Following my re-election in 2019 I’ve been working on my six-point plan for Halesowen & Rowley Regis, and a key component of that is taking practical action on jobs, skills and employment.
The last few years have been a turbulent time as we’ve had to grapple with unprecedented global circumstances, and both the pandemic and conflicts abroad have led to inflationary pressures and rises in the cost of living, with a ripple effect that has reached right down to our local economy.
Since 2020, the rise in buying goods and services online and the increase in working from home has led to a change in how people work, and it’s important that we adapt to the realities of the new ways of working and doing business and embrace the opportunities that they bring.
Over the last 14 years as an MP, I’ve met with many businesses across the constituency, and as well as conversations about the goods and services they offer, I’m always interested to hear about how they are growing and developing their workforce, how they’re benefitting from apprenticeships and investing in their employees.
To take practical action, I’ve hosted regular jobs & skills fairs since becoming an MP, and the recent Career Expo I held at the Cornbow Centre, in conjunction with Halesowen BID, Halesowen College and the DWP, was my 13th since 2010. Over 40 employers and training providers were in attendance, and it was interesting to hear about the opportunities they were offering.
I’ve also been involved in discussions recently about two exciting new projects that are going to boost educational provision in our area – a Sandwell College Satellite Education Hub for Cradley Heath, and a new site for adult learning in Halesowen, provided by the College. These have been made possible by central Government investment, through the Towns Fund and Levelling Up Fund respectively.
I will keep doing what I can to ensure that Halesowen & Rowley Regis is a great place to work and train and ensuring that local job creation can help to grow our local economy.
This article first appeared in the Halesowen & Dudley News on 14th March 2024.
