The Department for Transport has confirmed that Avanti West Coast, the rail franchise operator on the West Coast Mainline, will end the direct Shrewsbury to London service from June 2 this year.

Currently Shropshire is served by two direct to London services and from June commuters will need to change at either Wolverhampton or London to reach the capital. Under this change, services to London will depart from Birmingham New Street and return trains will terminate at Wolverhampton on weekdays and at Birmingham on weekends.  

Shropshire Chamber, on behalf of the business community, is urging decision makers and stakeholders to reverse this decision and ensure that the county is serviced by at least one direct connection to the capital.

The Shrewsbury to London rail services provide a vital link between the county and the capital and discontinuation of this service risks isolating Shropshire businesses from the growth potential having a direct connection to the capital brings.

Ruth Ross, Chief Executive, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce said: “Shropshire Chamber of Commerce has long identified that one of the key barriers to growth in Shropshire is the lack of transport infrastructure both locally and nationally, which is fit for purpose in terms of both road and rail."

"The Chamber is therefore very concerned and believes that the cancelling of direct services between Shropshire and London is not only damaging to the local economy but also short sighted given the county’s recent success in being named as one of “10 Destinations to watch” globally by ABTA.”

“Businesses need fast, reliable and frequent direct services between Shropshire and London allowing them to make new connections, sell their goods and services and to showcase the great business community that we have here in Shropshire to both national and international audiences. The withdrawal of the direct rail service can only be detrimental to the ability of the Shropshire business community to generate economic growth for our region.”

The Chamber is keen to hear the views of all businesses on this issue and you can send your thoughts to our Policy team by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A Special Skills Showcase will highlight more than £1million of funding available to boost skills and training across Telford & Wrekin.

The event on September 20th – being staged by Telford & Wrekin Council at the New Bucks Head – will feature a headline presentation by an inspirational business founder who uses his life in the care system and success as an entrepreneur to deliver motivational business advice and training.

Guest speaker Andy Smith – who founded award-winning Smash Life with his brother Matt to deliver bespoke training, mentoring, group work and inspirational talks ­– will talk about ways businesses can attract young people from all backgrounds and how to develop a culture that works for your business to retain and invest in the right people.

Andy said he was delighted to be taking part in what he described as a ‘hugely important’ event.

“We know through our work at Smash Life that it is critical that businesses know just what support is out there and that we develop the skills of youngsters from all backgrounds in a way which is good for them and for their future employers.

“Events such as this can make a real difference in shining the spotlight on the training, opportunities and support available and help Telford and all its businesses continue to deliver the skills needed for the modern world of work.”

The event is bringing together employers, training providers and business support experts to deliver a comprehensive picture of the skills and training support now available to businesses in the borough.

Councillor Eileen Callear (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Visitor Economy, said the event was a must-visit for any businesses which wanted help and advice on how to develop its workforce’s skills.

“There is a huge amount of help and support available in the borough as well as more than £1million in funds to help ensure skills meet the needs of our companies.

“The event will help employers find out just what support they can access – such as the apprenticeship levy transfer from the Council now in place which means we are able to transfer funds for new recruits or existing staff to develop their skills – and is aimed at employers in the borough who want to build for the future.”

The event - part of the Thrive Telford business support programme, funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – starts at 8.30am and includes a range of speakers and presentations.

Telford & Wrekin Council’s Invest Telford team will highlight its Skills for Growth which aims to help businesses struggling with workforce development challenges, as well as update employers on existing schemes available to support them. There will also be a presentation about the new Digital Skills & Enterprise Hub being built in the Town Centre at Station Quarter.

Nahara Hanson, HR manager of car dealership Greenhous, will detail how the apprenticeship levy can help businesses give youngsters their first step on the careers ladder and the results her own company has achieved through it.

Matt Lowe of Shropshire Chamber will outline the findings from the first phase of its Local Skills Improvement Plan project – designed to gain a better understanding of the area’s skills and training requirements – and local training providers will feature in a special showcase throughout the event.

Event compere Amy Bould – managing director of leading communications agency Be Bold Media – will also oversee a question and answer session with a panel of experts including Andy Smith, Matt Lowe and Louise Harding, the council’s business advisor for forward investment and business support.

For more details or to register attendance, follow this link.

The Chamber holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) once per year, usually in the autumn. Any Member of the Chamber can attend the AGM but voting is restricted to one vote per Member company.

