Ed Young, the Conservative Candidate for York Central, has today announced plans to hold a new trade fair in York, to bring businesses from across the nation to invest in York and create new employment opportunities for our city.
The announcement follows a meeting with Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, where the two discussed plans to review business rates and further boost York’s economy. Since 2010, more than 400 new small businesses have started up in York, and the number of people with Jobseeker’s Allowance has fallen to record lows.
The key now is to do even more for the city, and to bring more good new jobs to York Central. The Secretary said that York needs a Conservative MP to be “a local champion for business” and to bring the full benefits of new Enterprise Zones to the city.
Responding to Ed’s question about support for SMEs, he also emphasized the Conservative manifesto commitment to a full review of business rates that would maintain “the lowest possible tax framework,” while being fairer and have more frequent revaluations.
A major priority for Ed if elected will be to drive new inward investment to York. To help do this, Ed has pledged to convene a new business and jobs trade fair for the city, specifically focused on showcasing the skills and investment opportunities here in the city to FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 businesses. The plan would be to hold the first York big business fair in 2018.
During the visit, Ed and Sajid visited local estate agent Hudson Moody to discuss the challenges of first-time buying. They also discussed Sajid’s plans to tackle rough sleeping. Sajid noted that the first UK pilot for the “Housing First” model used in Finland to help eradicate homeless is in Liverpool.
This model emphasizes the need to couple the immediate provision of housing without preconditions with robust provision of social services. If elected, Ed will bid to bring a “Housing First” pilot to York and make it a national leader in both the fight against rough sleeping and support for existing and new businesses.