Six in ten Shropshire employers expect their business to grow in 2027 and they want more technical, digital and leadership skills in their workforce to make that happen, research has revealed.
Shropshire Council is responding to the challenge with a new blueprint for skills and employment to be launched at the county's flagship annual event for businesses.
The Business Leaders' Breakfast on Friday, January 22, 2027, will bring together Shropshire's key employers and education and skills leaders, putting a spotlight on skills and workforce development for growth.
Councillor Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader of Shropshire Council and Cabinet Member for Transport and Economic Growth, said: "We've listened hard to employers across the county. They've told us they're ambitious to grow and that they need people with the right skills to do it.
"Many are already investing in their workforce, for example, engineering and manufacturing apprenticeship completions are up 68% in three years.
"But two-thirds of employers say they need more technical and job-specific skills and half have identified a need for digital and IT skills, from everyday workplace systems through to data, AI and cyber security.
"Our response has been to work with businesses, further and higher education providers to develop a Skills & Employment Strategy for Shropshire.
"This event is the opportunity for employers to find out what support will be available to help them recruit, train and develop their people and to tell us where they want us to focus first. Their support will be key to making the strategy work."
Attendees will hear from one of the county's largest employers and an SME about how they are tackling their own skills needs; from skills experts about support on offer to businesses and from education leaders developing the training and courses for the next generation of Shropshire employees.
The event, at Shrewsbury Town Football Club, is hosted by Shropshire Council and Invest in Shropshire with The Marches Careers Hub.
It runs from 8.00am to 10.30am and places are free but limited. Book via Eventbrite.
