Marches Forward Partnership is “UK’s most significant rural growth partnership”
Lisa Quest, CEO of Marsh Risk UK, addressing the Marches Forward Partnership event in Westminster
The ambition of the Marches Forward Partnership (MFP) to become the Rural Capital of Britain has been recognised as the UK’s “most commercially significant regional initiative” at a high-profile Westminster reception.
The event set out the bold new proposition for the Marches as the Capital of Rural Britain: a connected cross-border economy with nationally important strengths in food, farming, water, energy and environmental innovation.
Speaker Lisa Quest, CEO of Marsh Risk UK, global leaders in risk assurance, told the event that the Marches should be seen as “a national asset powerhouse”, with the potential to bring economic growth, devolution and climate resilience together.
She said:-
“When we look at the Marches region, we see a national asset powerhouse and we see the Capital of Rural Britain.
“Growth is the Government’s first priority, devolution is a route to deliver it and climate resilience is the forcing function of rural economies and supply chains.
“Meeting these agendas, and addressing national security around land, water, energy and food, means moving away from fragmented public grants towards a disciplined ecosystem of institutional investment.”
She added:-
“The Marches Forward Partnership, which is bringing all three together, is the most commercially significant regional initiative in the UK today. That is something to be incredibly proud of.”
Sponsor MP Julia Buckley added:-
“We sit at a critical geopolitical and economic intersection between England and Wales and here we are talking about growth, strategic planning, and our waterways.
“So by bringing the Marches straight to the heart of the UK government today, we are showing you how a unified cross-border partnership can solve national challenges.
“We have the space, the talent, and the industry. Now it’s time to unlock our full cross-border potential.”
The partnership used the Westminster showcase to demonstrate how councils, businesses, universities, agencies and infrastructure partners are already working across geographical and administrative boundaries to develop investable projects and tackle challenges that no single organisation can solve alone.
Its growing pipeline includes work on green growth, business resilience, food and farming, digital innovation and water management.
Jonathan Lester, leader of Herefordshire Council and speaking for the Marches Forward Partnership, said:-
“In an era where government is rightly looking for productivity, improvements in productivity, value for money, scalable solutions, cross-border partnerships such as ours offer a powerful answer.
“We’re not asking Westminster to solve the challenges that we have. We are showing that together by showing local leadership, businesses, academia and national partners can all be aligned with one single vision.”
The partnership is seeking recognition as a national pathfinder for rural growth and resilience, alongside government support to develop its delivery model, unlock investment and take forward its pipeline of projects.
Representatives from Shropshire, Herefordshire, Powys and Monmouthshire met with ministers, MPs, investors, infrastructure leaders and regional partners at the House of Commons on Monday 19 October.
