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- Ben's Relocation Story
Ben's Relocation Story
Born and raised in Ipswich, Suffolk, Ben studied in London before heading overseas to work in South East Asia. After meeting his partner, he moved into a campervan and travelled Britain before settling in Shrewsbury.
When Ben isn't walking in the Shropshire Hills AONB, bouldering at the local climbing centre or rehearsing for an appearance in a local musical theatre production, you'll find him tackling climate change and fuel poverty in his 9-5 as a Senior Project Manager at Marches Energy Agency.
How did I come to Shrewsbury?
I met my partner after returning to the UK, and we bought a van and went on an adventure – travelling round the whole of the UK for about 6 months.
At the end of our campervanning adventures, we had planned to move to Manchester, and we'd been pet-sitting for people in and around the city while trying to find a place to rent. While looking for pet-sitting jobs, we came across a long-term pet-sit in Shrewsbury – a town we'd never visited previously.
We came across a long-term pet-sit in Shrewsbury – from the day we arrived, we fell in love with the town
We decided to go for it, and from the first day we arrived, we fell in love with the dynamic market town, and we quickly got to explore the beauty of the surrounding Shropshire Hills through our many dog walks.
By the time our 3 months of pet-sitting were over, we'd made the decision to stay, found jobs and were ready to call the town our home!
What made Shrewsbury 'the one'?
Shrewsbury is unlike any market town I've visited across the UK. It has a unique dynamism and you'll find a broad range of demographics living and working together. There's a rich history to its streets and buildings, but there's also a strong young community that feels a real sense of local pride and offers an injection of creativity and free thinking. The combination keeps Shrewsbury fresh and vibrant while still celebrating its historic roots.
The 9-5
When I was looking for work in Shrewsbury, I was drawn to Marches Energy Agency because of their commitment to climate change issues. I could also tell the charity was driven by an authentic passion and drive, which is so important for a non-profit.
There are several charities similar to my own in the country, and they all operate quite differently. I believe that the nature of the people who live and work in this area is key to the positive working culture in my office.
Again, it comes back to that strong sense of community that's apparent across Shrewsbury and Shropshire. Our charity's ability to collaborate with local groups has had a hugely positive influence on how we’ve worked and grown as an organisation.
A typical day is...
I'll usually have meetings with my team in our office by the river, take a colleague out for a 1-2-1 at a local coffee shop for a change of scene, or cycle across town to the local authority's office for a catch-up on the projects we partner on.
On other days I might get the train into Birmingham, an hour away, to attend networking events with other organisations in the industry. Or I might find myself at a community centre in Shrewsbury, delivering advice to residents on how they can improve their homes' energy efficiency, save money and reduce their carbon footprint.
I can very easily travel to and from different events and hobbies on foot or by bike.
I have an amazing work-life balance. Particularly with Shrewsbury being so compact and the fact I live close to town, I can very easily travel to and from different events and hobbies on foot or by bike.
My Shrewsbury Top 5
Coffee shop
Shrewsbury Coffeehouse offers good coffee, and they host ad-hoc/private events in the evenings sometimes too.
Eatery
Hickory’s for the customer service alone! My partner and I feel welcomed like friends every time we stop by there. And I must mention Okra as a lunchtime spot – 100% plant based, and the food is divine! I also love their quirky cross-legged seating set-up.
Day out
During the summer, there’s an event on in the local park, The Quarry, almost every weekend. Going along to something like the Shrewsbury Food Festival is a great day out.
Hidden gem
Tucked away down one of the many little passageways in Shrewsbury town centre is a wonderful local business called Slogunz. The lady who owns and runs the place does her own prints and will also do bespoke pieces for clients – she sources high-quality materials for all her clothing, and now half my wardrobe is from her store!
Neighbourhood
Castlefields is a lovely neighbourhood, full of picturesque Victorian terraces, that backs onto the River Severn. It's quiet but still only walking distance from the town centre.
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