Island pay is similar to the rest of the country but below the South East. I want to get a better deal on jobs to give Islanders better life chances and better opportunities.
Working with the then Conservative Council and Homes England, we helped secure the Venture Quays site in East Cowes for Island shipbuilding, protecting hundreds of jobs.
I got the Island’s £5.8 million Levelling Up project prioritised and included in the first round of bids. And working with others, we’ve helped secure a £10m grant from the Government to upgrade almost all the Island to fibre-to-premises broadband, years ahead of the rest of the UK.
Our plan for 2024 will see work finished on the first Levelling Up bid and work starting on the second. The rural elements of fibre-to-premises broadband will be rolled out, and work will finish on Ryde Esplanade too.