28 May 2021
Covid

Covid has been among the greatest challenges that our country has faced over the past hundred years, and it has required a monumental effort from us all to protect the NHS and save lives.

With the vaccination programme in full swing however, and cases rates relatively low, it is time for cautious optimism – and that’s why I was delighted to hear the Public Health team here in Norfolk tell us MPs this morning that they believe we are on track for the June 21st ‘Roadmap out of Lockdown’ target.

We must continue to be vigilant, but this is promising news indeed.

The Public Health team here have done a fantastic job to monitor case rates and respond to outbreaks over the past year or so, and deserve high praise indeed. Without them and ALL of the wonderful frontline health and care staff in the county, things could have been much, much worse.

26 May 2021
Old Buckenham and Breckland Lodge

This last year has been catastrophic for so many people and businesses. The Covid pandemic has been particularly hard.

That is why I was delighted to be asked to visit Old Buckenham Country Park and at Breckland Lodge.

These great businesses have at last managed to re-open and showcase their fantastic products and services.

Spend a day or two with Ben and the team, whether it be camping or a corporate day out, it’s a great place to come and enjoy. Then pop into the Stag at Breckland Lodge to see what Colin and his team have achieved.

For more information click: www.oldbuckenhamcountrypark.com and  https://www.brecklandlodge.co.uk/eat/

It is vital we support local businesses. So do pop down and make a booking.

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Breckland Lodge

26 May 2021
OFGFEM

As part of the ongoing campaign to develop an Offshore Transmission Network (often known as an Offshore Ring Main or ORM), I was delighted to join a call with OFGEM earlier this week.

Together with a number of MPs from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, I continued our work to lobby the key stakeholders in the development of this Offshore Transmission Network. With the policy argument for an OTN firmly won, we must do all we can to get that OTN developed as swiftly, and effectively, as possible.

The sooner we have this comprehensive strategic Plan for the delivery of offshore wind infrastructure (instead of the current ramshackle approach of each individual wind farm using their own Wembley Stadium-sized substation and cable corridors to connect to the National Grid), the sooner we will have a model that ensures we can meet, and even exceed, the Government’s ‘Green Energy’ targets, while also minimising the amount of onshore environmental damage and disruption to businesses, farmers and communities.

To stay up to date with all my work on this campaign, please visit my website here – where you can read the decade long history and see my some of my most important web-stories over the past couple of years.

Norfolk Mag 7

The Mag 7 is a taskforce of leaders from the high growth sectors in Norfolk & Suffolk who can speak to and for their community & help to identify key opportunities for rapid change and economic recovery.

Over the last 9 months we have been working across the seven highest growth sectors in our region:

  • Energy
  • Biomedicine
  • Mobility
  • Telehealth
  • Agri-environment
  • Arts and Culture
  • Digital Economy

To identify both a set of specific proposals for how to support a stronger recovery in these areas, and a Vision for how these sectors together could shape and support a genuine New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership for more sustainable growth.

As entrepreneurs busy running their own businesses, the Mag 7 can all see real growth potential in their sectors, but they can also see something else: how a joined/up Vision for a more sustainable local economy could accelerate the leadership of this area in the green growth required to reach Net Zero.

Our shared belief is that there is a real opportunity to seize and shape a genuinely different post-Covid model of growth which is both more productive, competitive AND more sustainable, and that is in line with the LEP recovery plan and the Governments agenda for the Roadmap to Net Zero.

Key Considerations

The Mag 7 are strongly and unanimously committed to making sustainable local growth a reality through building a grassroots network of local entrepreneurial leadership and engagement so that Net Zero goes from being a Government Target in London” to a local lived reality with tangible local benefits. That requires ongoing interaction and engagement - digitally and face to face - as well as high impact one-off events.

To make sustainable growth” and Net Zero real, inspiring and challenging goals which mean something tangible to local people, the Mag 7 believe it is KEY to set out at the beginning some properly evidenced Data and Heatmaps showing the scale of the local Net Zero challenge i.e:

How the New Anglia LEP ranks on Net Carbon Emissions and Sustainability

What the Best and Worst practices are that we need to build our plan around

Simple Comparative metrics which allow different LA areas, Towns, Parishes and Businesses to actually track, compare and be incentivised by progress and success

The Mag 7 sees digitalisation as KEY to this whole Vision and Plan: without reliable digital connectivity and data we havent a chance of delivering success: from mapping emissions to introducing on-demand buses to car share to smart energy to eco-tourism to digital health and decentralised growth - digitalisation is a fundamental necessity. 

