When businesses thrive, so does our economy. I love Wolverhampton. It is a great city, but has been left behind for too many decades. This is now starting to change - with unprecedented levels of investment received to level up opportunities and unleash our fantastic city’s potential. We are improving public services, developing better infrastructure, and backing local businesses. We are also delivering better employment and training opportunities for people of all ages, supporting disabled people, and helping people have a good retirement.
Jobs for Local People
- The number of employees on payrolls is at a record high, with the lowest rate of unemployment since 1974, New figures show that, for the first time since records began, there are now fewer unemployed people than job vacancies. We also recorded the fastest economic growth in the G7 – GDP figures show that our economy grew by 7.5 per cent in 2021, reaching above pre-pandemic levels.
- Our Plan for Jobs includes our £2 billion Kickstart Scheme, which has already got around 160,000 young people into work; our £2.9 billion Restart Scheme, helping over 1 million long-term unemployed people find work; and our Lifetime Skills Guarantee, offering 11 million adults a free qualification. We are also getting 500,000 job seekers back into work through our Way to Work campaign.66 61
Levelling up in Wolverhampton
- In Parliament, I called on the Prime Minister Boris Johnson to make a firm recommitment to reach into some of the most deprived areas and level up the country. The Prime Minister not only accepted my request, but confirmed that Wolverhampton will benefit from around £217 million of the growth deal funding across the Black Country. This aims to create 5,000 jobs and 1,400 new homes. £20 million has also been announced for the City Learning Quarter.
- The Government has also accepted my request to set up a dual headquarters for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and hold part of the Commonwealth Games in our great city. At least 500 MHCLG roles are set to be based across the West Midlands by 2025 – with further increases planned by 2030. The new HQ in Wolverhampton will include the presence of Ministers – making it the first such ministerial office outside of London with a regular ministerial presence. Senior civil servants will be based here, ensuring the city becomes a centre for policy development and decision making. It is part of plans to have at least 800 roles outside of London by 2030 – including 50% of the most senior positions. This will ensure that more local voices are reflected in the creation of government policy.
Regenerating our Economy
- I serve as a member of the Towns Fund Board, a consortium of elected leaders, local businesses, and key partners which identified priorities for our city and proposed projects to deliver on them. We secured £25 million to fund these projects, with an extra £1 million secured a year before and £15 from the Future High Streets Fund. This will help revitalise local commercial areas and support transformative projects such as the City Learning Quarter, National Brownfield Institute, Wolves at Work, and Grand Theatre expansion. You can find further details about investment we've secured here.
- The Community Renewal Fund is an integral part of our plan to level up opportunities as our recovery from COVID-19 gets underway. I am delighted that our region has been provided with more than £5 million to kick-start eight key projects that will improve everyday life people in our community. In our city, the Wolverhampton VCS Partnership has received over £700,000. Funding for the Black Country 50+ partnership, BC Talent Match and Digital inclusion with the Good Things Foundation will benefit our city. It is very welcome news and I will be campaigning for even more funding for our local area from the Shared Prosperity Fund due to launch next year.
