If you want to know how the economy is doing, look out for the number of white vans on our streets. New figures released last week by the motor industry revealed the highest level of registrations of new commercial vehicles and vans for seven years; and an eleven per cent increase on the previous year. […]
With 2015 well underway, and as we are making and following our resolutions for the new year, I would like to ask for your help with an event I am organising later next month. On Saturday 28th February I will be leading a community walk along the coast, from the lighthouse at Dungeness to the Step […]
Over the last two years we've seen a strong performance from our local economy with new businesses starting, established firms expanding and big falls in unemployment. Excellent infrastructure like high-speed rail and the Channel Tunnel has undoubtedly made East Kent an attractive place for businesses to invest. We can't stand still though and further investment […]
I am organising my second Folkestone Jobs Fair at The Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone on Thursday 6th November to put people looking for work, in touch with the local firms who have vacancies to fill. New jobs and apprenticeships are being created, both locally and across the region every week. Shepway has many growing businesses, […]
Three years ago I set up a competition for new businesses to allow them to exhibit for free at the annual Conservative Party conference, in a special area called the Start-up Hub. This week we have launched the competition again to find twelve new businesses to take part in the Start-up Hub, following the 33 […]
The latest figures on unemployment published last week showed further significant progress for our area. In the Folkestone and Hythe parliamentary constituency unemployment has fallen by one third since May 2010. There are now more than 800 people fewer out of work and claiming the job seekers allowance in our area than there were a year […]
There is nothing more exciting in business than to see someone take an idea, turn it into a new venture, and then make it work. Start-up businesses have been one of the big success stories of the economic recovery so far. That's thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of the people who have set […]
I outline below how the budget will help businesses through cutting business taxes, encouraging exports and easing some of the costs of everyday expenses. This is a good Budget for businesses, because the Budget reduces business taxes. It also helps give incentive to business to invest in growth by giving them tax breaks in the […]
George Osborne recently announced the positive news of improved economic growth and employment. Our long term economic plan is helping to restore growth and stability, but there is more we need to do to secure the recovery. In his budget there were a variety of proposals which affect all us of differently, so below I […]
The Budget presented to the House of Commons last week by George Osborne, contained much to interest savers, pensioners and local businesses in particular. I know from speaking to a large number of retired residents over the last few months, that there has been considerable concern about the low levels of return they have been getting […]