‘Never a better time to enter the jobs market’
MORE and more people are feeling the pinch with the cost of living increases caused by energy price rises and inflation.
It is a strange fact that there are more job vacancies across every region of the UK than people who are unemployed.
This is true in every part of the country and across all business sectors, in businesses large and small.
The effect of staff shortages is that goods and services are in shorter supply and more difficult to deliver, which in turn leads to inflationary pressures.
As we emerge from the pandemic, many people are looking at a different way of working, or indeed a different job, and the labour market has never been more fluid.
There are so many opportunities out there, and never a better time to consider the options.
Locally employers are keen to recruit at all levels of experience.
So, now is the right time to act, whether you are looking for that first job, considering a move to a different job or thinking about upskilling.
That’s why I decided, along with my city colleagues Jack Brereton MP and Jonathan Gullis MP, to host a Stoke-on-trent Jobs and Skills Fair from 10am until 3pm tomorrow at the King’s Hall.
You will find a wide variety of local employers, training providers and organisations that can offer advice.
This is a great opportunity to explore the wide range of options that are available locally. Whether you’re considering a college course, an apprenticeship, or simply looking for a job, the Jobs and Skills Fair will have something to offer.
My MP colleagues and I will be there throughout the day for you to chat about any issues that we can help with.
In other news this month, I have been looking at the challenges of energy price rises as vice chair of a backbench business committee and conducting an inquiry into how government can support consumers and businesses to reduce their energy bills over the short term.
The report was published at the end of April and complements the Government’s own report, which looks at longer-term solutions. I am pleased to say it has been welcomed by the Government, and I expect uptake of a number of the ideas we proposed.
As prices continue to rise, our weekly shopping becomes more expensive.
I have spoken out about the fact that measures that restrict junk food promotions in the interests of our health shouldn’t be delayed.
I welcome the approach of some retailers to ensure value ranges which offer the basic ingredients for a balanced diet are affordable or offer discounted fruit and vegetables.
I have also called for sufficient investment in school meals to ensure every child has access to good quality, nutritious meals in school.
We cannot expect our children to learn and achieve their full potential if they are hungry. Food is such an important part of our lives, and that is why I have called for more action on the National Food Strategy recommendations, which look at the whole food system from field to fork.
During the Queen’s Speech debate on health, I spoke out about my passionate belief in the importance of food for our health, our life chances, and the economy.
■ I support the right to good food as a fundamental pillar of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda;
■ I support a school foods standard to ensure young people have the fuel to learn;
■ I support bringing cookery skills and an understanding of nutrition into the school curriculum at every key stage and through community organisations such as family hubs;
■ I support measures to enable British farmers to produce the food we need and the food industry to innovate and adapt to incentivise them to create healthier and more sustainable products.
I will be talking more about this in the coming months as I plan to host a food summit in our city later this year. It will look at the future of food, sustainability and innovation and showcase how Stokeon-trent is pioneering ideas that stem from our heritage.
Ever since the days when Josiah Wedgwood used alchemy to create worldleading ceramics, Stoke-on-trent has been home to a rich seam of creativity and innovation.
Our history has centred around fusing culinary heritage, creativity and ceramics. Watch this space...