Ambitious new proposals at Shropshire Economic Growth Strategy launch

Tuesday 26 September 2017 saw the launch of Shropshire’s Economic Growth Strategy 2017–2021 in front of a packed Theatre Severn, including some of the county’s most successful business leaders.

Economic Growth Strategy launch

This new strategy for Shropshire sets out ambitious and exciting growth proposals and actions for the next five years.

Adopting a dynamic and proactive approach, it aims to maximise Shropshire’s numerous assets, and focus on making the county a key place to live, work and invest.

It prioritises work on key sectors, taking advantage of transformational opportunities, and working with its partners to achieve sustainable new growth in Shropshire’s economy.

Peter Nutting, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:

“When I was first elected I had two main aims – to change the culture of the organisation, and create a real focus on economic development. There are too many people on the basic wage in Shropshire, and young people tend to leave our county to work elsewhere. We want to break this trend and bring skills in. It’s important that we all get behind the Economic Growth Strategy to drive the economy forward.”

The strategy was introduced by a number of influential speakers from partner organisations who the council are excited to be working with to ensure that the aspirations within it are realised.

Speaking at the launch, Graham Wynn OBE, Chair of Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (Marches LEP), said:

“I’m really pleased to be here. Looking at the strategy to bring projects forward so that they are ready for when the Government announces funding is really welcome, and something that we have been seeking for a long time.”

Deborah Cadman OBE, Chief Executive of West Midlands Combined Authority, added:

“It is a privilege to be here at the start of something that I think is going to be really quite fantastic for Shropshire. It is comforting to read your ambitious strategy and plans for the future and I think personally that you’re on the right track.

“I acknowledge the fantastic leadership Shropshire Council has shown at a time when leading and managing a council is difficult. The foresight and ambition to bring this forward is quite fantastic.”

Ed Cox, Director, Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) North, who gathered the evidence base for the strategy, added:

“We were very fortunate that we had so much engagement with businesses, drawing on the data from the performance, intelligence and policy team at the council, Oxford economics and the Local Enterprise Centre as we pulled together what I think is quite a serious evidence base. I would warmly endorse the strategy and say that it has taken very serious consideration of some of the analysis that we did, and has come up with really important and exciting propositions as to how Shropshire goes forward.”

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, said:-

“Driving for sustainable growth in the Shropshire economy is a vital aim that will lead to more jobs and generate greater prosperity. The strategy outlines the way in which Shropshire Council is going to support businesses to grow and prosper, harbouring a strong pro-business environment within the local economy. This is a bold forward thinking vision that I fully support.”

View the Economic Growth Strategy here: http://www.investinshropshire.co.uk/expand-grow-in-shropshire/economic-growth-strategy/

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