I hope readers enjoyed the festive season looking forward to 2017 with optimism.
As your local MP one most enjoyable things about December is the number of church services and community events I attend on top of my usual visits schedule. If you would like to invite me to a community event in 2017 please contact me.
In the run-up to Christmas I was delighted to support our local shops on Small Business Saturday. I visited small businesses across the constituency.
Coming from a family of high street shop owners myself I know first-hand the importance of these firms in building a thriving economy. So, in Westminster, I’ve backed a range of measures to make it easier for small businesses to set up and thrive including a cut in corporation tax, help with business rates and support for apprenticeships. Let’s keep backing our local shops by using them.
I’m also keen to showcase our area to a national audience, so it was great to be able to welcome BBC Radio 4 to the Leigh Park Working Men’s Club to talk about the technological changes that were highlighted in a recent report I wrote about how technology is changing the workplace. Our area can be a national leader in areas like 3D printing which will create the jobs of the future.
Thanks to the more than 1,000 people who came to Hayling Island Community Centre in October for my first ever Havant Older Persons’ Information Fair. It was a big success with over 40 local charities, businesses and community groups engaging with older people and their families.
My next big free community event will be the Havant Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair on Friday 3 March at the Horizon Leisure Centre – everyone is welcome. Building on last year’s successful event, local employers will be offering a wide range of jobs and apprenticeships, so save the date. Thank you to local residents for your continued support.
