Maximising our competetitve edge: how Labour is helping in our community

By Chris Williamson

Derby is renowned as the region’s economic powerhouse, generating more exports per capita than anywhere else in the UK. The average earnings of people who work here are the highest in the East Midlands.

But in an increasingly globalised economy, the big question is how can we sustain Derby’s position in the world and more importantly, how can we make sure local people benefit from the economic wealth that Derby generates.

Unlike the Laissez-faire approach favoured by the Conservatives, I believe it’s essential that national and local government intervenes in the economy to maximise our competitive edge. That means investing in research and development and helping people to obtain the necessary skill set to correspond with the growth in hi-tech industries. That will help us to ensure that companies like Rolls Royce and Bombardier remain in Derby.

The Business secretary, Peter Mandelson, acknowledges that higher level skills have never been more important to the UK’s growth. He wants to make sure we’ve got the skills to power the new industries and jobs of the future.

It’s therefore great news that the Labour government has just announced an ambitious vision to enable three quarters of the population to go to university or get an advanced technical qualification by the age of 30. The plans include proposals to create a modern class of technicians, through a significant expansion of advanced apprenticeships.

The aim is to create 35,000 new apprenticeship places over the next two years. The policy programme laid out in the government’s document ‘Skills for Growth – The National Skills Strategy‘, will give people and businesses the skills they need to drive economic growth in Derby and across the UK.

Derby is well placed to benefit from this strategy because it will focus funding on the areas of the economy that can do most to drive growth and jobs. Around 160,000 training places will be created in areas such as digital media and technology, advanced manufacturing, engineering, construction and low carbon energy.

This is yet another reason why Labour must win the next general election. It’s clear that Labour has the ideas and the will to secure the future prosperity of our country. Unlike the Tories, Labour is willing to invest in ensuring that Britain gets through the recession by equiping people with the skills the country needs to succeed in the years ahead.