Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, today visited the offices of Thomas Vale in Stourport to meet with the Worcestershire Enterprise Partnership board and to learn more of the LEP's bid for a business enterprise zone in the Southern Kidderminster business park.
Mark Garnier has been championing the cause for Kidderminster's local economy, and the recent unanimous decision of the LEP board for Kidderminster to be the favoured bid for Worcestershire is very welcome indeed. Mark, in order to support this bid, held an adjournment debate in the House of Commons chamber to promote Kidderminster's excellent proposal.
"The outcome of the next few weeks is crucial," said Mark, after the meeting. "Securing one of the ten available business enterprise zones in Kidderminster will potentially bring nearly 4,000 new jobs to our district.
"I believe we have a seriously good bid. We have vacant industrial space ready for businesses to move into immediately; we have space available for modernisation; and we have over 100 acres of brown field site available for redevelopment. We have an available workforce ready for immediate employment, and we have the potential for further social regeneration bringing opportunity to the long term unemployed. This is a top priority for our district."