THE Government’s new ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper is an important first step in recognising the key role businesses play in the health of their local economy, according to Shropshire Chamber of Commerce.

Chief executive Richard Sheehan said the plans outlined reflected many policies which the Chamber network had long been campaigning for.

The strategy aims to improve services such as education, broadband and transport and ‘shift both money and power into the hands of working people.’

Among the 12 key missions outlined by the Government is a pledge that pay, employment and productivity will have risen in every area of the UK by 2030.

“This is an important first step, a building block, towards addressing inequality,” said Mr Sheehan.

“In Shropshire, we are lagging significantly behind the UK average in areas such as average wages, and access to high-speed communications.”