Minister tours Growth Deal projects

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership's track record in delivering 'big ticket' projects to create thousands of homes and jobs was highlighted during a visit from Minister for Energy and Industrial Strategy, Jesse Norman MP. 

With more than £104 million of Growth Deal funding from the Government being invested in the region, the minister came to Shropshire to see progress on sites in Shrewsbury and Telford and meet employers taking the lead on workforce development. 

Mr Norman, who is also the Government's Growth Champion for the Marches LEP region, toured the Flaxmill in Shrewsbury with Shropshire Business Board Chair Mandy Thorn before heading to the Marches Centre for Technology and Engineering's satellite site at Salop Design & Engineering. 

He was meeting with the employer-led consortium awarded a £1.9 million contract from the Marches LEP to develop the new advanced manufacturing training centre and also speaking with apprentices. 

Chairman of the Marches LEP Graham Wynn said: “Business Minister Jesse Norman has been incredibly supportive of our bids for Government funding to support our ambitions for growth. 

“From an initial £83 million for infrastructure and broadband projects, we recently successfully negotiated a further £21.9 million for skills and business boosting schemes. And today was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our track record in delivering these big ticket projects with our partners, Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council.” 

Jesse Norman, said: “As the ministerial growth champion for the Marches, I congratulate the Marches LEP on its strong performance over the past year in promoting economic growth across the region.

"Effective LEPs like this one are an important part of the Government’s plans to support the creation of skilled jobs and help every area to reach its full potential.” 

The Minister met with the Shropshire Business Board at University Centre Shrewsbury before heading to Telford College of Arts and Technology for a discussion with Telford Business Board.

Graham added: “The Telford Land Deal, which secured an additional £44.5m investment in this region, formed part of our first Growth Deal. Our partners, Telford & Wrekin Council, were able to show the Minister the immediate benefits of this on site at the new Hortonwood West development.” 

Mr Norman also visited businesses at the Marches Growth Hub in Telford and toured the new Auto Sports engineering department at the University of Wolverhampton's Priorislee campus.

 Picture: Business Minister Jesse Norman with apprentice Alex Malam at Salop Design & Engineering