Heading up four teams within the Economic Growth Service and lead for Invest in Shropshire. Key functions include growing the reputation of Shropshire, leading on the delivery of effective key account management, generating and delivering inward investment, directing business support and grow on services including delivery of the Shropshire Growth Hub, external funding programmes and skills, careers and enterprise in the most efficient and effective model.Key successes have included; - Development of the £164m covid-19 business grants and wider business support programme. - Leading on the transition of the Marches LEP legacy programme to Shropshire Council as accountable body. This has included the transition of the Marches Growth Hub, Marches Careers Hub, DBT KAM programme and RGF, GBF and MIF funding programmes. - Overseeing the delivery of Shropshire’s £15m UKSPF programme.

Visit Shropshire is the official destination management organisation dedicated to promoting Shropshire as a top travel destination. It supports tourism and hospitality businesses to develop by showcasing the county’s unique offerings, including its beautiful landscapes, historic sites, and vibrant cultural scene. Visit Shropshire provides information on accommodation, events, dining, and activities, helping visitors plan their trips with ease via visitshropshire.co.uk. By connecting travellers with local experiences, Visit Shropshire plays a key role in supporting the local economy, highlighting the best of what Shropshire has to offer and growing the visitor economy which is now worth over a billion pound a year to the county.

The Shropshire Economic Partnership (SEP) Board was formed following the merging of the Shropshire Economic Taskforce and Shropshire Business Board. The SEP co-created Shropshire's economic growth strategy and how it can support local businesses, strategic locations and employment and skills in Shropshire.Comprised of representatives from public, private, education and voluntary sectors, the SEP Board has been set up to convey a single business voice for Shropshire, champion growth and sustainability for the business community and put Shropshire firmly on the map as a county to invest, grow and do great business within.The Board will take an active role in concentrating on the most important local issues affecting businesses and will oversee preparation to create an action plan, review existing projects and funding opportunities, and review its performance against a stringent monitoring process which looks at indicators such as productivity, wages, investment, homes, and jobs in Shropshire.

Shrewsbury BID is a not-for profit partnership working with over 500 businesses in Shrewsbury town centre. The BID work with partners to enhance the trading environment and experience as well as attracting new visitors to discover all we have to offer. Whilst I have worked with Shrewsbury BID throughout my time at Shropshire Council, my role recently has been to deputise for our Exec Director of Place and offer support to the BID as part of its renewal process as it heads towards a third term. I have also worked extensively with the BID through a range of business support programmes as well as offering support and guidance to businesses within the BID area throughout the pandemic.

The aim of the Marches Careers Hub, across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, is to create a community of schools, academies and colleges which, by working collaboratively, accelerates the achievement of the 8 Gatsby benchmarks across the Hub, ensuring that career outcomes for young people are improved.

Shrewsbury Business Chamber provides a collective voice and ensures business issues reach the right officials. A not-for-profit membership organisation which is headed up by a volunteer business focused Executive Committee. The Business Chamber works closely with other local private and public sector organisations for the betterment of businesses from across the Shrewsbury area.

Oswestry Business Improvement District (BID) is a not-for-profit organisation funded by, and working for, levy paying businesses in the town centre and industrial estates. In February 2018, Oswestry BID was voted in by businesses to represent and support over 300 levy paying businesses; investing over £1.3 million over 5 years into the town. The BID2 ballot took place in October 2022, with businesses voting YES for a second BID term for another five year, starting in April 2023.

Originally established by Midlands LA’s, LEP’s and the regional DIT team to develop the Midlands UK MIPIM presence from 2017-2019 and the Midlands UK Forum for Growth in 2020, from September 2020 developing into the Midlands International Trade and Investment Advisory Forum. The Forum provides advice and intelligence to the Midlands Engine Partnership on the development of the Region’s international trade and investment programme. The Forum is also used to discuss issues, shape and suggest initiatives and identify areas for collaboration across the Midlands.

The Group will be responsible for:• Championing small and medium sized businesses across the Marches and shaping business support policy to meet local needs.• Working collectively to design, develop and deliver business support projects to meet recognised strategic priorities where new funding opportunities become available.• Working strategically to influence and inform the Government’s proposed business support reform programme.• Providing oversight of Marches Growth Hub (MGH) performance.

CREST was set up by University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS) to develop and increase the productivity of businesses in the area, specifically those that want to focus on their environmental credentials. The centre works with SMEs and start-ups in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin with support provided through research and specialist advice, helping SMEs to develop innovative ideas and products before bringing them to market. CREST is supported by an Industry Advisory Panel who provide recommendations, independent advice, information and direction to the project. The panel consists of experts from all areas of industry including environmental, manufacturing, consultancy, energy, and the council.

The Economic Task Force was established to react swiftly to the covid-19 pandemic bringing together key partners, stakeholders and organisations from across the County, with three distinct sub-groups established for employment and skills, town centre recovery and sectors. The taskforce led a phased economic response, identifying immediate actions required to restart the economy, short term actions to revitalise and medium to long term measures focused on growth. The Task Force merged with the Shropshire Business Board to create the Shropshire Economic Partnership Board in 2023.

The Shropshire Business Board is a business-led, joint private and public sector Board. Its main purpose is to be responsible with Shropshire Council and partners for the joint delivery of the Shropshire Economic Growth Strategy and to act as ambassadors for the County. The Board provides challenge to the Council and will bring the voice of all businesses across Shropshire to the table to assist the Council to be as business friendly as possible.

Senior team member for the inward investment service and line manager for the Stoke-on-Trent based Investment Managers and wider team. I was part of an inward investment service attracting mobile investment and supporting the expansion of major existing investors in the area. This was achieved through a combination of delivering customised support and aftercare to existing companies wishing to grow or relocate and targeted marketing to attract companies from outside the area to relocate.

Part of a newly created inward investment team dedicated to raising the levels of investment in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Liaising with key partners to establish a red carpet reception service for inward investors and companies wishing to expand and relocate in the area is a key part of this role. This involves establishing protocols with internal council services and agreements with external partners to provide a single point of access for potential investors and a comprehensive package of customer focused services to maximise appropriate investment. Other key roles include developing and managing a comprehensive land and property interactive database; building and maintaining contacts with commercial property agents; gathering market intelligence from clients and enquiries; developing targeted promotional and marketing packages for companies working in priority sectors; handling a portfolio of clients and securing delivery of key enabling services including identifying and sourcing grants and funding where appropriate.

Within this position I coordinated and supported the implementation of designated Council Environmental Regeneration programmes. This would include managing and monitoring projects, and reviewing progress against service outcomes, preparing grant applications and developing fund raising opportunities, which support the objectives of the service. I would also assist with the financial management of the service's activities, exercising appropriate budgetary control as well as supporting the delivery of the Department's Service Plan and wider corporate environmental objectives and co-ordinate the Service’s promotional and marketing activities.

My role was to assist in the implementation of the Bilston Regeneration Strategy by attracting investment to Bilston and securing development interest in sites by securing external funding. I also played a project management role within the team, which included preparing reports and taking action to authorise expenditure, liaising with community bodies and the private sector and strengthening links between these groups and the Council. A key part of the role also included being responsible for the Regeneration Forum and ensuring links were created between the Town Centre and proposals for the Bilston Urban Village.

My role included preparing reports and collecting data on how Wolverhampton could establish links with other countries and culminated in the completion of the “Why Invest in Wolverhampton?” marketing report.