Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Posted by Laura Sandys, MP for South Thanet, at 09:48, Mon 30 September 2013:
It was encouraging to see that unemployment in Thanet has fallen again- for the sixth month running. This was followed by more positive news with the announcement that 1.4 million new jobs have been created by the private sector over the past three years alone.
In Thanet, the green economy is really starting to take off. Our wind farms are proving to be a real boon to the area, and the industry is already calling us 'The Aberdeen of Wind'! This kind of new investment coming into Thanet is key to job creation and I have been helping to attract these investors- even going so far as successfully pitching Thanet to a business owner I met on a train! Along with this, I've been spearheading a campaign for more central government support to entice investors, which we have now secured.
In just a year the world class Discovery Park is already boasting some global players providing an exciting proposition for future job creation. It too is benefiting from the green wave sweeping over Thanet with its most recent edition being X-Wind Power, a wind turbine manufacturer boasting 'potentially game changing technology'. The company is actively recruiting at the moment, seeking to take on 16 people this year with hopes of another 90 in the next five. Another green business looking to establish itself in Thanet is Estover, who are keen to build a £65 million biomass plant at Discovery Park creating 100 jobs during construction and 40 permanent positions.
I am absolutely passionate about supporting people into employment. For the past two years, Sir Roger and I have held some of the country’s largest annual jobs fairs in terms of both number of jobs available and employers attending. Skills are also central to employment and we need to ensure that young people are leaving school better equipped for the world of work. I am hugely enthusiastic about apprenticeships and recently co-sponsored a Bill in Parliament on the subject of young apprenticeships. I firmly believe that young people should -as they did in previous years- have the option of undertaking an apprenticeship from 14-16.
Last week's announcement shows that things are certainly looking up but jobs absolutely must continue to be at the top of our list of priorities.
- Laura's View- Thanet Extra- 18th October 2013
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