I am proud to work with the NEF team to support this truly wonderful group of local, innovative entrepreneurs.

Members of the Mag 7 include:

Rosie Begg

Ali Clabburn                                                            

Juliana Meyer

Genevieve Christie                                                   

Louise Jopling

Robert Ashton                                                          

Rob Field

The Norfolk Enterprise Festival

Our Mission

Now in its third year, The Norfolk Enterprise Festival remains the only one of its kind in Norfolk. This means we're in a unique position to play host to entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, students and their families and harness the potential of this incredible community and drive significant yet sustainable growth.

Our mission is simple. To champion Norfolk's entrepreneurial spirit through a festival that ignites and inspires the grass-roots business and enterprise community.

 

What is the Norfolk Enterprise Festival?

The Norfolk Enterprise Festival (NEF) is a coming together of Norfolk entrepreneurs, SMEs, startups, students, investors and their families to connect, celebrate, learn and discover the hidden entrepreneurial gems our county has to offer.

Throughout the day you can be inspired by talks from business leaders, interactive workshops, expert panels, network with investment angels, and have free one-one business advice sessions

The Norfolk Enterprise Festival is a fun, family-friendly festival, including local food and drink stalls, homegrown theatre and musicians, and creative workshops for children, so you can bring along the whole family!

 

33,715

Enterprises in Norfolk. We want to connect these businesses together so they can network, share and learn from each other.

 

60,100

Self employed people in Norfolk. We want to ensure they do not feel isolated by connecting them with local business networks, investment and infrastructure.

 

3,945

New businesses in Norfolk last year. We want start-ups to gain business support by creating a living network of Norfolk based entrepreneurs.

 

24 May 2021
Future Breckland Plans

All of our market towns face the familiar challenge of balancing new growth and development with the needs of the communities living in, and around, them – all the while preserving the unique rural heritage and way of life that we all cherish, and that makes our part of the world such an attractive place to visit.

Covid has only heightened that already difficult challenge – and that’s why I welcomed the opportunity to virtually meet with Breckland and the Hatch consultancy team they have employed to help produce their “Future Breckland” Plans for each of the district’s market towns.

Having worked closely with the Town Councils of Attleborough, Dereham and Watton over the years, I shared some of my insights on what the process should focus to address – and am pleased that so many local stakeholders are going to be approached and included as the Future Breckland Plans are developed.

I truly believe that, with our region about to become the centre of the UK’s ‘Green Revolution’ – home to thousands of the jobs of tomorrow and improved connectivity, bringing prosperity and a cleaner, greener, healthier way of life for us ALL, we have the opportunity to set out a proper vision of Mid Norfolk – one where we are a thriving hub of vibrant communities.

I look forward to doing all I can to support our local Town Councils as they engage with this process, and to continuing my conversation with Breckland themselves.

George Freeman MP
20 May 2021
Transport East

For decades, successive governments have underfunded our transport network here in the East – which is why one of my central missions as an MP has been the improvement of our transport infrastructure in this region, and why I so greatly welcome the Prime Minister and Government’s commitment to “levelling-up” the places that have for too long been “left-behind”.

Much good work has been done over the years (including the commitment of £300 million for the first stage of A47 dualling and the dualling of the A11) and I am tremendously proud to have played my part. There is still a long way to go however, if we are to create the transport network that Norfolk, and the East, need in order to unlock their true economic potential.

That’s why I was delighted to join today’s Transport East meeting – with parliamentary colleagues and local council representatives from across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

There is a clear shared vision for our region – one that will bring growth and prosperity, and connect our people in a way that allows them to fully embrace the ‘Green Revolution’ and the exciting jobs of tomorrow.

By speaking with one united voice, we can work together to make sure our region gets the transport improvement it desperately needs and deserves.

Transport East Meeting
19 May 2021
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise

The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are one of the most prestigious UK business awards, designed to recognize outstanding achievements in the fields of Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility).

That’s why I was particularly delighted to see 3 award winners in Mid Norfolk this year.

Benefits such as global recognition, increased sales and growth, access to new markets, promotional opportunities, and increased staff morale are all part of this great award.

So, a huge well done to Cobalt Aerospace Limited in Hingham, who won awards in the International Trade and Innovation categories, and Ansible Motion, who won the International Trade Award for outstanding short-term growth. Their teams can be immensely proud.

14 May 2021
Sense About Science

Having spent fifteen years before coming to Parliament working with and helping to finance small, science start-ups in and around East Anglia, I can see the huge potential of Life Science, Clean-tech, Agri-tech and Med-tech in East Anglia.