At the meeting, Members vote to approve the accounts, to approve the appointment of new Chamber Directors, to approve the minutes of the previous AGM and vote to approve the appointment of the Chambers’ auditors for another year.

Occasionally, changes may need to be made to the Articles of Association or other governance policies and these are also voted on by Members at the AGM.

A Notice of Annual General Meeting, the audited accounts, the previous AGM minutes and the annual review will be posted on the website 21 days before the date of the AGM giving Members the opportunity to ask any questions or make any enquiries before the meeting itself.

If you would like to see the Chamber's Articles of Association click here 

Compliments Policy

Shropshire Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing the highest levels of care to all of our customers. We are always happy to hear from our customers who would like to share positive feedback on their experience with the Chamber of Commerce.

Should you wish to share a compliment with the Chamber of Commerce, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. detailing your feedback.

Complaints Policy

Shropshire Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing the highest levels of care to all our customers. If you are in any way dissatisfied with our services then please let us know as soon as possible. This will help us to continually improve our service to you.

What to do if you have a complaint:

Written complaints may be sent to Shropshire Chamber at Trevithick House, Stafford Park 4, Telford, TF3 3BA or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Verbal complaints may be made by phone to 01952 208200 or in person to any of Shropshire Chamber’s staff or the Chamber President at Shropshire Chamber at Trevithick House, Stafford Park 4, Telford, TF3 3BA or at any of our events.

Our complaints procedure:

Complaints can be made by letter or email. We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint, in writing, within three working days.

We take all complaints seriously and aim to address your concerns thoroughly, promptly, and politely.

Your complaint will be passed to the relevant Line Manager, with a copy to the person concerned The Line Manager will undertake a full investigation surrounding your concerns, including speaking to all relevant parties necessary.

We will respond to your complaint within 5 working days. If it is not possible to reach a prompt conclusion, we will contact you with an explanation, and set out expected timescales by which matters should be resolved.

Any correspondence will be treated in confidence. An exception will be made in the event that a third party is implicated by your complaint, and we need to discuss the details of your issue with them in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

We aim to resolve all customer complaints as quickly as possible. The length of time will depend on the issues involved. If it is not possible to reach a prompt conclusion, we will contact you with an explanation, and set out expected timescales by which matters should be resolved.

Compliments & Complaints Policy updated 25 August 2023.

From Friday 16 February until Monday 22 April National Highways will be carrying out maintenance work on the M54 through Shropshire.

National Highways will  be resurfacing the carriageway and replacing crash barriers on a bridge between junctions three (Cosford) and four (Telford services) on the M54 and improving drainage between junctions six and seven at Wellington.

It is expected that both carriageways of the road will be shut at times during the work, with closures limited to weekends and overnight periods. Diversions will be in place using the A5 and A41 for the work around Shifnal, and through the town centre in Wellington.

Full dates

• Friday 16 February at 9pm to Monday 19 February at 6am - M54 eastbound full closure between junction 4 and junction 3.
• Friday 23 February at 9pm to Monday 26 February at 6am - M54 westbound full closure between junction 3 and junction 4.
• Friday 1 March at 9pm to Monday 4 March at 6am - M54 eastbound full closure between junction 4 and junction 3.
• Monday 4 March to Friday 15 March, 9pm to 6am, Monday to Friday - M54 westbound full closure between junction 6 and junction 7.
• Friday 8 March at 9pm to Monday 11 March at 6am - M54 westbound full closure between junction 3 and junction 4.
• Monday 11 March, 9pm to 6am - M54 westbound and eastbound full closure between junction 3 and junction 4 to install temporary safety barrier with 24/7 lane closure and a 50mph temporary speed limit.
• Monday 18 March to Friday 29 March, 9pm to 6am, Monday to Friday including Tuesday 2 April and Wednesday 3 April - M54 eastbound full closure between junction 7 and junction 6.
• Thursday 11 April, 9pm to 6am - M54 westbound and eastbound full closure between junction 3 and junction 4 to remove lane closures and temporary safety barrier.
• Friday 12 April at 9pm to Monday 15 April at 6am - M54 eastbound full closure between junction 4 and junction 3.
• Friday 19 April at 9pm to Monday 22 April at 6am - M54 westbound full closure between junction 3 and junction 4.

Following the completion of the work, there may be a requirement to install some daytime lane closures at this location. This is to allow third party cabling work to take place.

