The virtual, Marches Local Enterprise Partnership’s Economic Recovery Summit, highlighted a range of priorities for rebuilding the region’s economy and helping its business community recover from the impact of coronavirus.
The business-led body is tasked by government with driving economic growth across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
The summit – the culmination of the LEP’s Business Recovery Week – brought together nearly 100 members of the business community and leading local and regional partners, including local authorities, business board representatives, both Shropshire and Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chambers of Commerce, the British Business Bank, The Federation of Small Businesses and the NFU.
During the event guests had the opportunity to take part in a series of polls to highlight key priorities and reflect the state of the Marches economy.
Mandy Thorn, Marches LEP chair, said: “While there is obvious concern about the future – and in particular for those businesses which have suffered so much – there was also some optimism about the way the business community has rolled up its sleeves and got to work in the face of the restrictions.
“The summit helped us make an excellent start to the task of preparing a comprehensive strategy for this region’s recovery which we will present to the government in the coming months.”
The Business Recovery Week saw the launch of the LEP’s annual report, the unveiling of a new digital strategy for the region and launch of a new website to help people update their skills and training and find work.