Last week, we heard the fantastic news that the UK economy grew by 7.5% in 2021, following the huge impact from Covid that hit both our lives and the economy in 2020.
Since the start of the pandemic, I am sure none of us have really known what the future had in store. I’m sure no one could have foreseen spending over £370 Billion in support of people and businesses over the past 2 years. To put this amount into perspective, the Department for Work and Pensions’, which is the highest spending Government department, entire budget in 2018/19 was £187 bn. This shows the monumental cost that Covid had and the importance of putting the country back on a strong, economic footing.
Through the Government’s ambitious levelling up projects, our skills agenda, investing in new, green technologies to name just a few, we are seeing jobs being created which is moving us forward. It’s also a great testament to the ambition, creativity and flexibility of UK businesses, who have adapted and done an amazing job.
The number of payroll employees was 409,000 people higher in December than it was before the pandemic. Our Plan For Jobs has been working to create jobs not just for now, but for the future. This is about a sustainable recovery that will continue to grow as we move forward and to support future generations.
Given last week was National Apprenticeships Week, and I’m always banging on about the importance of apprenticeships, I couldn’t possibly let this all pass without mentioning the fantastic work the Government are doing to promote opportunities for youngsters that don’t all revolve around going to university. Since 2010, over 13,000 people have undertaken apprenticeships in Mansfield and have utilised the ability to learn and earn. The Government are working to create more opportunities like these in the Skills Bill which is returning to Parliament next week.
This includes investing an extra £3.8 billion in further education and skills by 2024-25. This further highlights the Government’s commitment to supporting our growth and our young people, and presents us with a big opportunity in Mansfield.
Alongside this, plans for the East Midlands Freeport are progressing, and aim to create over 60,000 jobs in the East Midlands along with bringing £8.4 billion to our local economy. The majority of these jobs are not actually on the site themselves, but in the wider supply chain, meaning a big boost for business all around the region, including Mansfield. Given what I’ve already said about our businesses and their ability to adapt and thrive, the chance to get involved in major projects like this can only be beneficial.
No single policy can create the growth and jobs we need to fully recover following Covid. The Government are working across a wide range of sectors to get us on to the front foot as we recover from Covid. I am excited about what the future holds locally.