During closures fully signed diversion routes will be in place and National Highways will make every effort to ensure the impact on the local community and travelling public is kept to a minimum. Emergency vehicles will have access throughout

You can Find out more

If you’d like to be kept up to date with future works along the M54 you can by

• Subscribing to National Highways mailing list by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
• You can call National Highways on 0300 123 5000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• You can also visit their website at nationalhighways.co.uk/our-work/ 

Click on the links below to view the documents (pdf):

Copyright covering all documents below: If you wish to quote or use any of the details within these reports please contact Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, in writing, to make your request.

• Marches LSIP Stage 1 FINAL REPORT (W)
• Marches Annex 1 (W)
• Marches Annex 2 (W)
• Marches Annex 3 (W)
• Marches Annex 4 (W)
• Marches Annex 5 (W)
• Marches Annex 6 (W) Employers Voice
• Marches Annex 7 (W)
• Marches Annex 8 (W)
• Marches Annex 9 (W)
• Marches Annex 10 (W)
• Marches Annex 11 (W)
• Marches Annex 12 (W)
• Marches Annex 13 (W)
• Marches Annex 14 (W)
• Marches Annex 15 (W)
• Marches Annex 16 (W)
• Marches Annex 17 (W)
• Marches Annex 18 (W)
• Marches Annex 19 (W)
• Marches Annex 20 (W)
• Marches Annex 21 (W)
• Marches Annex 22 (W)
• Marches Annex 23 (W)

Businesses in the Shropshire area (subject to eligibility) can now access the Chambers fully funded ‘Business Growth Through Upskilling’ programme, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Shropshire Council.

Our Business Growth Through Upskilling Programme combines two elements

1. A Fully-funded 5 Day Active Leadership Programme with a commercial value of £4,500 alongside coaching and mentoring, with delegates entitled to three hours of one-to-one coaching.

2. A series of fully funded short courses (starting 2024) to provide rapid upskilling across Shropshire's Market Towns. Courses are subject to availability and be delivered across a range of topics and subjects.

The Active Leadership Programme is an innovative solution to the challenges faced by business leaders today. With the world evolving at a rapid pace, leaders must be equipped with the right set of skills and tools to stay ahead of the curve. 

Effective leadership is critical in navigating changing environments and driving growth. Leaders who embrace change and possess the skills to leverage technology, promote creativity, and improve organisational performance are essential. The development of leadership skills is key to retaining talent and enhancing the competitiveness of businesses in Shropshire.

The course will focus on three main elements:

1. Understanding ‘Me’ as a Leader - Understanding of themselves and others, and ability to challenge and influence.
2. Managing for Results - Understanding how to keep performance on track.
3. Leading for the Future - Communicate a clear vision and seek continuous improvement.

Participants will be asked to complete some post workshop activities to embed learning.

The development of leadership skills is key to retaining talent and enhancing the competitiveness of businesses in Shropshire.

Check your eligibility 

To be eligible for 2 places on the programme, your business must meet the following criteria:

• Be registered with Companies House and/or HMRC as; a sole trader, micro, small or medium-sized enterprise, with a Shropshire Council Local Authority address.
• Charities are not eligible.
• Other ineligible sectors are: Primary food production including commercial fisheries and related Agri-environmental schemes (these are subject to other funding mechanisms), arms and ammunitions, gambling, financial services, mineral and ore extraction and rail and air services (this list is not exhaustive).
• Social enterprises, that engage in economic activity, are eligible.
• The business’ business rates liability must fall within the Shropshire Council Local Authority.
• Any business already part, or fully, funded by the government/Local Authority is not eligible. An example of this would be an NHS funded care home, or State school etc.
• Each participant on the active leadership programme must already be at a managerial level (team leaders can be considered).
• The business does not have to be a Chamber member to be eligible, and no Chamber member benefits will be used for this training. The UK government funding is administrated by Shropshire Council, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). Shropshire Chamber of Commerce is delivering the ‘Active Leadership Programme’ funded by UKSPF, and therefor, have no control over eligibility criteria or funding allocation, and no membership of the Chamber is required.
• Places are limited to 2 per business.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025.

The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

For more information, please contact the Project Coordinator, Amanda Gosling. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click here to register your interest in our Active Leadership Programme

These terms and conditions apply to the business training, networking and events provided by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce.

Our events take place online and in person in a range of formats including webinars, conferences, exhibitions, workshops, classroom-based training courses and networking events.

When you book to attend any of our physical or online events, you are agreeing to be bound by these following terms and conditions.

Booking and payment

Bookings may be made online or on your behalf by a member of the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce membership team.

