MP Healey quizzed by business leaders from Rotherham and beyond
A MEMBER of Parliament came face-to-face with business leaders at a special round table meeting.
Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP John Healey, who is also the UK’s Defence Secretary, attended the event which was hosted by Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and Doncaster Chamber of Commerce.
The round table brought together businesses in Mr Healey’s constituency and the wider business community to explore the opportunities and challenges linked to defence, economic growth and the region’s business environment.
The business representatives also pushed for more clarity on the local business benefits of the South Yorkshire Defence Deal.
Carrie Sudbury, chief executive of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber, said: “Our region has deep roots in defence-linked manufacturing, and that heritage remains a real economic strength.
“However, businesses were honest about the sensitivities involved and the need to bring communities with us.
“With the right communication, transparency and support, South Yorkshire can both honour its history and build a modern, responsible and inclusive defence economy.”
Businesses and charities at the round table event also discussed broader issues, including suppressed confidence, regulatory barriers, and the need for the region to improve its performance in relation to inward investment.
Dan Fell, chief executive of Doncaster Chamber, said: “A consistent message from our business community is that access to defence and public sector procurement remains more complex than it needs to be.
“For the South Yorkshire Defence Deal to realise its full economic potential, procurement pathways must be made clearer and accessible to firms of all sizes.”