As we move into 2025 the Economy, Funding and Skills Service at Shropshire Council can report on a very productive 2024 that made a real and positive impact on the economic prosperity of the county.

As the first phase of the UK Prosperity Funding draws to a close, £15 million was allocated to support 60 projects helping drive positive change across the county.

These included:

• 30 community projects, including grants to improve heritage assets like the Cambrian Railway.
• 17 business support projects, helping local businesses grow, become sustainable, and create jobs.

Skills development was also a focal point. 5 projects have helped:

• over 50 economically inactive residents into employment.
• 430 individuals to develop basic & digital life skills and
• over 50 individuals to earn qualifications, advancing their career prospects.

The Shropshire Growth Hub continues to do incredible work as a key resource for growth and development. The team assisted 1,420 businesses, helped 195 individuals launch their own businesses and ran 123 events attracting more than 2,500 delegates

The Marches Careers Hub bridges the gap between schools and local businesses. It’s Volunteer Enterprise Advisors offer students valuable insights into the real world of work which is crucial to ensuring the development of a skilled future workforce

This year the Marches Careers Hub :

• produced a post 16 Provision Guide to help young people, parents/carers and educators understand local provision, and an Essential Skills Development resource to help schools equip young people with the right skills to enter the local labour market.
• hosted 3 virtual teacher encounters, helping 431 teachers to meet with employers to learn about career paths and industry practices
• provided 70 young people across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin with Entrepreneurship, and mentoring programmes.
• hosted 13 ‘community of practice meetings’ for career leaders in schools and colleges to exchange ideas, develop skills, and build relationships.
• hosted 8 network meetings for the Volunteer Enterprise Advisors to meet and share best practice
• provided 70 workplace visit opportunities for young people with special educational needs and disabilities across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin

The Invest in Shropshire team actively promoted the county as an ideal investment location. They assisted larger organisations to access grants, overcome growth barriers, attracted new employers and helped them find suitable premises. Since April 24, the key account managers helped businesses to access nearly £5.8m worth of grant funding from regional grant funds with a further £1.7m in the pipeline for 2025.

A key highlight is always our Business Leaders’ Breakfast, which for the seventh year in a row welcomed around 150 delegates, creating a valuable platform for networking and collaboration.

Here’s to a busy 2025!