Secretary of state in town

The secretary of state for business and trade Kemi Badenoch visited South Holland last week.

She toured two factories and met local Conservative politicians on Thursday, March 23.

She visited the Bridge Farm Group’s Clay Lake Bank glasshouse to see their investment in automation before heading to Freshlinc and Lincolnshire Field Produce in Pinchbeck to look at some of the technology being utilised, HGV training and farming.

Finally, she was the guest speaker at the South Holland and Deepings Conservative Association’s gathering at the Woodlands Hotel in Spalding.

Mrs Badenoch said: “The success of Bridge Farm Group and Freshlinc shows how the government is helping more businesses take advantage of exciting new opportunities at home and abroad. It was great to see their work first-hand.

“Businesses across Lincolnshire are creating innovative products, attracting investment and promoting exports, which in turn creates more jobs with higher wages and grows the economy.”

Robin Hancox, executive chairman at Freshlinc said: “It was a great pleasure to welcome The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP to our depot; we had the opportunity to discuss current challenges that our industry is facing and to demonstrate our positive plans that will help our group of companies to keep expanding.”

South Holland’s Conservative MP Sir John Hayes said: “I was delighted that Kemi Badenoch joined me in visiting two leading local businesses recently, as well as meeting many other business leaders, councillors and constituents at an event later that day.

“It was great for Kemi to see Bridge Farm’s outstanding horticultural business and to learn of their plans to invest still more in our area.

“I know she was very impressed during her visit to FreshLinc and Lincolnshire Field Produce. Freshlinc play such a vital role nationwide as a leading logistics business, supplying Lincolnshire’s produce, including much grown by Lincolnshire Field Produce, across the entire nation.”

Kevin Geaney, chairman of South Holland and the Deepings Conservative Association said of the Conservative evening event: “The members of the association enjoyed good company and an entertaining and informative speech.”