Call to celebrate Shropshire’s world class businesses

May 9, 2018

Shropshire has world-class businesses which should be celebrating their success by entering the UK’s most prestigious award scheme.
That was the message from the Chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, Graham Wynn, when the organisation jointly hosted the Shropshire launch of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
The LEP joined forces with the Office of The Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Sir Algernon Heber-Percy KCVO, for the event at the Marches Centre for Manufacturing & Technology in Bridgnorth on April 18.
Guests heard from Glen Dale, from the Queen’s Award Office in the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy as well as former Shropshire winners of a Queen’s Award, Joan Woulfe of Cooking Marvellous in Shrewsbury and Edward Grainger, of Grainger & Worrall in Bridgnorth.
Mrs Woulfe said: “The win increased the profile of our business and gave us a kind of stability. We are a small business on a small business estate, and for us the networking opportunities it gave us were important. I would encourage any business that can to go for it.”
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are awarded to businesses for outstanding achievement in International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity
Mr Wynn said: “We want businesses from across Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire to come forward and get their applications in. Let’s show the rest of the UK that we really do have world class businesses based here.
“With entries judged solely on merit, there is a very wide variety of enterprises which can enter and win, with companies varying in size from large international companies to small businesses with just a couple of employees.”
Applications for the awards scheme are now open and businesses can check their eligibility and apply at https://www.gov.uk/queens-awards-for-enterprise

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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