Business is looking up in Bexhill & Battle

Look at this photo and see who the odd person out is. It was taken in April 2015 when I joined David Cameron, Amber Rudd MP and Cllr Keith Glazier, leader of East Sussex County Council, to review the progress of the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road and the construction of the first building in the business park.

In the House with Huw Merriman SUS-151007-132058001

It was a huge pleasure to return last week, with the Chamber of Commerce, to Glovers House, newly opened headquarters to Park Holidays UK. The building is fantastic and it was a pleasure to meet the large number of employees housed within. The company has expanded since moving to the Link Road and has now brought more matters in-house as a result. Opposite their HQ sits the development of a new hotel. With this first stage of the business park completed and occupied, the next building will start next year.

Heading back in to Bexhill, we visited the Hive, a proposed new hub for business start-ups, studios for creative arts and classrooms for adult learning. This great initiative by DV-8, and partnered by the De La Warr, is to be based in the old job centre building. It needs more funding from the community for the building work to be completed and will be an asset on completion.

Next, we visited the team behind the new Rocksalt Bar and Brasserie. This fantastic new venue has some amazing rooms which are situated above for visitors to Bexhill to stay in. It is great to have such a buzzing new venue in the town.

These are just three examples of business expansion in the constituency. A couple of weeks ago, I made a similar visit to businesses in Battle. I see it as my job to support them and, having just moved into my new office in Sea Road, I am looking at setting up an MP’s Business Club so I can bring our business leaders together with those in Government so I can do more for those who deliver our employment, services and a vibrant community.

So back to my odd one out challenge. The answer is Cllr Keith Glaxier, the only one of us still in the same post. Our Prime Minister at the time is now in retirement. Amber is the Home Secretary and I got elected as your MP and left my legal career behind me.