By Shropshire Chamber CEO RUTH ROSS

One of the most important roles of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce is ensuring that the concerns, challenges and ambitions of our business community are heard by decision-makers in Westminster.

Over recent months, we have strengthened our engagement with the county’s MPs, creating more opportunities than ever before for employers to share their experiences directly with their elected representatives.

Through a series of roundtable discussions, we have been able to bring together business leaders and politicians to discuss the issues that matter most to the future prosperity of Shropshire.

These conversations have covered an incredibly broad range of topics, reflecting the diversity of our local economy and the challenges facing businesses operating across both urban and rural areas.

We’re grateful to all five of the county’s MPs this year – Labour duo Julia Buckley and Shaun Davies, Mark Pritchard and Stuart Anderson for the Conservatives, and Helen Morgan for the Liberal Democrats – for giving up their time.

One clear theme to emerge has been the pressure many businesses continue to face from rising operating costs. From employment expenses and utility bills to ongoing inflationary pressures, businesses emphasised the difficult decisions they are having to make around investment, recruitment and growth.

There was a strong message that confidence remains fragile, and that policymakers must fully understand the cumulative impact of rising costs on businesses of all sizes.

The future of Shropshire’s visitor economy has also been a significant focus of discussion. Businesses highlighted both the tremendous opportunities and the challenges facing the sector. While there is huge optimism about Shropshire’s unique appeal as a destination, concerns were raised about proposals that could affect the county’s competitiveness and ability to attract visitors.

Businesses have emphasised to our MPs the importance of continued investment in tourism infrastructure, destination marketing and visitor experiences to help unlock further growth.

Alongside economic concerns, rural crime has also emerged as a major issue. Discussions highlighted the growing impact of organised criminal activity, including theft, fly tipping, wildlife crime and other offences that can have significant financial and operational consequences for businesses.

Many participants called for a clearer national strategy, stronger enforcement and greater resources dedicated to tackling crime in rural communities.

Businesses spoke about the need for better coordination between public agencies; improved collaboration between organisations and clearer lines of responsibility.

The growing threat posed by cyber crime and digital security risks has also featured strongly in the discussions. As businesses increasingly adopt technology-driven processes, the need to improve awareness, resilience and security planning is becoming ever more important.

What is encouraging is that these discussions have not simply been about identifying problems. They have been constructive, solutions-focused conversations that demonstrate a shared commitment to helping Shropshire thrive.

Businesses, MPs and the Chamber all recognised the importance of working together to influence policy and drive positive change, and we are determined to build on this momentum.

We are working more closely with Shropshire’s MPs than ever before, ensuring that businesses have direct access to decision-makers and that local concerns are represented in the corridors of Westminster. These roundtables are giving our members a powerful platform to shape policy discussions and influence the decisions that impact their future.