TENBURY is in one of the fastest growing economic areas in the country.

Its growth is due to the success of businesses like Orchard Valley Foods in Burford that has become one of the largest employers in the area and it is exporting all over the world.

But Tenbury MP Harriett Baldwin, who was appointed as city minister following the success of the Conservative party in the General Election, believes that the area has even greater potential to become an engine of recovery.

The MP, whose West Worcestershire Constituency includes Tenbury, has offered her continued support to local entrepreneurs during a meeting with the Federation of Small Business.

She has urged the Federation to accelerate its work helping small businesses to branch out and export to global markets.

Mrs Baldwin met with the Federation’s Ken Wigfield and Angela Fitch to discuss strategies to make it easier for small businesses to grow in West Worcestershire.

According to recently released research, Worcestershire is the third fastest-growing economy in the country and record numbers of small businesses were set up in West Worcestershire over the last five years.

“The Federation is working hard to promote the interests of local small business and I look forward to backing ‘Small Business Saturday’ later this year,” said Mrs Baldwin.

“I have met with many successful businesses over the last year who chose to live and work in wonderful Worcestershire.

"Many of them are exporting their goods and services abroad and each company is a great ambassador for our region.

“I am keen to encourage more companies to try exporting and I met with the FSB to work out what we can do to help businesses to expand into international marketplaces.

“More and more companies are starting up and creating new jobs and wealth and I continue to do all I can to support them as they grow.”