Food and drink businesses invited to key event

June 12, 2019

Herefordshire food and drink businesses are being invited to a key meeting which will help shape the region’s economic future.

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership – the body responsible for driving economic growth across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin – is drawing up a new Local Industrial Strategy for the region.

The document will show how and where business growth is going to happen, help influence national policy and position the Marches to secure the best possible funding from Government.

Businesses from the food, drink and horticultural sectors are now being invited to a consultation event in Ledbury on June 20 to discuss some of the issues they face and what the future might hold.

Marches LEP Partnership Manager Kathryn Jones said the LEP wanted to hear from any larger-scale Herefordshire business in the sector who would like to attend.

Our Local Industrial Strategy will be a key document shaping the development of the Marches for many years to come, and it is important the conclusions we draw in it are based on evidence gathered from businesses on the ground.

We want to hear from food, drink and horticultural businesses – and particularly those of a larger size operating in Herefordshire – to help us identify the challenges they face regarding business productivity, innovation and growth.

The purpose of this event is to listen to, learn from and respond directly to businesses about their productivity challenges and opportunities. We want to hear what we can do in the future to help to reduce costs and increase levels of efficiency.

Their input would be hugely valuable, helping us support productivity improvement and business growth through investment in skills, innovation and infrastructure.”

The event is being held from 2pm at the Alexander Park Resort, Court-Y-Park, Ledbury. Interested companies should email admin.officer@marcheslep.org.uk or call 01743 462026 by June 17.

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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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