Members of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce can benefit from preferential booking rates on most events. Price promotions or discounts on delegate fees must be applied at the time and cannot be used retrospectively.

Unless otherwise stated, event fees include admission to the event or training course, delegate materials, where applicable and, for physical events only, light refreshments and/or lunch where specified.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card at the time of booking or by BACS or bank transfer immediately upon receipt of invoice.

All fees must be paid in full prior to the event taking place or in accordance with the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce terms and conditions of business.

Cancellations and Transfers

All event cancellation and transfer requests must be made in writing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or, in the case of a training course cancellation or transfer, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Bookings or cancellations made as a non-member or a former member not currently paid-up will not be eligible for any refunds or transfers for whatever reason.

Bespoke or tailored courses or events which have been requested outside of the Chamber calendar of scheduled training or events will not be eligible for a refund or transfer for whatever reason.

Network Club members who do not attend regularly may be asked to resign their Network Club membership to allow the space to be taken up by another member company. In this instance there will be no refund of fees.

Where a delegate transfers his/her/their booking to another course or event, the delegate will not be entitled to any refund if he/she/they cancels attendance at that other course. Only one transfer is permitted per course per delegate, and more than 14 days’ notice is required – the fee will be charged as below.

Where a delegate wishes to transfer his/her/their booking to another person to attend on their behalf, this can be done up to 1 day before the course or event takes place by contacting a member of the membership team.

Events

**Membership allocations not cancelled in advance and/or none attendance on the day will result in a 50% cancellation charge.

Training

**Membership allocations not cancelled in advance and/or none attendance on the day will result in a 50% cancellation charge.

Alteration / Cancellation by Shropshire Chamber

It may be necessary for Shropshire Chamber to change the content, date or timing of an event or training course, the trainer, or the venue. In this event a full refund will be made unless the delegate transfers his/her/their booking to an alternative date. The liability shall be limited to the fee paid with no allowance for consequential loss whatsoever.

Late Arrival

It is the responsibility of the delegate to plan to arrive at the event or training course on time. Full course details, including start date, time and location will be sent to the delegate well in advance and delegates arriving very late may not be given access to the session, at the discretion of the trainer or event manager.

Photography and Video

By agreeing to these terms and conditions, delegates herby grant the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce the right to take photographs of them and authorize the use and publication of said images in print and / or electronically. Said images may be used without reference to the delegate’s name (unless specific permission has been granted otherwise), and may be used for any lawful purpose including, but not limited to, publicity, illustration, advertising, and web content.

Delegates who do not want their image to be used should notify a member of the registration team at the event.

Use of Personal Information

The contact details given to the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce to complete the booking process may also be used before, after and during the event in the following ways:

Before the event, we may send delegates information such as registration instructions for accessing only events, or directions to venues for face-to-face events or training. Information may also be shared with our event managers and trainers to assist in their planning of the session.

At the event, delegate’s names, job titles and company names will be available on a delegate list offered in either hard copy or virtually at the time of the event.

After the event, delegates may be sent follow-up emails relating to the event they have attended or invitations to similar events.

Delegates who do not want their name, job title or company name to appear on any delegate list, or for their job title and company name to be passed on for the purposes described, should notify us at the time of booking by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Download the Business Support Flowchart - Shropshire Council area

Download the Business Support Flowchart - Telford & Wrekin area

• Business Growth through Upskilling - Shropshire Chamber of Commerce
• Work in Shrewsbury Programme -  https://shrewsburybid.co.uk/ 
• Shropshire Manufacturing Growth Programme - https://www.shropshire-mgp.co.uk/
• Sustaining Shropshire
• Decarbonising Shropshire Business Supply Chains - The Clean Tech Business Group ltd
• Shropshire Leadership Programme - Aston University Birmingham UK
• West Midlands Growth Programme
• Shropshire Startup - https://good-2-great.co.uk/
• Silverpreneurs - https://silverpreneurs-ltd.com/the-programme/
• Clean Growth Marches & Worcestershire - Worcestershire County Council
• Shropshire APF - https://www.aston-apf.uk/ 
• Telford UKSPF Grants - Invest Telford 

The following terms and conditions (“the Conditions”) are the terms on which Shropshire Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Limited (“the Company”) sells to other businesses and supersede all other terms and conditions used by the Company.

1. Orders, price and payment

1.1 No contract shall come into existence until the Company confirms the order for Membership, Goods or Services in writing (“the Services”).

