DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MEETS MARKETING STOCKPORT, MAN’S WAYNE JONES, ADIDAS AND AXION CONSULTING

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP, and the Local Growth Cabinet Committee came to Mark Hunter’s Cheadle constituency last week and visited some local businesses along the way.  

The Deputy Prime Minister chose to chair the Committee in the North for the first time at MAN Diesel’s local HQ, highlighting the Coalition Government’s campaign to create an economic core in the North that will enable the region to compete on a global scale. 

Nick Clegg’s first port of call was at Adidas’ Northern European HQ in Hazel Grove where he hosted a question and answer session with local businesses and students from local schools, urging them to have their say on what they want the future of the North to look like as promoted under the Northern Futures project.

The Deputy PM focussed on the question “how do we de-centralise from London and give greater control outside of the city of London?” suggesting that the major northern cities take a collaborative approach, working closer together to push harder for the north.

In answer to the subject of what part education has to play, Mr Clegg said that “greater esteem be given to vocational as well as academic studies to achieve a broader and better balance; improve basic skills and attainment in literary and numeracy skills and give greater opportunities to start early, from the age of 2 years in the Early Years curriculum – these together should make a big difference”.

Following the Q & A session, the group moved on to the MAN Diesel & Turbo UK Ltd’s offices where Mark introduced the Deputy Prime Minister to Senior Vice President of MAN Diesel UK, Wayne Jones, ahead of the Committee’s meeting which focused on how to devolve more powers away from London to a coalition of Northern cities, where their expertise can be supported with greater money and powers. He also announced £6.4 million of funding for north-west firms through the Regional Growth Fund, and signed the £476.7 million Greater Manchester Growth Deal, which will help create up to 5,000 jobs, allow more than 75,000 homes to be built.

Left to right, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP, Mark Hunter MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander MP, Lib Dem Cllr candidate for Bramhall South and Woodford Ward, Jeremy Meal meet with apprentices at Axion Consulting

Nick Clegg and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP, were then taken by Mark to visit local Bramhall business Axion Consulting, recycling industry specialists where particular attention was spent on their successful apprenticeship scheme before a private meeting with Marketing Stockport co-founders Helen White & Richard Higginson.

Commenting after the visits, Mark Hunter said:

‘It was great to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister back to Cheadle constituency again today.  The Liberal Democrats in Coalition Government are committed to encouraging investment and growth in the North, and it was a pleasure to show senior members of government around three successful companies that have recognised what a fantastic place Cheadle constituency is to do business.

‘My sincere thanks to Adidas, MAN Diesel and Axion Consulting for hosting us, and to the Deputy Prime Minister for delivering the good news of investment in Greater Manchester; almost £500 million directly in the Local Growth Deal, and a share of the North West’s £3 billion Regional Growth Fund.’

The Deputy Prime Minister commented:

‘My thanks to Mark Hunter MP and Cheadle constituency for a warm welcome today.  The Coalition Government’s Regional Growth funding has so far reached £460 million in the North West, supporting 84 projects and encouraging over £2.5 billion in private sector investments. 

‘Along with the Local Growth Deals, the City Deals and the Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Coalition Government wants to make real, lasting change for the region.  We do not want to make these decisions from Westminster however, we want local residents to have their say on how they want to create an economic powerhouse that will be able to compete with the biggest cities in the world.’