There are ‘reasons to be cheerful’ at this year’s Business Leaders Breakfast

Last week 140 business leaders’ from across the county gathered at the council’s Invest in Shropshire’s annual Business Leaders’ Breakfast event.

The event has taken place every year since 2017 and regularly attracts businesses and partners from all over Shropshire.

Highlights from the morning included the customary update from Mark Barrow, executive director of place at Shropshire Council.

Mark reported that the county’s economy is recovering well following the pandemic and there is much to celebrate.

Last year Shropshire received a record number of business registrations, the county is well-positioned to take advantage of a burgeoning green economy, and figures are revealing that Shropshire is a place where people want to locate their businesses.

Andy Begley, Shropshire Council’s chief executive, and Mark Barrow highlighted the work of the Marches Forward Partnership, a ground-breaking partnership of four English and Welsh councils.  This partnership aims to maximize the untapped potential of the Marches area, of which Shropshire is a major part, boosting investment in the region and creating a ‘package’ that can be offered to the global marketplace.

Other contributions came from Ben Sykes a partner of FaulknerBrown Architects with an update on the latest exciting developments at Smithfield Riverside in Shrewsbury, and Bruce Gardner, New Clubs Director at David Lloyd Clubs explained the reasons for investing in The Shrewsbury Club and its future development.

Businesses were urged to consider becoming ‘foster-friendly’ by Erika Ower from the Fostering and Adoption team at Shropshire Council, and finally, Leader of the Council Lezley Picton closed the proceedings by outlining the brave, ambitious and innovative economic development activities taking place across the county.

Mark Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for growth and regeneration, said:

“The Business Leaders’ Breakfast is now a major event in our calendar and attracts a lot of attention year on year. We are facing difficult times as a council, but we also have much to look forward to. There are exciting plans and a great deal of activity going on to secure the future economic prosperity of Shropshire. We wanted to highlight these activities and celebrate them on the morning.”

Watch videos from the Business Leaders’ Breakfast 2024 and access slides