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KEY SECTORS:

Food and drink

The Marches’ rich agricultural tradition provides the foundation for a thriving food and drink sector which includes everything from global giants to kitchen table enterprises.

Food and drink

This nationally-significant sector supports over 9,000 jobs with specialisations in cider and fruit wines and meat and dairy processing.

Among the larger brands represented in the region are brewers Heineken in Hereford, yoghurt and dairy giant Muller, whose head office in Market Drayton is supported by production plants in Telford and Minsterley, near Shrewsbury, the ABP Food Group, which has sites in Shrewsbury and Oswestry and Avara, based in Telford and Herefordshire.

Marches-produced food has an international reputation for excellence and the region is leading the world in using new technology to revolutionise the way we produce our food thanks to pioneering research at Harper Adams University.

Over 9,000 jobs are supported by the Food & Drink sector nationally

Related Links:

Heineken

Muller

ABP food group

Avara foods

Harper Adams University

Shropshire food centre

packages on a conveyor belt
Production Of Pralines In A Factory For The Food Industry
Food Production Conveyor belt

Marches-produced food has an international reputation for excellence and the region is leading the world in using new technology to revolutionise the way we produce our food thanks to pioneering research at Harper Adams University.

The region also boasts Shropshire Food Enterprise Centre in Shrewsbury – one of only 10 centres nationally.

The Food Enterprise Centre offers food production start-ups and SMEs excellent production units equipped to the highest standard with on-site business support.

Key sectors

Well established sectors in the Marches with high productivity and high levels of employment and specialisation.

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Enabling Sectors

High employment, with significant entry level jobs and services vital to our economy, with different productivity or growth challenges.

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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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