Business Matters: A Stronger Voice for the Forest

This month, we launched the new FEP Business Plan — a refreshed vision focused on creating a stronger, more connected and more ambitious economy for the Forest of Dean.

Importantly, the FEP is evolving into a more independent, business-led partnership. One that works collaboratively with local authorities, education providers and stakeholders, but ensures that business voices remain at the centre of economic conversations and decision-making.

Because if we’re honest, too many businesses across the Forest still feel disconnected from the conversations shaping the future of the district.

That has to change.

The purpose of the FEP is not to create meetings for the sake of meetings or to produce reports that sit on shelves. It’s about practical action, meaningful engagement and ensuring the Forest has a stronger collective voice.

The new business plan focuses on several key priorities including supporting SMEs, improving skills and workforce development, encouraging investment, and helping create better connections between businesses, education and communities.

One thing that stands out within the Forest economy is the dominance of small and family-run businesses. Over 90% of businesses in the district employ fewer than 10 people. That is one of our greatest strengths, but it also means we must work harder to create collaboration, representation and support networks that genuinely reflect the needs of local businesses.

Over the coming months, the FEP will be hosting engagement sessions across our market towns including Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney and Newent. These conversations are incredibly important because the future of the Forest economy should not be shaped by a small group of people behind closed doors. It should be shaped by those who live and work here every single day.

We also need to have honest conversations about the challenges we face.

Like many rural areas, the Forest continues to face issues around transport, skills shortages, infrastructure, access to opportunity and retaining young talent. Businesses are still navigating rising costs, uncertainty and recruitment pressures.

But alongside those challenges sits enormous opportunity.

The Forest of Dean has a unique identity. We have strong communities, beautiful surroundings, a proud industrial heritage and businesses with real ambition.

Increasingly, people want to invest, live and work in places that offer quality of life, community and authenticity — and the Forest has all of those things in abundance.

What we need now is confidence, collaboration and a clear sense of direction.

The FEP Business Plan is not the finished article. In many ways, it is the starting point.

Its success will depend on engagement from businesses, organisations and communities across the district. If we genuinely want a stronger local economy, then we all have a role to play in shaping it.

The Forest has huge potential. What matters now is whether we choose to work together to unlock it.

To find out more, read the business plan or get involved: www.foresteconomicpartnership.co.uk [email protected] Follow Forest Economic Partnership on LinkedIn and Facebook