Jason McCartney: We’ve got plenty to celebrate... and so have apprentices

We know the types: those quick to criticise, quick to talk down, and quick to jump on any passing hashtag bandwagon.

However, as Lord Mandelson said recently, those without a plan of their own should not be criticising those with plans.

Many knowledgeable business folk have told me that the only thing holding back big levels of growth in our country is confidence, and we can get that only by recognising and celebrating success.

Therefore, I want to celebrate some of the many wonderful things going on in my Colne Valley constituency. In Colne Valley, 1,220 apprenticeships started in the last academic year, and another 360 in first quarter of this academic year – a 74 per cent increase on the last year of the previous Labour government.

Right at the forefront of that increase in apprenticeships is Kirklees College, under the leadership of the inspirational Peter McCann.

A couple of weeks ago during National Apprenticeship W eek, I went to meet one local apprentice who has a dream job. Helen is working up at Holmfirth vineyard – what a great place to work! – which not only hosted thousands of wine tours last year, but also offers quality home-made food and drink. Ironically, it is in Holme valley, which hosted many visitors on the back of the famous long-running BBC TV series Last of the Summer Wine. It is therefore fitting that a vineyard is now proving to be the big, new honey pot for tourism in my part of the world.

As we know, apprentices need full-time jobs to go to, and I am particularly proud that manufacturing is going great guns in my part of Yorkshire.

I proudly wear a lapel badge that says “Huddersfield – the Place to Make It”, which is a manufacturing campaign in my part of the world.

Even in London, I see great examples of that manufacturing. The glass pods on the London Eye are made in my constituency at Novaglaze in Lockwood, and the textiles for the suit that David Beckham wore at the Royal wedding a couple of years ago were manufactured in the Colne Valley. Those who go on a London bus should look at the flecked upholstery, which has probably been manufactured by Camira Fabrics in Meltham – we are very proud of that.

Down the road from Meltham is a wonderful engineering company, CNC Mill Turn Solutions, which is taking on apprenticeships and winning new contracts. Many of those are defence contracts, including for the new Ocelot Snatch Land Rover. Those are companies that I have visited recently, and the facts back up my remarks. Statistics from an independent consultancy firm show that 1,187 new companies started in Huddersfield and Colne Valley last year – an eight per cent increase year on year, and a record for any year.

On food and drink, I have already mentioned the vineyard, while local breweries on my patch – including the Linfit, Mallinsons, Magic Rock, Empire, Golcar, Milltown, Nook Brewhouse and Riverhead micro-breweries – were very pleased with the Chancellor’s news that he was cancelling the beer duty escalator. They are pleased with some of the Government’s moves. Pure North Cider also makes cider in my constituency, so it is not just wine and beer that we make. We are very lucky with regard to education. Huddersfield University will welcome 5,000 new students this year.

On the sporting front, Huddersfield Town are holding their own in the Championship and the Huddersfield Giants rugby league club are near the top of the Super League. On July 6, 2014, the Tour de France will come to Huddersfield and the Holme valley, and even to my village in Honley.

As such, it is really important, given all the doom-mongers, to celebrate things and back business, enterprise and entrepreneurs. Let us also back apprentices and Yorkshire.