Shropshire Entrepreneur Builds Legacy with New Creative Hub
Local entrepreneur, Rob Hughes, is marking a huge personal and professional milestone with the purchase of a brand-new, purpose-built, and innovative creative space on Shrewsbury Business Park.
Rob and his wife Jo have project managed the building, known as The Barn at The Hay Yard. A nod to Rob’s agricultural upbringing and firm roots here in Shropshire.
Rob said: “I’ve spent over 15 years building a business here in rural Shropshire - one set to rival bigger city agencies - because this is my home and a county that I’m immensely proud of. To now be able to invest in a permanent office space in the area is a huge achievement for me, and a long-term goal that I’ve possessed since I was early in my career.
“Owning my own piece of corporate Shropshire is more than a business decision for me. It’s about creating a lasting legacy, and a first-of-its-kind creative hub for our town.”
Built with a contemporary industrial aesthetic, featuring a steel frame, concrete floors, and profiled metal sheeting, The Barn combines style with sustainability. The building includes natural ventilation, EV charging points, hanging LED lighting, and is fully compliant with Part L carbon emissions and energy performance standards.
“During the entire process, I’ve proudly partnered with a number of respected regional businesses to bring my vision to life, including Matrix IDC and EDA Architects,” Rob continued.
“It was important that I work with local experts who understand the area, share my commitment to quality, and ensure that The Barn is built on the same community-first values that have shaped my business decisions for decades.”
This investment also signifies an exciting new chapter for Reech, a full-service marketing agency founded by Rob in 2009, as its set to move into this innovative new space next month.
At over 4,700 square feet, The Barn is more than three times the size of Reech’s current rented offices just over the road at Morgan Place. It also has extensive meeting room space, an events area for hosting conferences and workshops, and a dedicated media studio for photo, audio, and video production.
Amelia Redge, Agency Director at Reech added: “Designed with creativity and collaboration in mind, this will proudly become Reech’s brand-new headquarters.
“It is hugely important to us that our new office meets the needs of our team today, as well as reflect our ambitions for the future. As we continue to grow, expand our services, and welcome new recruits, this space gives us the flexibility and energy to evolve. It has been carefully and considerately designed to inspire creativity, support collaboration, and attract the very best people, all while enabling us to better serve our clients and community.
“For example, a bespoke café bar has been installed for entertaining clients, and we have prioritised breakout areas, recreational space, and flexible work environments for our team.
“Plus, the agency will be opening its doors to the wider community, with freelancers able to hot desk, and local charities and organisations offered use of our state-of-the-art facilities.”
The construction is now in its final phase, with the agency planning to officially move in by the end of August 2025.
“We can’t wait to welcome clients and the community to our brand-new Reech HQ, and to start this exciting new chapter for the agency,” Rob concluded.
