If there’s one question that keeps coming up in Solihull, it’s this: why is Britain – a nation of inventors, makers and grafters – still struggling to grow?
That’s why the Business and Trade Committee, which I chair, is hitting the road once again. We’re taking Parliament out of Westminster and into the country to ask a simple question: what must the government do now to get Britain growing again?
Because the truth is, growth doesn’t happen in committee rooms or ministerial offices. It happens on factory floors, in small workshops, on construction sites and in the offices of entrepreneurs taking risks to build something new. And if those people lose confidence – if they feel the rules are too confusing, the taxes too heavy or the infrastructure too slow – then growth stalls before it starts.
That’s why we’ve launched a new consultation ahead of the 2026 workplan for the Business and Trade Committee. We’re asking businesses, workers and community leaders to send us their views before November 14. What are the biggest barriers you face? Where could the government step back, or step up? And how do we make sure growth reaches every corner of the country – from Solihull North to North Shields?
We’ll be looking closely at the cost of doing business – from energy and regulation to taxes and red tape. We’ll examine whether Britain’s industrial strategy is up to scratch. We’ll ask what’s needed to improve skills and investment and how we can empower regions like ours to lead rather than wait for permission from Whitehall.
Growth isn’t just about GDP figures or City forecasts. It’s about better jobs, higher wages and stronger communities.
Here in Solihull that could mean faster transport links connecting local talent to opportunity. It could mean clearer planning rules to unlock new housing and business sites. It could mean smarter investment in green industries, skills training and innovation.
We’ve got world-class entrepreneurs, world-class innovators and world-class workers. What we need now is a world-class plan for growth that matches their ambition.
So, let’s get practical. What’s holding your business back? What change would give you the confidence to invest or hire? Send your evidence to the Committee by November 14 – because if Britain is to lead again, we need every voice in the conversation.
Before I came into parliament I built a technology business from a couple of people round a kitchen table to a fast-growing firm. I know what a rollercoaster it can be – but also the pride and satisfaction that comes from creating something new. A country that helps business grow is a country that succeeds. So right now, we need to hear first-hand how we give Britain’s firms the tools to do the job.
