Dr Luke Evans, MP for Bosworth, has welcomed the Government’s Levelling Up Tour to Bosworth, after touring MIRA Technology Park (MTP) with the Conservative Party Co-Chairman Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase.
Following the release of a new 10 Point Plan for Green Growth earlier this month, Dr Luke was pleased to take the opportunity to show off MIRA Technology Park on the A5, which is one of the top locations in the world for automotive research, development and testing. The site is recognised as a pre-eminent hub for the progression of exponential technologies from cleantech energy to cybersecurity, connected & autonomous vehicles, electrification and AI, right here in Leicestershire. As one of the major local employers in the Bosworth constituency, employing more than 1,000 people, it has been identified by the likes of the Midlands Engine and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), and now the Government, as one of the key UK sectors to help drive green growth, draw in international investment and create employment opportunities.
The work being done at MIRA Technology Park is a fantastic example of a greener future complementing local economic growth, and building on the strong automotive heritage in the Midlands. The new 10 Point Plan, unveiled by the Midlands Engine, is designed to cut current regional CO2 levels by 36%, whilst also creating nearly 200,000 jobs for the region. The Plan was produced, and will be implemented by, over 300 partners and stakeholders, including major organisations like EDF Energy, Toyota and the National Trust.
Dr Luke and Amanda were greeted by Jack Bartlett, Head of Commercial and Partnerships for MTP, before visiting the on-site MIRA Technology Institute to meet Apprentice Technician Caleb Martin, who has trained at the institute. Caleb explained some of the projects he works on like cybersecurity for cars, and described how much he enjoys working on the site. There was then the opportunity to visit Warwick Acoustics, one of the site’s tenants, to see and hear about their revolutionary speaker systems tailored for electric cars, before then visiting HORIBA MIRA’s Advanced Battery Development Suite to hear about the testing and development of electric batteries for vehicles.
Speaking after the visit, Dr Luke said: “The work being done at MIRA Technology Park is absolutely at the cutting edge of the future of the automotive industry, and I’m proud that this development is taking place right on our doorstep. The Levelling Up Tour was a fantastic chance to showcase our area’s industries and the fantastic work that they do, offering the local economy a huge range of opportunities, from self-driving cars to sustainable technology.
Bosworth is continuing to build on its reputation as a major player for investment, research and advanced manufacturing, demonstrating that we can move towards an eco-friendlier future without compromising on economic growth. Thanks to Amanda for coming down, and my thanks to MTP for having us.”
Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase and Conservative Party Co-Chairman, said: “It was brilliant to see the work that MIRA are doing to put innovation at the heart of the Midlands. The Prime Minister committed to levelling up the entire country and the work MIRA are doing will play a key role in that - creating highly-skilled jobs that will put the United Kingdom at the forefront of jobs for the future.”
Jack Bartlett, Head of Commercial and Partnerships at MIRA Technology Park, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Dr Luke Evans and Amanda Milling and showcase some of the fantastic work taking place on site - we’re bringing together talented engineers and world-class development facilities, to provide an unrivalled location for technology development and decarbonisation. We’re incredibly proud to be located in the heart of the UK’s automotive industry offering a hub that enables international companies to access all that the region has to offer.”
More information on MTP can be found here: https://bit.ly/2UTdEvy
More information on the new 10 Point Plan for Green Growth can be found here: https://bit.ly/3rIEfqN