A new luxury woodland retreat is set to be launched in Shropshire next spring.

Toby Dorrell (pictured right) and his wife Ruth are behind the ‘Claywood’ development, a 15-acre site in Billingsley, near Bridgnorth.

To help them set up the business, former engineer Toby recently completed a course aimed at helping start-up companies in the county.

Run by Bridgnorth business consultants Good2Great, the Shropshire Start Up programme is one of the many projects funded by Shropshire Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation, as part of the Levelling Up agenda.

The programme received £286,923 of funding and will assist start-ups until March 2025.

“Good2Great has been an invaluable resource to ensure every area of starting my new business is covered,” Toby said.

“Everything from the weekly sessions to the one to one mentoring have been brilliantly executed.”

Toby and Ruth were both born and raised in Shropshire and returned back after working away for over 15 years in 2021.

“We bought Claywood with the vision to enable others to come, appreciate, and enjoy their own little slice of the great outdoors, whilst staying in our luxury accommodation.

“Guests will be able to step outside and enjoy their own piece of nature,” Toby added.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Good2Great start-up programme for new businesses should email start@good-2-great.co.uk

Read about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Shropshire

More about the funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
This has been made possible due to funding under the Communities and Place theme of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund managed by Shropshire Council. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.