Homecoming for Shropshire racing car firm
A family car firm has moved from Wales back to its home in Shropshire with the help of a council grant.
Valley Motorsport will move into a refurbished unit at the Tern Valley Business Park, near Market Drayton, thanks to funding from the Market Drayton Business Grant Scheme.
The company restores and prepares historic racing cars, especially Jaguars, for clients across the world.
Director Dan Morris said: "We started the company in Shropshire nine years ago. All of our employees live locally in Shropshire, but we expanded so quickly, we had to move into Wales to find the additional space we needed.
"This meant that our employees had to commute, and our business was split over two sites. However, we are now delighted to be able to bring the entire business back home."
The Market Drayton Business Grant Scheme is funded by Shropshire Council and administered by the Marches Growth Hub, and was launched in 2017 to support businesses moving to or setting up in the town.
A 50 per cent grant contributed to the £137,000 transformation of the unit at the Tern Valley Business Park.
Dan continued: “The grant has been a huge help. We could not have developed the building to the specification we needed without it.
Customers
"We have a number of high-value customers who take cars to high-profile races in Europe and the UK each year. It’s our job to get the cars race-ready and ship them to wherever they are needed.
"We now have a purpose-built modern workshop and can entertain these clients in first-class premises, and in our home county of Shropshire.
“The tremendous support we received from Marches Growth Hub Shropshire and Shropshire Council has also made the application process a smooth one.”
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for assets, economic growth and regeneration, said: “We are really pleased we have been able to assist Valley Motorsport in securing this grant.
"It has helped the company to streamline their business and create efficiencies, as well as create and safeguard jobs.
“The grant scheme was launched to encourage economic development and to support the growth and expansion plans of businesses in the town through capital investment.
"Enabling businesses to grow and succeed is one of our key economic growth priorities and the grant scheme is helping us to drive forward investment in Market Drayton and create jobs."
Grant money is still available for eligible businesses. To learn more email marchesgrowthhub@shropshire.gov.uk
