Shropshire Business Ambassadors climb the Flax Mill tower

Some of Shropshire’s leading business people have taken a tour of the Flax Mill Maltings in Shrewsbury to find out more about the proposed re-development of the site.

Howard Thorne (Shropshire Homes), Will Morris (Kingsland Consulting), James Tanner (Tanners Wines), Nick Chavasse (NRG Direct Mail), David Saunders (Hatchers Solicitors) and Peter Guy (Shropshire Star) are all Shropshire Business Ambassadors

They were shown around the site on 19 March 2013 by Mark Pembleton, business and enterprise manager, and Claire Cox, investment officer, from Shropshire Council.

The tour included a visit to the top of the Jubilee tower, which is located high up above the Main Mill and offers stunning views of Shrewsbury and the surrounding area.

The Main Mill is the world’s first iron-framed building, the grandfather of all skyscrapers and the proposed location for commercial office space within the development.

From April 2016, once development work is completed, the intention is to offer public tours of the tower, as part of a wider tour of the site provided by the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings.

Businesses and organisations that hold conferences at the site will be able to opt into a tour of the tower to admire the view as part of their conference package.

The Shropshire Business Ambassador scheme was launched in 2007 and now has 25 members. Each has been selected on the basis of their profile in Shropshire and, in some cases, in the national or international business world, and through having expressed a keen interest in promoting Shropshire

Claire Cox said:

“In their role as Shropshire’s business ambassadors those who took the tour will promote the redevelopment, and our intention to encourage new and growing local, national and international businesses to consider being based within the world’s first iron-framed building. It was great to show them around the site, and to give them the chance to be amongst the first visitors to visit the top of the tower.”

Business interested in touring the site should call 01743 255617.

Situated on the northern edge of Shrewsbury, the internationally-important Flax Mill Maltings site reflects a time when Britain led the way in engineering innovation. It comprises seven listed buildings, including the Main Mill, which was built in 1797 and is the world’s first iron-framed building and the forerunner of the modern skyscraper.
Further information is available at www.flaxmill-shrewsbury.com.

For business enquiries contact Claire Cox on 07758 200546, 01743 255617, or email claire.cox@shropshire.gov.uk.