Leading the efforts to bring the Tour de France to Yorkshire is just one example of work I have done over the past eight years to boost our economy so that businesses can grow and create jobs across the constituency. It is important these efforts continue in the months and years ahead and I look forward to welcoming the Tour de Yorkshire to the constituency again this Summer!

I am a strong supporter of the Skipton and Ripon Enterprise Group which offers free mentoring to businesses in my constituency.  I was delighted to support their Ripon launch and the group now covers many towns and villages across the area including Skipton, Ripon, Settle, Sutton-in-Craven, Cross Hills, Ingleton, Bentham, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Grassington, Boroughbridge, and Northallerton. Some of the most successful business leaders in North Yorkshire offer free help and advice to other newer businesses on how to grow and expand.

I am very keen to support economic growth and job creation in our area and I was pleased by the announcement last year that the Government will invest £4,680,000 in Skipton as part of the Growth Deal programme to facilitate the development of a number of sites for housing and employment. I campaigned hard for this funding and it is great news for our area.

I am currently doing everything I can to help County Council and Department for Transport with the scheme to improve the A59 at Kex Gill- and I will continue campaign hard for them to get the funding they need to improve this vital piece of infrastructure in our area.