1.2 The price (exclusive of VAT) for the Services (“the Price”) shall be the quoted price of the Company and payment of the Price shall be made by the Buyer in accordance with the invoice instructions or payment schedule which shall become the due date (“the Due Date”) of the payment for the Services and time for payment shall be of the essence.

1.3 The Company reserves the right to amend its Services and Price from time to time without notice.

1.4 If the Price is not paid by the Due Date the Buyer will be liable to an additional payment of reasonable liquidated damages. Interest shall accrue both before and after any court judgment on the unpaid portion of the Price at the rate of three per cent above the base rate from time to time of HSBC UK Bank plc.

1.5 Any cancellation of any order by the Buyer must be in writing and agreed as cancelled also in writing by the Company. In case of any cancellation, the Buyer may be released from its obligations under the contract after payment of a sum for reasonable liquidated damages.

1.6 The Buyer agrees to pay the Price of the annual membership fee (“Subscription”) to the Company as set out in 1.2 and annually thereafter at renewal.

1.7 The Company may agree for the Buyer to spread the cost of the annual Subscription over 12 equal instalments and the Company reserves the right to impose an additional charge for the administration of this facility without notice.

1.8 The Company reserves the right to impose on the Buyer a processing charge which shall represent the cost of administrating for each failed or cancelled direct debit payment and may opt to withdraw the direct debit payment facility from the Buyer without notice wherein the remainder of the annual Subscription shall be due in full.

1.9 Termination of the annual Subscription may be requested by the Buyer by providing the Company with notice of cancellation in writing of not less than three months (90 days) before the day that the next Subscription may be due and unless such notice of intention is given, any Subscription for the subsequent year is payable in full. The Buyer will not be entitled to any refund, either in part or in full, of any Subscription paid.

2. Membership, Goods & Services

The description and quantity of the Services to be sold shall be as set out in the quotation provided by the
Company to the Buyer (“the Quotation”).

3. Delivery of Services

The Company shall provide access to the Services to the Buyer on the date as both are shown on the Quotation and time shall be of the essence. In the case of the annual Subscription the Buyer will not have access to the Services until such time as payment has been received by the Company.

4. Acceptance

The Company must be advised in writing by recorded delivery of any defects in the Services as soon as they are discovered by the Buyer who shall be deemed to have accepted the Services if they have not been rejected on or before the seventh day after provision of the Services. The Buyer shall not be entitled to reject the Services in whole or in part thereafter.

5. Title and Risk

The Goods shall be at the risk of the Buyer following delivery and, notwithstanding delivery, title in the Goods shall not pass to the Buyer until the Buyer has made payment of all sums owing to the Company failing which the Company shall have the right to repossess or otherwise recover the Goods. Until title passes the Buyer shall hold the Goods as bailee for the Company and shall store or mark them so that they can at all times be identified as the Goods of the Company.

6. Limitation of liability

6.1 Save in respect of personal injury or death due to any negligence, the Company shall not be liable to the Buyer in respect of any loss suffered by the Buyer due to any defect in the Services.

6.2 Without prejudice to Condition 6.1 the Company shall not be liable to the Buyer or any third party for any loss of profit, consequential or other economic loss suffered by the Buyer arising in any way from this Agreement.

7. Set off and counterclaim

The buyer may not withhold payment of any invoice or other amount due to the Company by reason of any
right of set-off or counterclaim which the buyer may have or allege to have or for any reason whatsoever.

8. Force majeure

The Company shall not be liable for any default due to any circumstance beyond the reasonable control of the Company including, but not limited to, Acts of God, war, civil unrest, riot, strike, lock-out, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, flood, earthquake or shortage of supply.

9. General

9.1 If any term or provision of these Conditions is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason by any Court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed and the remainder of the provisions hereof shall continue in full force and effect as if these Conditions had been agreed with the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision eliminated.

9.2 The Company may without the consent of the Buyer sub-licence its rights or obligations or any part of these Conditions.

9.3 The headings in these Conditions are for ease of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the Conditions.

10. Contract

Notwithstanding any other provision of this agreement, nothing herein shall confer or is intended to confer a benefit on any third party for the purpose of the Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 or for any other purpose.

11. Entire agreement

Each of the parties agrees that save in respect of statements made fraudulently it shall have no remedy in respect of any untrue statement upon which it relied in entering this Agreement and that its only remedies shall be for breach of contract.

12. Governing law and jurisdiction

The laws of England and Wales shall govern this Agreement and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.