We know people are deeply worried about the Coronavirus – the impact it will have on their jobs, their incomes and their ability to provide for their families. We said we would support the British people – and we meant it. We will do whatever it takes and we will get through this. Our Plan for People’s Jobs and Incomes, will protect people’s jobs; offer more generous support to those who are without jobs; strengthen the safety net for the […]
Tags: Business, Coronavirus, Economy
Small businesses, and business in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries are being advised to apply for coronavirus business grants direct through Buckinghamshire Council. This follows reports that there are people cashing in on the Covid-19 situation and offering to ‘help’ businesses by applying for the grants on their behalf – for a fee. There is no advantage to using a third party to apply for the grant, only the loss of the fee. The government-funded grants are available to […]
Tags: Business
On 16th January 2017, I raised the important issue of business rates with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government during Communities and Local Government questions in the Chamber: Mr Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con): What progress he has made on enabling local authorities to retain 100% of business rates. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Sajid Javid): Councils have long campaigned for 100% business rate retention. Last week, we introduced the Local Government Finance Bill, which […]
Tags: Business, High Wycombe, Rates, Wycombe
On Friday 18 November, I had the opportunity to visit Premier Analytical Services in Wycombe, part of the Premier Foods Group, a leading UK food producer. Premier Analytical Services specialise in the chemical analysis of food, focusing on food authenticity, food composition and food safety. The lab researches a range of issues including mycotoxins, trace contaminates, the overall authenticity of food, allergens, nutrition, vitamins, minerals and additives. Premier Analytical Services has close working links with the food standards agency, food manufacturers and […]
EU regulations cost the UK economy over £33.3 billion every year. While only 6 percent of UK firms export to the EU, 100 percent of them must obey EU regulations. The Bank of England has calculated that for every 10 percent increase in immigration, wages for the poorest fall by around 2 percent. The Chairman of Britain Stronger In Europe, Lord Rose, has admitted that wages will rise if we leave the EU. Outside the EU, the UK’s democratically elected government will be free to pursue policies which will create more […]
Tags: Business, EU, EU referendum, Let's Leave, Parliament
Yesterday, I asked the Minister of State for Business, Skills and Innovation a question in the House following the unfortunate news that British Home Stores is likely to go into administration: Steve Baker: The market economy on which our civilisation rests is dangerously undermined when the privatisation of vast profits is swiftly followed by the projection of similarly vast losses on to other people, whether they be taxpayers or pensioners. Since corporations are creatures of the state, will my right hon. Friend […]
Tags: Business, Economy and State, Free markets, The State
This week is National Apprenticeship Week, a week in which to appreciate the benefits apprenticeships can bring to employers and apprentices alike. The Government is committed to achieving three million high quality apprenticeship starts by 2020, increasing opportunities for young people and helping to abolish long-term youth unemployment. There were 19,800 starts on Higher Apprenticeships in 2014/15, an increase of 115% on the previous year. Apprenticeships enable people to accelerate their careers with higher apprentices earning, on average, £150,000 more […]
Tags: Apprenticeships, Business, Education
I feel sure I can claim the support of everyone if I write that the planning system should promote prosperity. I am certain those operating the system work diligently within the rules with that noble intent in mind. However, over the past few years, I have seen a number of instances where business owners have had what I considered their legitimate and beneficial commercial interests impeded or completely stymied by planning decisions. Reasons have always been given but in every case, […]
Tags: Business, Employment, Planning, Prosperity, Video, Wycombe
Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which has a major presence in High Wycombe, has been named Britain’s Healthiest Company and recognised as having Britain’s Healthiest Workforce following the UK’s largest wellness survey. Johnson & Johnson picked up the two awards after taking part in the joint initiative between The Sunday Telegraph, Mercer and VitalityHealth. The Healthiest Workforce award considered factors such as such as environment, staff engagement and participation, and company culture. Johnson & Johnson’s entry covered all three of its business sectors […]
Tags: Business, Health, Janssen, Wycombe
As the Legatum Institute’s Prosperity Index repeatedly shows, entrepreneurship and opportunity are the primary keys to overall prosperity. It is because life in society is a creative dynamic process of discovering how best to serve the needs of other people and to adjust to them. If we are to become the most prosperous nation within a generation, we will need to liberate that spirit of innovation, service and commerce which has always served our country so well. I was therefore delighted […]
Tags: Business, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Opportunity, Optimism, Parliament, Prosperity, Regulation
Steve Baker is the Conservative MP for Wycombe.
Steve was first elected to Parliament in 2010. He was previously an RAF engineer officer then a consulting software engineer. Find out more...
Steve holds regular surgeries in High Wycombe. If you would like an appointment, please contact me.
