What a Difference a Dave Makes! The Facts on Jobs and the Local Economy

Since the day he was first elected as Mayor in October 2009, Mayor Dave Hodgson has prioritised economic growth and jobs for Bedford Borough. He has retained the Economic Development portfolio personally throughout his time as Mayor, and has worked tirelessly to attract new investment and create a supportive environment in which existing businesses can succeed. Here are the facts on jobs and the local economy:

• Since Mayor Dave was elected in October 2009, stunning jobs growth in Bedford Borough has seen the increase in the rate of employment outstrip the regional and national rate emphatically. Thousands more people are in work in Bedford Borough, with the proportion of people in employment rising by 5.5 percentage points, compared to 1 percentage point and 1.2 percentage points across the Eastern region and Great Britain respectively.

• A string of major national and international employers have chosen to invest to in Bedford Borough for the first time under Mayor Dave, creating hundreds of jobs, in spite of the difficult economic conditions and wider trends during this period. These include Waitrose, B & Q, international bakery giants Lantmännen Unibake, Vision Modular Systems and Majestic Wine, amongst many more.

• The number of apprenticeships in Bedford Borough has grown rapidly over the last five and a half years. With the number of apprenticeship starts having stood at 395 in 2009/10, that figure has now increased several times over. In addition, Mayor Dave has brought together key partners including training providers and employers to agree an ambitious target of 2016 apprenticeship starts in 2016.

• The pioneering Bedford Jobs Hub has been introduced in Bedford Town Centre. This brand new facility is possibly the first of its kind in the country, and offers direct, informal support and advice on employment, training and enterprise to anyone who comes through the door. The Jobs Hub has already exceeded its targets many times over, providing support to literally thousands and helping people into work.

• Unemployment in Bedford Borough has plummeted since Mayor Dave's election, with the jobseeker's allowance claimant rate falling by a massive 42% since October 2009

• In spite of the unprecedented reduction in funding for the Council, Mayor Dave has successfully pursued investment projects which are supporting increased investment, jobs and growth and improving local infrastructure. For example, construction of the crucial final section of the Bedford Western Bypass is well underway following Mayor Dave launched a successful Compulsory Purchase Order and secured funding, while along with others he has lobbied successfully for progress on East West Rail, with the link to Oxford due to open by 2019, and a dualled route through to Cambridge and 'grade separated' Black Cat roundabout, announced by the Government before Christmas.

• Under Mayor Dave's leadsership, long-derelict sites which had remained disused even through so-called 'boom' years have been redeveloped, such as the new Morrisons store on the symbolic former Camford Works site on Ampthill Road