Meeting with the Prime Minister and Chancellor
On Monday 13th September, I attended an event at the British Gas Contact Centre in Leicester, where I spoke with both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, once again making the case for why the East Midlands Hub of HS2 has to be located at Toton as well as progressing the cycling revolution in Nottinghamshire as follow on from the Prime Minister’s launch in right here in Broxtowe last year.
Stapleford has been chosen by Nottinghamshire County Council for an expression of interest as the pilot for the Government’s Mini Hollands Scheme seeking to encourage improvements to local cycling infrastructure. I highlighted to the Prime Minister how the Government has a great opportunity to revitalise interest in cycling and support a range of schemes to make active travel a more appealing option for transport and commuting.
Job Fair
On Friday 24th September, I held my Job Fair at the Pearson Centre in Beeston, the first of its kind in Broxtowe. The event was sponsored by Boots UK and delivered in collaboration with both Beeston and Heanor Job Centres. Over 30 employers attended showcasing a range of apprenticeships on offer in and around Broxtowe. The apprenticeships available were from national, regional and local businesses across a range of employment sectors. These sectors included the healthcare, hospitality, retail, beauty and engineering sectors.
Free transport was provided by local transport companies, trentbarton and tramlink to and from the event, allowing more young people to engage with employers and find out more about the apprenticeship and job opportunities available. It was great to see pupils from Bramcote College and Alderman White School attend as well as a number of sixth form students later in the day.
The event was a great success with over 250 people having attended and many people having told me that they are now following up on the vacancies on offer. I enjoyed speaking with the range of businesses and skills providers that were in attendance. I want to express my thanks to everybody that came along to support the event and I look forward to doing more in the future.
In Parliament
13th to 17th September was Nuclear Week in Parliament. I attended a number of events to hear more about the industry. It was great to meet with Julia Pyke, CFO at Sizewell C. I am in full support of plans for a fusion plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar which could create local jobs in the civil nuclear industry for Broxtowe.
I also had the chance to meet Katie Wightman, National Skills Academy Nuclear UK Apprentice of the year. Nuclear Energy provides vast opportunities for learning and employment, helping to create highly skilled jobs. It is vital we continue to invest in this sector for the decades to come.
Wednesday 15th September was Back British Farming Day, I would like to thank all the hard-working British farmers and growers across the UK, and especially those in Broxtowe. It is crucial that the Government continues to support all our farmers who feed us, as well as take care of our countryside and maintain our iconic British landscapes.
Constituency Visits
On Sunday 12th September, we marked the 100th anniversary of the War Memorial in Kimberley. This iconic and unique structure serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces in conflicts past and present.
Anybody interested in finding out more about the history of the Kimberley War Memorial can do so here.
I had a fantastic opportunity to visit the Trent Barton Bus depot and meet with their Managing Director on Friday 17th September. The company provides crucial services to constituents across Broxtowe and it was great to discuss their future plans as public transport recovers from the effects of the pandemic. We discussed the need for more electric buses on our roads as well as the Government’s National Bus Strategy and how we can do more to encourage public transport as a more sustainable and environmentally conscious way to travel.
That afternoon I attended the opening of Alfie’s Tea Room in Stapleford. It is great to see new businesses opening in the town and I hope to see more in the future as we make use of the £21.1 million towns deal funding to bring the much-needed investment into the area. Whilst there I met with Shani Merali-Siddiqui who is opening a brand new training centre in Stapleford this November.
Skills and training are a vital part of the upskilling agenda ensuring that local people have the necessary qualifications to make use of the future employment opportunities that will be secured locally. This new training centre is a great opportunity for Stapleford and I would encourage anybody interested to come along to the opening later this year.
On Thursday 23rd September I met with representatives from Awsworth Parish Council. We discussed a variety of issues including their neighbourhood plan, the volume of traffic going through the village, their desire for a country park as well as the parish boundary review. I am continuing to engage with all parish councils across the constituency who play an important role in representing our communities at the local level.
Last Saturday, I attended the Broxtowe Green Festival in Chilwell. It was great to speak with Tim Crawford, the Borough Council’s Parks and Green Spaces Manager, about the various initiatives taking place in the constituency.
I also visited the Ridewise Launch at Hickings Lane Recreation Ground in Stapleford. I am always keen to encourage people taking up cycling and I am grateful to Cycling UK for their support in funding this great event.
Constituency Office
My Constituency Office in Stapleford is now open to the public. The office will be open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 4pm. Please press the intercom for attention. If myself or my team are not available we will be working for the constituents of Broxtowe elsewhere.
As ever, I will still be available to meet with constituents. Should you wish to book a surgery appointment, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me by emailing darren.henry.mp@parliament.uk. Alternatively, please feel free to call on our temporary office number 07553839428, or write to me at 168 Derby Road, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 7AY.