From skills to flood defences - what are the challenges and opportunities facing Shropshire business

Around 70 businesses and other organisations were represented from sectors as diverse as education, sport, digital, tourism and finance.

There were even some alpacas to meet and greet alongside some tigers although they were from the Telford Tigers ice hockey club.

The Shropshire Star went along and asked those attending what they felt were the biggest challenges but also the biggest opportunities for them over the next 12 months.

Joe Lockley, Brightstar Boxing

Joe Lockley is a director and coach with Brightstar Boxing in Shifnal which runs boxing classes for all but with a focus on helping young people overcome issues in their lives. After being founded in 2018, it won charitable status last year.

Joe said: "The challenge is for people to be aware of what we do and not just be viewed as a boxing club but see the wider support we offer and the way we can change young people's lives.

"There is definitely a perception problem. People assume boxing is just for those who are big, tough and strong yet our youngest participant is four and the oldest is in their 70s.

"We are struggling to get people referred in - maybe they're anxious or introverted - but they are the ones who would really gain the most from coming to us. It's about raising the profile through story telling of young people who have really changed their lives and showcasing that.

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"Becoming a charity presents a lot of opportunities including to work alongside other sports. We recently created the Telford Sport for Change Alliance where we can offer other sports and train people from disadvantaged communities and we're about to replicate that in Belfast.

"We're doing a lot of wider work to build the sporting infrastructure to tie in with other sectors such as education. We want to prove the model works first in Telford and if it does, which I think it will, it can be replicated in other communities."

Tom Hughes, Chrisbeon

Tom Hughes is an office designer with Chrisbeon in Telford, a supplier of office furniture and stationery which recently expanded its showroom on Stafford Park.

Tom said: "Footfall is our biggest challenge with everything being online these days."We have a large showroom and have just expanded so trying to get people through the door is a big thing.

"Post-covid, there are still a lot of people working from home but many businesses are trying to encourage staff back into the office which means a change of spaces, moving away from the traditional call centre style of set up. Companies are using break out and meeting spaces and inviting people back into the office so it doesn't feel as 'office-ey'.

"A lot of our market has changed by doing breakout spaces, soft seating and canteens along with areas for people to collaborate and work together rather than remotely on their own at home. This seems to be the direction most businesses are going in to try to draw people back in this post-covid era.

"Customers are asking us for a more homely feel in the office. A lot of fabrics and textiles have changed since covid and they are after products which are less traditional and more designer."

Ellie Cole, Howden

Ellie Cole is the branch manager for insurance brokerage Howden in Shrewsbury town centre which offers a broad range of insurance products. The firm has around 110 offices across the country.

Ellie said: "The biggest challenge we face as a brokerage in Shrewsbury is the flood risk areas across the county. We have insurers which will help with that but it is certainly a challenge."It's difficult because we are right next to the River Severn and the town was built around it so it's something we have to accept.

"Technology moves on and flood defences get better and that's great but in the meantime people need to make sure they have right protection if the worst was to happen.

"There could certainly be more investment in flood barriers as we are in such a risky area of the country for flooding. We are fairly well set up for when things do happen but we could definitely do more.

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"The biggest opportunity we have is to engage with local people and get our name out there. People that live and work in Shrewsbury want to help people and clients in the town and we don't do enough of that at the moment so want to do a lot more.

"There are a lot of insurance companies out there but not many you can do and see or which will answer the phone immediately when you call and that's what makes us different. We are getting out and doing a lot more things locally such as being here and at the food festival in the summer and we also sponsor Shrewsbury Rugby Club."

Andy Lee, Shrewsbury College

Andy Lee is director of apprenticeships and employer partnerships at Shrewsbury College. His team delivers training for apprenticeships across a broad range of subjects, working in partnership with around 800 businesses and other organisations.

Andy said: "There are certainly changes coming in education and lots of them will affect our businesses and stakeholders. As an example, they are changing the apprenticeship levy so the focus of that is moving away from just being apprentices to upskilling the general workforce which could have massive ramifications.

"They are also changing the way apprenticeships are assessed which will be coming out over the next couple of years so it's important for us to make sure we're on top of it and can react.

"We need to ensure our apprenticeships respond and are ahead of what employers need. An example of that is our new food and drink engineering maintenance pathway which is going live in September.

"This sector is a priority for the Marches area yet there isn't a training provider which offers that - the closest ones are near Liverpool and Bristol. T-Levels require industry placements but we need companies to support them and, when they have actually engaged, the success stories are immense.

"We are a newly restructured department and we need to be more outward facing. Asking companies what they need in the future but equally we need companies to engage with us.

"There's never been a bigger opportunity for our region and stakeholders to shape what the future curriculum holds, whether that be vocational qualifications, T-levels or apprenticeships. I don't think the FE sector and the government have ever been listening more."

Becky White, Wrekin Conveniences

Becky White is a partner at Wrekin Conveniences in Telford which she runs with her husband Mark. It provides luxury toilet and shower hire for outdoor events and festivals across Shropshire and the wider region and also has a sister manufacturing company.

Becky said: "The biggest challenge we face is not having enough toilet trailers for weekends over the summer months and particularly June and July. We manufacture toilet trailers as well but there is a limit to how many you can have in a hire fleet but I take the positive from that as it means we're still busy.

"Another issue is having good, reliable and loyal delivery drivers because Mark cannot physically deliver all the trailers himself.

"Having the right people with the right mentality means we can maintain our quality, they are spotlessly clean and the checks are done before each trailer goes out for each job.

"Bringing the next generation of drivers on is also a problem. The drivers we have are predominantly from our generation and moving forward that could potentially be a problem. We need to get younger drivers trained up with the right mentality.

"There is great potential for growth as the number of events expands and we can tailor our trailers to more events because we manufacture our own. As needs arise, we are in a position to adapt our products."