As readers may know, I ran my own SME before becoming an MP in 2015 and had the privilege of creating jobs in the real world. I have transferred that passion to Westminster, and it has been one of my top priorities to promote the employment and training opportunities that are on offer in South Suffolk. It is also the case that finding staff remains one of the biggest challenges facing local businesses. As such, I have held Jobs Fairs in Great Cornard, Hadleigh and Sudbury over the past three years, to facilitate the crucial link between job seekers and local businesses and organisations.
Last year’s Jobs Fair was attended by almost 1,000 people, with more than 50 businesses, organisations and charities showcasing their range of opportunities – it was a really positive day for Sudbury’s local economy, and the Sudbury Arts Centre showcased its ability to support major local events. As such, I’ll be holding this year’s Fair in the Arts Centre again on Friday April 4 at 10:00 – 13:00 in Sudbury. It is intended for people at any stage of the employment cycle, in addition to students currently attending school or sixth form, people considering a change of direction, or those who may be seeking training opportunities. Previous fairs have led to real life success stories, including attendees being interviewed and employed on the spot, with one attendee leaving the fair last year having found their dream job in the NHS – that’s what these events are all about.
In addition to helping people into employment, I am particularly passionate about supporting our local businesses. It's one of the reasons why I’ve been so focused on the impact of the Government’s very significant hike in National Insurance, coming into effect in April – which I am concerned will fuel inflation and force prices up further, not least in sectors such as hospitality where businesses simply don’t have the kind of wiggle room to absorb the increase.
I’m worried about the potential impact of this tax, especially as the cost of living remains an issue for many – but the key point is it’s not just businesses who will be affected by the Government’s National Insurance increases, it’s also health and care providers and the voluntary sector. Over the last few months, I have met with GP’s, social care companies and affected charities, with the latest being East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices. Also known as EACH, they are a wonderful local charity delivering end of life care for children. National Insurance increases are a particular concern to them as 85% of their funding is from private donors - including revenue from shops such as the one I visited on Hadleigh High Street. Their CEO reiterated that the NICs rise will hit them hard, affecting their ability to provide their ‘outstanding’ services. As such, I have written to the Chancellor on a number of occasions to express my concerns.
But we shouldn’t panic, instead we should focus on doing everything possible to help our home-grown workforce and support the local economy through championing what’s on our doorstep. I’ll be doing what I can to boost tourism, through highlighting attractions such as Gainsborough’s House and their multi-million-pound gallery; supporting the High Street and East Anglian wine by shopping local whenever we can; and of course, by backing our fantastic local businesses such as AFT Trenchers who manufacture trenching equipment in Sudbury to be exported all over the world.
We have much to be proud of in South Suffolk and I’ll continue doing all I can to be a strong voice for our businesses, charities, and local people.
James Cartlidge is Conservative MP for South Suffolk
Published in the East Anglian Daily Times.
