SIR ANDREW STUNELL AND VINCE CABLE HOST ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION IN STOCKPORT

Earlier this week Sir Andrew Stunell, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hazel Grove, hosted a round table discussion with Business Secretary Vince Cable, Stockport’s leading business influencers along with past and present representatives from the Council.

It presented an opportunity for Government representatives to hear first hand from key owners and directors about the difficulties, issues and challenges that are faced every day in the workplace which may infuence future policies and to help get businesses back on their feet.

Contributors to the discussion included Marketing Stockport members Oliver & William Robinson from Frederic Robinsons – a major employer in the town; Tony Hughes and Stephen Dootson of Bredbury based Hughes Safety Showers and UKTI’s Champion for Export; former leader of Stcokport Council Dave Goddard; Councillor Shan Alexander; Kamal Basran from Authentic Foods; Collette Roach, Group HR Director of Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and Gilllian Eason, Chair of Stockport NHS Trust.

Financial Support is Available …

Topics debated included access to funding for SMEs, in particular the measures that have been put in place to encourage the banks to lend to business, designed to help to ‘kick-start’ the economy, encourage growth and recruitment in the workplace.

Tony Hughes critised the banks for not encouraging businesses to benefit from the funding made available:

“More should be done to make businesses aware of the funding that is availabe to them; it seems that the banks are almost reluctant to lend this money that the Government has made available and yet this is exactly what is required to assist in growth and aid the economic recovery”.

100:100 Apprenticeship scheme …

       Last Friday, Andrew Stunell MP, Stockport
       Council, National Apprenticeship Service
       and Stockport Express joined forces to take
       on the challenge of securing 100 Stockport
       apprentices in 100 days.

       The joint campaign was launched at Aldi in
       Romiley, who have committed to take on
       apprentices within the 100 days.

       Pictured Left:
       Sir Andrew Stunell with Aldi apprentices

Although Stockport’s JSA claimant rate continues to decrease month by month, and is below the North West average, getting more young people into employment is a priority for the Borough. Apprenticeships are a powerful and vital tool in achieving this.

Commenting, Andrew said –

“I’m delighted that the Council, NAS and Stockport Express have agreed to work with me to boost apprenticeships in Stockport, and that we were able to set it off to a flying start at Aldi.”

Topical issues …

Two other very topical issues were debated including the anticipated amendments to the Immigration Policy, where it was agreed that this could have both a positive and negative effect in terms of our access to a highly skilled workforce and how a Single Market may impact on UK businesses.

Following Tuesday evening’s discussions, Vince Cable later appeared in a BBC interview.