Re-energising Shrewsbury's Economy
A recent Shrewsbury Business Chamber meeting, held at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium, Shrewsbury Town Football Club proved to be a highly successful event.
Over 60 members of the business community attended to enjoy a presentation by Paul Forrest, Director of the West Midlands Economic Forum and Charles Hanmer, Chairman at West Midlands Manufacturing Club, and Past-Chairman at the Black Country Re-Investment Society. Paul Forrest spoke about the economy with a focus on Shrewsbury and the Shropshire economy, whilst Charles Hanmer informed attendees about his unique blend of life experience, business knowledge and marketing flair, and said what the Black Country had done to re-energise itself.
Peter Bettis, Chairman of Shrewsbury Business Chamber said: “We had a really fantastic and vibrant meeting, attended by 60 people and we received lots of positive feedback. We gained some new members, following a positive marketing campaign to promote the event. Paul Forrest shared his economic information on the region, particularly Shrewsbury and including Shropshire, the Marches and the West Midlands. He also told us where the priorities were for the future, identified what we needed to do to develop the local economy, and identified the essential need for more data so that inward investment could be encouraged. Investors require the appropriate data to make a decision, and Shrewsbury Business Chamber will be championing that issue and lobbying for data collection to be an immediate task. The title of our meeting was ‘Re-energising Shrewsbury’, and we shall certainly be doing that, as part of our Mission is to attract further business and to support existing businesses to thrive. The event re-energised, inspired and motivated everyone who attended, so I can judge it as a highly-successful occasion”.
Prior to the event, the 109th Annual General Meeting of the Shrewsbury Business Chamber took place in which Peter Bettis, Chairman of Shrewsbury Business Chamber spoke about the Chamber’s involvement in Setting up a Trading Company; Traffic access in and around Shrewsbury; Vision for Neighbourhoods; Development and use of the River and Waterways, and Land use over next 20/25 years. He mentioned that the Chamber had revised their work practices and systems, and sought to generate events that match businesses needs, also creating a brand-new website as part of the process. New members have been appointed to the Executive Committee, and these are:
Val Edwards Partner and Team Manager of Hatchers Solicitors; John Onions Society Chairman of the Shrewsbury Steam Rally; Steve Wain Principal of Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology; Derek Field has a Recruitment and Headhunting business in Shrewsbury, and Rob Humphreys from Turner Peachey Chartered Accountants as the new Hon Treasurer.
