innovation, and move confidently towards a more resilient and resource-efficient future.
As global uncertainty continues and energy markets remain unpredictable, it’s becoming increasingly important that we support Staffordshire businesses to build stability, resilience, and cost-effective access to energy. While we’ve benefited from an excellent period of matched grant funding, opportunities like these are likely to become harder to secure in 2026 and beyond. I expect support may shift towards new mechanisms, potentially more loan-based or alternative financial models. Fortunately, here in Staffordshire we still have funds carried forward, allowing us to continue helping organisations cut energy use and costs, reduce waste, and improve overall resource efficiency.
It’s fantastic to see our membership continue to grow. As we celebrate the milestone of our 1,000th SBEN member, it’s more important than ever that we come together and make the most of the community we’ve built. The collective experience, knowledge and relationships within SBEN give us a powerful foundation to help even more Staffordshire businesses make better, more informed decisions that strengthen both environmental performance and commercial outcomes across our county.
I’m delighted to have been voted in for another year as Chair. I remain open, as always, to new ways we can work with councils, government, industry partners, and businesses of all sizes to ensure SBEN remains fresh, relevant, and future-focused. With significant changes emerging in the way energy can be generated, managed and traded, there are real opportunities for our community to be early adopters and leaders in this area. Small-scale virtual power plants, community energy initiatives, and new energy trading models are just some of the developments where Staffordshire businesses could benefit from being ahead of the curve.
SBEN remains strong. With the continued support of our sponsors and Staffordshire County Council, it’s great to say that we’re able to continue to offer our services at no cost to members across our county. Let’s keep championing the benefits of being part of this network to the many organisations and individuals who are still not aware of us. Reaching 1,000 members is a brilliant milestone, but with over 30,000 businesses in Staffordshire there are still many who could benefit from practical support to cut costs, save resources, and improve energy efficiency.
We have a busy year ahead. In 2025, we delivered 13 successful events across the region, sharing our expertise with organisations throughout Staffordshire. In 2026, our focus is firmly on deepening this support within Staffordshire and its surrounding borders, and our calendar is already taking shape. I encourage you to take every opportunity to get involved. I know it can sometimes mean stepping away from day-to-day demands, but I’m confident that you will always come away with new ideas, practical insights and opportunities to strengthen your understanding and make your organisation more efficient, resilient and competitive.
Thank you for being part of this growing, thriving community. Together, let’s continue driving progress, supporting one another, and making Staffordshire a leading example of what practical, sustainable business can achieve.
Our Vice Chair Chris Wheeler
Chris is an experienced Cost Management and Carbon Consultant within Auditel and is a competent and experienced solution provider to many organisations. Chris brings with him 20+ years of procurement and supply chain experience.
As well as cost management, Chris is passionate about helping clients make a meaningful difference by helping them to reduce their carbon emissions. Making use of the extensive experience within Auditel, Chris can provide anything from Sustainability advice to BSI PAS 2060 accredited reports and carbon reduction plans.