The past two years have been hard on us all with disruption, change and uncertainty. Easter is a time of reflection and represents hope of a new start, a new direction and new beginnings. Notwithstanding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and cost of living crisis, my column is taking a break from politics this week.
I would like your help to nominate a local company to be the Monmouth constituency’s Responsible Business Champion 2022. Perhaps you are a business owner or employee who wishes to see the company receive special recognition. Run by a cross-party group of MPs who promote corporate responsibility in the community and workplace, the prestigious scheme is seeking nominations for any business – big or small. What matters is the way it operates. For example, by supporting local schools, clubs, or charities; working to minimise its impact on the environment; offering great apprenticeships, or simply treating its staff and customers well. I have previously put forward two fantastic Monmouthshire businesses which went on to be crowned National Responsible Business Champion at a reception in the House of Commons. Abergavenny construction company Alun Griffiths (Contractors) Ltd won in 2016 and BAE Systems Land UK at Glascoed near Usk scooped the top award in 2018. My nomination in 2019, Abergavenny-based bespoke joinery and construction company Anthony A Davies Ltd, was highly commended by the judging panel. What a feat it would be to win the national title for a third time! Please email suggestions to david.davies.mp@parliament.uk and outline why you think the company you are nominating is an excellent choice to represent the Monmouth constituency as Responsible Business Champion. The deadline is 5:00pm on Friday 13 May 2022.
A commemorative book has been funded by the UK Government for every schoolchild in Britain to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. It is a way of marking the enormous commitment to public service that has been made by our monarch. While the book will be automatically distributed to schools in England, the Welsh Government is taking a slightly different approach here in Wales and only handing it out to schools that actively ask for copies. We have an amazing story to tell our children. I very much lots of schools will opt to receive the book so young people across Wales are able to read about the Queen’s remarkable 70-year-reign alongside key events, achievements and inventions.
*Published in the Monmouthshire Beacon on 13 April 2022 and the Abergavenny Chronicle on 14 April 2022*