West Midlands jobs have been given a boost by new schemes which have created 135 roles in the region.
Initiatives like the £16 million Rural Enterprise Centre Network, RE:think Energy and the Redundant Building Grant Scheme have encouraged rural businesses to increase trade and, in the process, create more employment.
The Rural Regeneration Zone (RRZ) chairman Peter Pawsey said: "The Enterprise Centre Network now has its two main hubs operational at Battlefields, Shrewsbury and Hereford and, when you combine these with spokes at Ludlow and Leominster, we have over 63 young businesses already established creating jobs."
He added that the Redundant Building Scheme, which offers help to companies wanting to refurbish underused buildings, has invested £600,000 and created more than 100
construction jobs.
The Rural Regeneration Zone scheme recently helped turn a former tool store at the Gaudet Luce Golf Club into a new office for a software company.