MP Welcomes Employment Minister Alison McGovern MP to South Shropshire

Employment Minister Alison McGovern has visited South Shropshire with local MP Stuart Anderson to discuss boosting rural job opportunities.

The pair first visited McConnel, an agricultural machinery manufacturer that employs 190 people at its base in Ludlow. Founded in 1935, McConnel is this year celebrating its 90th anniversary.

The company moved to Temeside Works in 1950 and has been supporting local job creation since then. McConnel launched the world's first tractor-mounted hedge-cutter in 1948.

The company now offers the most comprehensive range of power arms, mowers, and cultivation machinery. Sales are made to forty different countries, including Canada, New Guinea, and New Zealand.

The pair were given a tour of the production facility in Ludlow, where machines are still designed, built, and tested. They paid tribute to McConnel's long-standing contribution to the rural economy.

The pair then visited JobCentre Plus in Bridgnorth – one of the Department for Work and Pensions' 634 established employment and benefits advice centres.

They met local partners and employers including Shrewsbury Youth Hub and Home in Stead, to discuss addressing vacancies and barriers to work in rural areas. They additionally met a team of local Work Coaches, who deliver valuable frontline employment support to residents.

The visit is the latest stage in Stuart's long-term plan to unleash rural prosperity in South Shropshire. He launched his campaign to tackle youth unemployment in October 2024. Last year, he also published an employment support page on his website.