Shropshire Council successfully invested £5 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) 2022–2025 Programme to support local businesses across the county, delivering a significant boost to the local economy.
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The funding offered comprehensive and customised support to businesses at all stages of development, from promising start-ups to well-established enterprises seeking growth and job creation. Targeted assistance was provided to key sectors like agri-tech, food production, and tourism, in addition to broader support for businesses of all sizes.
Gary Spence, Shropshire Council’s external funding and technical lead officer in the economy, funding and skills team, said:
“We collaborated with partners and funded county-wide initiatives that we thought would offer the most comprehensive support to the widest range of businesses.”
This support included energy efficiency improvements, growth planning, innovation vouchers, equipment and property refurbishment grants, leadership, finance, and staff training, as well as product design and 3D printing services.
Real Impact Across the County
The programme’s impact is evident in the success stories of local businesses.
The Net Zero Project helped Morris & Company to develop their strategy and plan their net zero journey by 2045.
Katie Morris, Marketing Director, Morris & Company, said,
“Working with The Clean Tech Business Group has been fascinating. We now have a clear benchmark and timetable against which we can deliver, continuing our ambition to remain an ecologically responsible business.”
The Shrewsbury BID received UKSPF funding for their WISH initiative, providing 53 grants totalling over £139,000 to local small businesses. The grants funded branding, marketing, signage, staff training, and relocation.
Emma Alston, CEO of Emma Alston Voice attended the UKSPF funded Shropshire Leadership programme, developed and delivered in Shropshire by Aston University. She said,
“I recommend the Shropshire Leadership programme, especially for its exceptional networking, mentorship and peer learning opportunities. A big thank you to Aston University ‘s dedicated team who supported me.”
Tourism and Visitor Economy Boost
The Destination Management Project, led by the Council’s Visitor Economy team, supported 70 tourism businesses and trained over 100 individuals in areas such as food safety, first aid, and accessibility. The project also relaunched the Shropshire’s Great Outdoors website, enhancing digital access to walking and cycling routes alongside country parks and outdoor events.
Pauline Jones, Visitor Economy Project Officer, said:
“This project improved skills, inclusivity, and visitor experiences, particularly for small tourism enterprises.”
Manufacturing and Digital Innovation
Businesses like Risdon & Risdon, Hobsons Brewery, and Iron and Fire Ltd received support through the Shropshire Manufacturing Growth Programme.
Joanna de Rycke, Managing Director, Iron and Fire Limited said,
“We are delighted to have successfully applied for grant funding from the Shropshire Manufacturing Growth Programme. The funding for our ecommerce AI powered chatbot will fundamentally support our online business through enhanced customer service and will future proof the role of a key member of our in-house digital team. We were also referred to the Shropshire Skills Hub, another UKSPF funded project, to train some of our key staff.”
A Lasting Legacy
The programme supported 1,414 enterprises and awarded 182 grants. This support resulted in the creation of 204 new jobs and the launch of 90 new businesses. Additionally, the initiative contributed to a reduction of 6,631 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, indicating its focus on sustainability.
Cllr Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Economic Growth said,
“This investment has substantially improved our local economy. To establish a robust economy, it’s essential for businesses to innovate, grow, and strive towards sustainability. We are proud of this programme’s positive impact in enabling businesses throughout the county to achieve these goals and we are eager to build upon this success.”
Further information
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a fund allocated by the UK government and managed by local authorities in partnership with local stakeholders. Its purpose is to replace the funding previously provided by Europe and to address inequalities between communities.
The overarching objective of the fund is to build pride in place and increase life chances. The programme includes 3 investment priorities:
- Supporting Local Business
- Community and Place
- People and Skills
The Supporting Local Business Priority focused on supporting local businesses to thrive, innovate and grow.
Recently, Shropshire was awarded a further £1,431,774 capital and £2,892,904 revenue funding for 2025/6 enabling many of the projects and initiatives to continue for another year.
For more information about the fund see https://www.investinshropshire.co.uk/relocating-and-investing/uk-shared-prosperity-fund/
For more information about the projects supported by the fund in Shropshire see https://www.investinshropshire.co.uk/uk-shared-prosperity-projects/
