Large increase in turnover at Shropshire firms
The biggest companies in Shropshire have increased their turnover by almost 13 per cent over the course of the last year, new figures have revealed.
Accountants firm BDO has released details of the 200 biggest companies in the West Midlands, and found that there are 19 businesses from Shropshire among them.
The figures have revealed that in the last year, those companies – which include the likes of Market Drayton-based Muller and Stadco – enjoyed total turnover of £5.8 billion.
That represents a 12.8 per cent increase on the previous year, when the county's top companies raked in £5.1 billion.
The figures also show that the value of exports from the county enjoyed a similarly impressive uplift, with the value of overseas sales jumping by 8.2 per cent from £909 million to £984 million over the course of the year. The year before that the figure stood at £889 million.
While manufacturing is not usually regarded as the most significant part of the Shropshire economy, 12 of the 19 biggest companies around are in that sector.
That does include a number of food businesses, however, including Muller and Anglo Beef Processors – the abattoir and beef packing business with sites at Ellesmere and Shrewsbury.
Big employers from other sectors include car dealership chain Greenhous, the largest privately-owned business based in the county, stationery firm Lyreco in Telford, and pensions provider Reassure Ltd.
Nine of the companies are based in Telford, and three in Shrewsbury.
Richard Rose, partner and head of BDO in the West Midlands, said: "This solid financial progress shouldn't be seen as a coup just for the region's biggest companies but should be welcomed by the thousands of businesses in their supply chain and across the region, regardless of size.
"The growth in international sales is a huge step in the right direction and seems to be the guiding principle behind a growing number of large and mid-market businesses across our region.
"The time is now to cast aside economic worries, invest in tomorrow and forge ahead with global expansion plans, turning a worldwide thirst for British build quality into a major export opportunity."
