As we bid farewell to 2024, Emma and I at the Shropshire Growth Hub would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the businesses that have been a part of our journey during this year.
We frequently receive enquiries from individuals newly arrived in Shropshire, seeking to establish a business and in need of support and advice. One thing I consistently emphasise is the unbelievably supportive business community here in Shropshire.
Our weekly networking event, "The Friday Hub," superbly facilitated by Johnny of Good2Great, is a true testament to this community spirit. The fantastic friendships, collaborations, and partnerships that have blossomed from this community are amazing.
Join The Friday Hub
(Photo : An example of Attingham Park’s Christmas decorations)
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As the year draws to a close, it seems like a good time to celebrate what we have achieved in 2024. Between April and November, we supported 1,420 businesses, helped 195 start-ups get off the ground, delivered 123 events, and brought together 2,639 attendees.
We are kicking off 2025 with a focus on what's next in digital marketing, the latest trends and innovations that are shaping how we promote our businesses.
January will see us exploring AI-enhanced bid and tender writing, alongside cutting-edge developments designed to drive success in the year ahead.
- Digital Futures: What's coming in 2025 Tickets, Wed 22 Jan 2025 at 09:30 | Eventbrite
- Marketing Masterclass | Create Your Winning Marketing Plan Tickets, Fri 31 Jan 2025 at 09:30 | Eventbrite
- AMPLIFY YOUR BRAND - STORY, SOCIAL, PHOTOGRAPHY, STRATEGY Tickets, Wed 15 Jan 2025 at 09:00 | Eventbrite
- AI-Enhanced Bid Writing: Less Pain, More Gain Tickets, Thu, Jan 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite
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Some of our advisers have shared their reflections and highlights from working at the Shropshire Growth Hub in 2024. Their articles capture the achievements, challenges and memorable moments of the year. Plus, their top tips for a successful 2025.
We hope you enjoy reading their insights and celebrating the progress we have shared.
“So that was 2024. Where has this year gone? Why is it that each year seems to go faster than the last? Then, when you think it’s going to be a standard year, we get an election in the UK and the US followed by a challenging budget to get our heads around!
But for me, this year has been another fantastic year of meeting lots of new businesses in Shropshire. That’s because I’ve had the honour and privilege of delivering a number of business support activities on behalf of the Shropshire Growth Hub.
I delivered a second 4-part series of ‘Project Management 101’, which was attended by over 30 people. In the 2nd part of the year, I hosted one-to-one surgeries at the Growth Hub Food Enterprise Centre. But as always, my favourite business support activity is to travel round Shropshire’s amazing market towns providing support via the ‘Let’s do Business’ events. It’s a great opportunity to drop in to local town libraries, meet the local characters and spend some time spreading the word about the support available from the growth hub. Overall, I probably spent time with over 50 businesses this year in Shropshire and the surrounding area, and all being well, I hope to continue this work next year.
Top Tips for 2025:
- Spend more time working ON the business not IN the business.
- Efficiency: how and where can add automation in your business.
- AI, like it or not, is the future Investigate and implement.
- Create realistic 30/60/90-day action plans and execute them!
Have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.”
Jamie Pratt, Stockton Business Consulting.
Come and chat to Jamie at the Shropshire Growth Hub in January.
Book your place here: Business Advice Sessions with Jamie Pratt - 21st Jan Tickets, Shrewsbury | Eventbrite
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“Every year, I write a list of New Year's resolutions. At the time, I’d like to think I’d keep them all but, even as I write them, I can predict which I'm likely to keep and which I won't. This year, one of my resolutions was to bring my unique business skills training to my birthplace of Shrewsbury. Now, thanks to the Shropshire Growth Hub, I’ve completed 14 workshops in Shrewsbury. My audiences have mastered how to find, advertise, price and brand any product or service. They’ve set up their own simulated businesses, pitched in my recreation of “Dragons’ Den” and some even took to the stage to present for the very first time.
However, my highlight was seeing them design their own brands of children’s breakfast cereal in just forty-five minutes. Based on the tasks contestants undertake on “The Apprentice”, they first created “Robo Munch”, a cereal inspired by robots, and later, from the world of “Dungeons and Dragons”, they unveiled “Castle Stax”.
I’m amazed by how creative and successful a group can be when they are working for a single purpose. But, whilst many of us are capable of so much more than the daily challenges we undertake, why do we find it so hard to stick to our New Year’s resolutions?
It really comes down to one factor: we forget how much our enthusiasm impacts on our motivation. As an example, here's four of my resolutions for 2025. Can you spot the two I’ll almost certainly keep and the two I’ll probably struggle to complete?
Pete’s 2025 Resolutions
- Convert all my workshop slides to AI images.
- Write the first draft of my business skills book.
- Wild camp on a beach before May.
- Kayak more.
If you predict I’ll complete resolutions 3 and 4 and fail 1 and 2, I share your assessment. Wild camping and kayaking are my passion. But, generating AI images and writing a book? I have no passion for these so what’s motivating me except, maybe, experiencing a sense of achievement.
If you want to make a resolution you’ll keep, think about what you’re truly passionate about. Amongst all the usual diet, exercise, educational and work goals, have at least one which is there simply because life is short but we can choose to fill it with exciting things.
Have a wonderful New Year, and if you can make 2025 a little bit more fun and enjoyable than 2024, you’ve achieved something very valuable.”
Peter the Speaker – Will these be the best business workshops you have seen?
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Let us know what support you would like to access and the events or workshops you would like us to deliver.
Do you have a noteworthy achievement or success story from your business in 2024? Share it with us and you could be featured in our ‘Hub Highlights’ newsletter in 2025.
Emma and I look forward to hearing from you.
Warm wishes
Anna
Email: anna.sadler@shropshire.gov.uk
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Thank you once again for being part of our community here at the Shropshire Growth Hub.
Emma and I look forward to working with you in 2025.
Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous 2024.
Warmest Wishes
Anna & Emma - Shropshire Growth Hub
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