We are home to many innovative businesses in high-growth sectors such as technology, telecoms and life sciences. We are ideally placed for the raft of investment and opportunities which the Government has announced for science, technology and defence. I will:
- Hold regular meetings with Ministers and local businesses to ensure their priorities influence Government policy, especially in the new Science, Innovation and Technology Department;
- Increase business investment, working in conjunction with local business leaders and central Government to maximise opportunities in key growth areas;
- Hold annual jobs fairs to boost employment and apprenticeships;
- Champion job opportunities for women. Whilst chair of the Women & Work Parliamentary Group, I consistently lobbied Government for a Women’s Employment Taskforce and strategy to support women’s employment in the recovery, particularly in areas where they have been historically underrepresented, such as science and technology.
I have also successfully campaigned for a new Code of Practice to impose financial penalties if employers seek to exploit workers through the use of ‘fire and rehire’ tactics and I have consistently campaigned for the protection and enhancement of workers' rights.
