My Staffordshire Update

It has been another busy few weeks across the constituency – visiting schools, meeting businesses, and assisting constituents wherever possible. I wanted to update you on my activities.

It was wonderful to visit The Hex Group in Hixon. The innovative Group is made up of six divisions with varying specialities and employs over 550 individuals – many of whom live in Staffordshire. I look forward to supporting the Group as they continue to grow and expand their workforce.

Elsewhere, I welcomed the opportunity to visit Re-Solv in Stone to discuss the importance of raising awareness of death due to gas and solvent use. Sadly, this is becoming more prevalent, and I urge the Office for National Statistics to produce up to date information to warn others of the consequences of using recreational drugs.

Moreover, it was fantastic to visit Wyrley Court as part of their official opening. The apartment complex has been developed for over 55’s, whilst a new care home will provide residents with specialist dementia care. I was delighted to meet residents from Great Wyrley, Cheslyn Hay, and Featherstone who were all thrilled to be moving into their new home.

In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed attending an event to mark the refurbishment of the NFU office on Staffordshire Technology Park. As Labour continue their attack on farmers, it is crucial that the NFU are supported and I will continue to call on the Government to scrap the damaging Inheritance Tax which is threatening the viability of so many farms.

Lastly, I recently met with UK Hospitality to discuss the damaging proposals Labour made in its Budget which is causing deep anxiety amongst hospitality businesses in Staffordshire. I am committed to continuing to work with UK Hospitality in order to highlight the need to adopt a different approach so hospitality businesses can continue to operate. I urge the Government to change course and give businesses a fighting chance to grow.

Meanwhile, as ever, my office and I are always hard at work helping constituents, so please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do to be of assistance. I can be reached via gavin.williamson.mp@parliament.uk or by calling my office on 01785 847027.

Visiting The Hex Group

I recently visited the Hex Group in Hixon to discuss the company’s rapid expansion as well as it’s plans to be carbon neutral by 2037.

The Hex Group is made up of six divisions: Alpha Manufacturing (provides sheet metal fabrication services), Hex Graphics (delivers large-scale graphics projects from vehicle rebranding through to fleet livery), Bri-Stor Systems (UK’s largest provider of fleet conversion solutions), Atlas Coating (provides advanced powder coating technology), Hex Living (outdoor furniture products), and Hex Apprenticeship (scheme designed to provide opportunities for young people).

The main site is a 35-acre facility in Hixon, whilst there is also a production facility in Beacon Park, Stafford. The group employs over 550 individuals across two sites – many of whom are local to Staffordshire.

As someone who is extremely passionate about skills and apprenticeships, I am delighted with the Group’s commitment to apprenticeships – providing young people with a crucial opportunity to learn whilst they earn and improve their career prospects for the future.

I also welcome that their plans to be carbon neutral by 2037 are done in a pragmatic way, with consideration to industry, the environment, and employment.

I look forward to continuing to see the Group’s continued expansion and will provide support in any way possible.

Raising Awareness of the dangers of gas and solvent use

I am calling for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to publish accurate and up to date information on the deaths and serious injuries caused by inhaling gas and solvents.

I met with Stone based charity Re-Solv to discuss raising awareness of deaths caused by the direct inhalation of dangerous recreational drugs. The inhalation of gas and solvents kills about 40 people in the UK each year.

Re-Solv, founded in 1984, is a national substance misuse charity, which delivers support and prevention work around the issue of gas and solvent use – such as butane cigarette refills, aerosols, some solvents, and nitrous oxide.

Currently, there is no measure of mortality of deaths associated with the inhalation of gases and solvents. The ONS produced a report in 2022, but has since confirmed it will no longer produce current information.

I tabled a series of Parliamentary questions which alarmingly discovered that between 2001 and 2020, there were 716 deaths related to volatile substances in England and Wales, with an average of 36 deaths each year.

Solvent abuse affects the lives of thousands of people and many of the products that contain these substances are legal, accessible, and inexpensive. Therefore, I am pleased to be working with Re-Solv in order to raise awareness of the devastating consequences that can occur when these substances are misused.

Attending The Opening of Wyrley Court

I thoroughly enjoyed attending the launch of the Wyrley Court complex.

It is such a brilliantly designed apartment complex, and it was wonderful to meet people from Great Wyrley, Cheslyn Hay, and surrounding areas who were moving into their new home.

I look forward to seeing the completed renovation, but it is already looking like such a fantastic site.

Refurbishment of NFU Offices

It was fantastic to attend NFU Mutual’s event to mark the refurbishment of their new offices at Staffordshire Technology Park.

I welcomed the chance to catch up with farmers and others to discuss the real concerns that they have regarding the Government’s policies.

I will continue to urge the Government to change course on the Farmers’ Inheritance Tax, increases to National Insurance, and other policies which are having a detrimental impact on individuals and businesses.

Standing Up for Staffordshire Hospitality Businesses

In my constituency of Stone, Great Wyrley, and Penkridge, the hospitality industry employs over 2,800 individuals across almost 200 establishments. The economic value to the constituency is said to be over £68.5 million according to figures published by UK Hospitality.

Labour has effectively called last orders on so many hospitality businesses by hiking National Insurance and overhauling business rates. Whilst I of course welcome increases to the minimum wage, this has been done without consultation with business and rushed through without considering the viability of the sector.

Sadly, we are seeing businesses close on a daily basis. This is devastating not just for local jobs and the local economy, but also the closure of community spaces creates empty units, affects the overall vibe of our centres, and also means less places to socialise with family and friends.

I urge the Government to change course and give businesses a fighting chance to grow.

Meanwhile, as ever, my office and I are always hard at work helping constituents, so please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything I can do to be of assistance. I can be reached via gavin.williamson.mp@parliament.uk or by calling my office on 01785 847027.