I had a very useful and enjoyable meeting with Alan Taylor, the Chair of the Sandwell Business Ambassadors. Alan is also the chair of the Smethwick Partnership Board which provides leadership for two major government funded programmes, namely the Smethwick Town’s Fund and the the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, and so we had a wide ranging discussion in relation to challenges facing businesses and current and future employees in the area.
I highlighted some of my priorities, particularly around Magistrate recruitment and the provision of employment opportunities for ex offenders and Looked After Children.