A New Year message from East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds:

I HAVE had the honour of representing East Hampshire since 2010, and over those seven years it has been a pleasure to meet so many of the people, charities, organisations and businesses that make this area such a fantastic place to live and work.

And 2017 has been no different. One of the early highlights was the New Directions event at Alton College back in April, where more than 50 exhibitors came together to offer employment, training and volunteering opportunities for the over-50s.

It was great to see the engagement between visitors and exhibitors, but also the exchange and connections being built between local businesses, organisations and charities. Despite record employment and the lowest unemployment rate in 40 years, the over-50s remain an untapped source of talent for employers, along with people with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

A more recent highlight was the opening of the Future Skills Centre in Whitehill and Bordon, bringing state-of-the-art construction skills to the heart of the major development scheme that is under way. The transformation happening in the town is quite amazing, with new housing, a new town centre and health hub in the pipeline, and the prospect of new high-tech enterprises arriving.

Investments such as these reinforce the commitment required to sustain economic growth, and the need for economic security, as we head toward our exit from the EU. With record investments in key public services such as the NHS and schools, it is critical we support the individuals and enterprises that underpin our long-term success, including the thousands of small businesses up and down the UK.

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting some very interesting local companies this year, and it’s great to see some businesses based here being recognised with industry awards – from tourism to logistics, online platforms to running accessories, care homes to personal finance. The range is impressive, as is their contribution to the economic and social life-blood of our local communities.

The recent East Hampshire Volunteer Awards put a spotlight on the great endeavours of local individuals and groups that give their time and skills to help others, and the roll call of nominees and winners was as broad as it was deep. We’re fortunate indeed to have people who’re passionate about their neighbours, their environment and their communities. Life here would be so much poorer without them.

Finally, and not surprisingly, I have had the opportunity to talk a great deal about politics during 2017, but not just at General Election hustings. From a question-and-answer session with Scout groups during Parliament Week, to a year 10 election day at Mill Chase, head boy and head girl hustings at Treloar’s, through to hosting a two-day Taste of Parliament event for a group of sixth-form students from school and colleges across East Hampshire. I am always impressed by the questions and insights made by these groups, and the future of our parliamentary democracy is definitely brighter if that remains strong.

As we head into 2018 – another year that’s likely to be very challenging - I remain very optimistic about the future. We have the creativity and determination to tackle some difficult issues, and the talent and inventiveness to build a strong place for us in the world. In fact, there is a great deal to look forward to.

I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year.