Delegates taking part in a workshop session at the Marches Business Resilience Coalition
Businesses, infrastructure providers and local authorities have come together to discuss resilience and green growth opportunities through the Marches Forward Partnership (MFP).
The workshop explored how joint action through the MFP can strengthen the region’s response to environmental and economic pressures, with discussions focusing on shared barriers and the practical steps organisations can take forward together.
There was unanimous support from participants for being part of the Marches Business Resilience Coalition and for continuing to work collaboratively through the MFP. Discussions highlighted a clear need to help bridge existing skills gaps across the region, alongside recognition that current regulatory frameworks can act as a blocker to innovation if not addressed in a co-ordinated way.
Participants also emphasised the importance of more joined‑up planning and thinking behind work pipelines, including improved data sharing between organisations, to ensure investment opportunities can be developed and delivered at scale. A strong desire was expressed to position the Marches as the Capital of Rural Britain, by adopting this pioneering, collaborative approach to green growth and resilience.
The workshop sits within the MFP’s wider programme of work to support green growth and long‑term resilience across the region.
Led by Powys County Council and Shropshire Council, the MFP is progressing a green growth programme, central to which are:
- Marches Environmental Investment Platform (MEIP): A concept to attract private capital and direct it to land managers by addressing barriers such as unclear returns, risk quantification and fragmented project pipelines.
- Marches Environmental Delivery Vehicle (EDV): A proposed governance model to bring together communities, buyers, investors, policy makers and delivery partners.
- Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS): A pilot project led by the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Powys and Shropshire Councils to explore large‑scale water infrastructure solutions.
The workshop contributed to the green growth programme’s aim of developing a regional model for long‑term environmental investment, supported by the Marches Business Resilience Coalition.
Speaking on behalf of the MFP, Jake Berriman, leader of Powys County Council, said:-
“The message was clear: the region wants to move faster and think bigger. That means backing skills, cutting through barriers that slow progress, and lining up plans so ideas can turn into delivery.
“There’s real confidence that the Marches can lead the way as the Rural Capital of Britain and this kind of joined‑up approach is how we make that happen.”
Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for transport and economic growth added:-
“Listening to what the delegates were saying, what came through very clearly was the appetite to move beyond discussion and towards coordinated action. Partners recognised the importance of aligning planning, regulation and delivery so opportunities can be developed at scale and with confidence.
“The strength of this forum is in bringing different sectors together, sharing insight and building a shared pipeline of work that supports innovation, resilience and green growth across the region.”
Insights from the session will shape the next phase of MFP programmes, including work on long‑term investment, MEIP development and more co-ordinated cross‑border collaboration, including delivery of the SVWMS.
The Marches Forward Partnership includes councils from Shropshire, Powys, Herefordshire, and Monmouthshire, working together to unlock investment and deliver transformational change across the England-Wales border.
