23/07/10 - Swindon Advertiser Weekly Article

In the years leading up to the election, I promised that I would be a highly visible and accessible MP.  So now, along with my South Swindon colleague Robert Buckland, we’ve set up a joint constituency office right in the centre of Swindon.  It has so many advantages.  First and foremost it’s the most efficient use of taxpayers’ money; by sharing accommodation, staff and equipment, we can make considerable cost savings.  It’s also very accessible – public transport and car parks are right on the doorstep.  And it’s in a prominent location virtually on the border of the two constituencies, so as many residents as possible can get there.  Here are the details:

The address is 1 Milton Road, Swindon, SN1 5JE; the telephone number is (01793) 53 33 93.  Office hours are 0900 to 1700 Monday to Friday.  The office is on the first floor but there is a lift, and disabled facilities are on the ground floor.

Another way of keeping in touch is through my website, and that’s now up and running as well.  At www.justintomlinson.comyou can find details of everything I’m undertaking on behalf of Swindon residents, both here and in Westminster.  Meetings and events, campaigns and committees, questions and contact details – they’re all there.  Please do take a look.

Following on from my visit to the BMW Mini plant in Swindon last week, I attended the SMMT automotive reception where I met representatives from Honda and BMW to discuss their respective apprenticeship schemes.  I was able to listen and increase my understanding of how these schemes can be beneficial to both the employers and apprentices.  Having employed many local people prior to becoming an MP, I value the importance of employees having real applied skills, and believe that the experience developed through work training is extremely valuable.

I will continue to support the opportunities for apprentices, in particular making it easier for small and medium size businesses to be able to offer apprenticeships.  I will also continue to press to make sure these opportunities are available to people of all ages, allowing them the chance to retrain to match the developing job market.  As I regularly meet with local businesses and employers I will feedback their thoughts on how this can be achieved, as I know this will make a real difference in Swindon.

During the excellent debate on this subject on Wednesday in Westminster Hall, I highlighted the success of the Honda dealership apprentice scheme, from which 85% of participants progress into long-term work across the dealership network.  This is the very reason why we announced funding for an additional 50,000 apprenticeship places, and I will continue to support this important initiative.