Retailers, developers, creative industries, technological and professional services invest into the organisation and the combined annual corporate turnover for Shropshire’s local economy from our private sector members is in excess of £150million.

Advantage West Midlands
The history of the West Midlands economy is one of reinvention and ingenuity, constantly adapting to changing circumstances and making the most from new opportunities. However, today the region underperforms relative to national and international competitors. In 2005, output per head was 92% of the UK average. This equates to a £10 billion output gap – in other words, the region’s economy would be £10 million richer if our output per head were the same as the UK average.

Advantage West Midlands is the regional development agency working with SEP to help Shropshire contribute to closing that economy output gap.

Visual Art Network
VAN is a charity that aims to promote, maintain, improve and advance education by developing public appreciation and understanding of visual arts and by improving access to, and the quality of, the visual arts in the county of Shropshire and its environs. This Partnership works with local artists and businesses in Shropshire to promote the quality of the contemporary art being produced in this locality. In 2006, in partnership with Halls Fine Arts, a brand new annual contemporary art auction was launched.

Taste Shropshire
A consortium of restaurateurs, writers, producers and a publisher producing print and on line publications to promote the county’s fine food and drink industry.

Shropshire Newspapers Limited
A strong partnership between this Partnership and the leading media company in the region, encompassing:

Shropshire Home HQs - supplements profiling and promoting home-based entrepreneurs across the county.

The Shropshire Star is the evening newspaper for Shropshire and Mid-Wales, printing eight editions per day, six days-a-week. Shropshire Newspapers have led the field in newspaper technology for over a quarter of a century.

Enterprise Nation
A UK business, based in Shropshire, developed for the millions of people who are starting and running their businesses from home or spending part of their employed working week at home. Shropshire’s home-based entrepreneurs and employees feature regularly through this national company.

Small Business Service
The Small Business Service (SBS) is an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. The simple vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a business. We have close connections with the SBS Executive following the work on the inaugural Enterprising Britain competition.

Advantage West Midlands
This Partnership is currently delivering two key projects funded by the regional development agency.