Last week I met with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) both in Westminster and in my office in Rugby to discuss the outlook for businesses both here in Rugby and nationally.
I was struck by how positive businesses are about the future and this is supported by the recent survey the FSB has conducted, which shows that business confidence at the beginning of 2017 has bounced back to pre-Brexit levels. As someone who ran their own business in Rugby for twenty five years before entering Parliament, I know how importing having confidence is when deciding whether to hire new staff or expand the business. The discussions I had in Parliament focused on how we can ensure that Government support small businesses, especially those in the manufacturing and export sectors.
Since the vote on the 23rd June last year to leave the European Union there has been much said about the impact this decision will have on businesses, but this survey shows that many businesses are confident about the new opportunities that will come as we forge a new global role for Britain. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and I was very encouraged by the findings of the FSB and I know that these feelings are shared by many businesses in Rugby.
One of the greatest success stories in our local area has been the incredible resurgence that the Midlands has seen in automotive manufacturing. One of the biggest employers is Jaguar Land Rover, who have recently announced ambitious plans to double their production to one million vehicles a year as part of their expansion in Coventry. This would see thousands of new jobs created locally, with proposals to develop the next generation of electric cars at their Whitely headquarters. Alongside this, 2017 will see the opening of the London Taxi Company’s new factory at Ansty, which again will build the newest incarnation the iconic black cab. These decisions to investment in the UK will create jobs throughout the local economy and demonstrates that despite Brexit, the future of manufacturing in the UK is looking very positive.