Our region is ideally placed to play a frontline role as the UK embraces the ‘Green Revolution’ and takes its place as a ‘Science Superpower’.

George Freeman MP

Our region is ideally placed to play a frontline role as the UK embraces the ‘Green Revolution’ and takes its place as a ‘Science Superpower’ – and, located between the Cambridge Science and Innovation Cluster and the Norwich Research Park, with Hethel Engineering nearby, Mid Norfolk will be at the heart of the jobs and prosperity of tomorrow.

That’s why I continue to do what I can to help young scientists from our area, and across the UK, learn how they can best engage with politicians to get their research heard at the highest levels.

With fantastic research like the development of the blight-resistant potato being pioneered in this country (just down the road at the NRP!), we need to make sure it’s getting the attention it deserves – and being utilised to make ALL of our lives better.

I was therefore delighted to join Sense about Science’s policy panel yesterday to share my insights on how scientists can better promote their work in Westminster – with students from across the country.

I look forward to continuing my support for them – to empower the voice of this vital, high growth industry.

George Freeman - Sense About Science
12 May 2021
George Freeman welcomes the Queen's Speech as a speech for opportunity, regeneration and recovery as one nation

George Freeman welcomes measures in the Queen’s Speech that set out a framework for the UK to lead in innovation across new sectors such as life sciences, clinical trials, digital health, agri-tech, nutraceuticals, the decarbonisation of transport, mobility as a service, satellites, and scale-up finance in the City.

4.21pm

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con) [V]

It is a great pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Mr Perkins) on behalf of the people of Mid Norfolk, and to speak a little more optimistically and positively about this country and its future, and reject the narrative of doom and gloom from the Opposition Benches.

In particular, it is a pleasure to follow my right hon. Friend the Chancellor at the end of a year in which he has inherited a crisis like no other, and, in the eyes of my constituents, passed the test with flying colours by announcing with speed last year a commitment to “do whatever it takes” and to take unprecedented measures to ensure that this country comes through the pandemic.

It is in no small part due to the Treasury’s commitment —to the 9 million people in employment the Treasury has helped and the 2.7 million in self-employment; with the tens of billions of pounds for small and medium-sized companies, and the £407 billion of relief moved at pace to support our economy—as well as the genius of our life sciences sector and the huge success of the Government’s vaccination programme that we are now in a position to lead the recovery post pandemic. It would be nice to hear Opposition Members at least pay some tribute to some of that extraordinary leadership this year. The polls last week show where the public have their trust, and the Opposition would do well at least to acknowledge that the Government are dealing very well with a historic crisis.

I particularly welcome the announcements on science in the Queen’s Speech, including the £22 billion commitment and the creation of our new Advanced Research and Invention Agency. I also welcome the skills guarantee, so that everyone around the country has a chance to take part in the new economy that we are creating, and the commitments to go further and faster on infrastructure.

I mentioned the figure that the covid crisis has cost us: £407 billion has been the total Government support, although the total cost will be much higher. I wanted to address the real question that we must all face: who pays for this debt? It is simply not fair for us to bequeath the debts of this crisis to the next generation, and that means it is incumbent on us to find the mechanisms to drive up prosperity, growth and opportunity. As we leave the European Union and take sovereignty over our regulatory and trade powers, it is important that we grip that opportunity and unleash the full genius of British science, innovation and engineering to create new sectors and new jobs.

Earlier this year I was delighted that the Prime Minister asked me and my right hon. Friends the Members for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith) and for Chipping Barnet (Theresa Villiers) to lead a taskforce on innovation, growth and regulatory reform. We reported this week and our recommendations go to the heart of the measures in this Queen’s Speech—a new framework for regulation in the UK to be able to lead the world in the regulation of new sectors, and to use regulation to lead in innovation across the life sciences, clinical trials, digital health, agri-tech, nutraceuticals, the decarbonisation of transport, mobility as a service, satellites, and scale-up finance in the City. If we make such reforms, we can create here in the UK a genuine innovation nation—a small country, yes, but one that punches above its weight in developing the clean-tech, agri-tech and med-tech solutions that the world desperately needs as it faces an agricultural and industrial revolution in the next 30 years like the one we led here more than 200 years ago.

All that will be good not just for Britain but for local communities, because new sectors of growth create clusters right throughout the country—from hydrogen in Aberdeen to plant breeding in Aberystwyth and immunotherapies at Queen’s University Belfast. The Queen’s Speech is a speech for opportunity, regeneration and recovery as one nation, strengthening the Union and creating opportunities for people whoever and wherever they are. On behalf of the people of Mid Norfolk, I strongly commend it to the House.

Hansard