In the past few years, we have seen a number of world-leading companies showing their confidence and investing in Swindon, with Amazon, Panattoni and BMW alone investing a combined £1.5 billion. With Swindon very much open for business it is great to see businesses either expanding in Swindon or relocating to Swindon, creating the next generation of jobs for our growing town. Our employment rates remain the envy of most towns across the UK.
I was therefore delighted another world-leading company announced a major expansion. World-leading Japanese company GS Yuasa very kindly invited me to take part in their prestigious ceremony to open its new battery facility at Ignition Park. At 16,000 square meters, the building is very impressive and can store up to one million batteries and 23,000 pallets and now will not just be a consolidated Swindon facility, but also their European HQ.
The opening was a little different to the traditional ribbon cutting as I was asked to join the President of GS Yuasa to take part in a Kagami-biraki ceremony. The Kagami-biraki is a Japanese ceremony performed at celebratory events, in which the lid of the sake barrel is broken open by a wooden mallet. The kagami (lid) is a symbol of harmony and breaking it represents an opening to harmony and good fortune, something everyone raised a glass to toast as the sake was shared out!
Swindon also welcomed a new charity, with Upcycle Swindon opening in the Techno Trading estate. Already well established in Gloucestershire, they opened their doors for the first-time. Upcycle Swindon is part of the Forest Upcycling Project, which aims to upcycle, and re-sell donated furniture. Selling furniture at a more affordable price can help families and individuals in need. They will also work closely with the Local Authorities and organisations like Women’s Aid.
Following visiting Macmillan’s parliamentary coffee morning a couple of weeks ago, I have been trying to visit as many of our community coffee mornings around Swindon this week. I hold the record for MP visits to these events, covering 9 in one day before heading to Parliament. This is certainly one of the most enjoyable parts of my role as an MP – though I don’t recommend that much coffee before voting!
Macmillan are an amazing charity, providing vital support for people affected by cancer, and their families. In Parliament, I have worked closely with them on a number of national campaigns where we have successfully shaped improved support.
The coffee mornings raise money to help fund the amazing work Macmillan do across the country, so I want to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers who organised our local coffee mornings and baked all the delicious cakes.
Finally, as an MP you often face a grilling! I have had navigate scrutiny on the national media rounds, appearing at the Despatch Box or at a Select Committee, however they are only a gentle warm up compared to my visit to the 7th Swindon Scout Group to discuss my role as their MP! A quick-fire Q&A followed, covering hundreds of topics ranging from nuclear weapons, climate change, defence spending right through to whether Messi or Ronaldo was the best footballer. It was great to see them so engaged and enthused, a real credit to our local community!
