Lack of skills, infrastructure and superfast broadband curb growth for firms in the Marches

Lack of skills, poor infrastructure and weak broadband connectivity are stopping businesses in the Marches LEP area from delivering on their full potential.

The issues will be explored when the area’s new £4m Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT) hosts a business summit next month.

The Accelerate Business Growth Expo and Conference, scheduled for November 3, will be targeting more than 150 companies looking for support to help them overcome issues holding them back. It will also signpost the various funding options available to them.

The expo has been put together by creative agency Buy-From and the MCMT itself, with the latter using its 36,000 sq ft training hub to host a mixture of networking, keynote speeches and interactive discussions.

Louise Welsby, owner of Bridgnorth-based Buy-From in Bridgnorth, said: “There’s a general feeling that more needs to be done to accelerate the growth of rural businesses, who can sometimes be overlooked when it comes to getting the right level of advice and guidance.

“A lot of the time the barriers to expansion are fairly evident and can be overcome if the right support is offered. The issue for SMEs is finding the time or the contact, who can point them to where they can access resources and funding.

“This was the germ of the idea that quickly grew after we realised the MCMT had the same vision and desire to support firms across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.”

Speakers at the event will be tasked with talking directly about the need for businesses to grow, whether through funding, resources, training, support or information about General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will affect all companies when it comes into play next year.

Matthew Snelson, managing director of the MCMT, said: “The MCMT will transform the way we train people in the area and ensure we not only reverse the skills gap we are suffering from, but will also help to retain young talent in the area.

“Over £4m has been spent on creating a world class manufacturing hub that contains some of the latest metrology, CNC machining and automation. Combine this with the best possible learning provision and SMEs/large companies have a really powerful opportunity to make the most of.

“Skills is only one issue and that is why we are looking at other ways of supporting the region, including incubation space and the future introduction of an Engineering Club.”