Government convenes latest Honda Swindon Task Force

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Nicky Godding

Business Secretary Greg Clark chaired a further meeting of the Honda Swindon Task Force, which brings together civic leaders, local partners and MP’s, Honda, Unite the Union, sector representatives and leading government officials.

Meeting in Swindon, the Task Force reviewed the group's ongoing work and agreed further priorities.

The Task Force wants to match the highly sought after skills of the workforce to local opportunities; offer support for the supply chain, look at future opportunities for the site and Swindon’s continued economic growth.

Honda also confirmed its commitment to support the next phase of the work of the group.

During the meeting, Greg Clark reiterated the Government’s commitment to growing the competitiveness of the automotive sector and its supply chain, as well as supporting suppliers and workers to identify new opportunities. The Task Force will continue to meet on a regular basis.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: "Honda’s decision to close manufacturing operations in Swindon was clearly not the news we hoped for – and came despite the best efforts of everyone to keep the site open for the long-term. I have been struck by the resilience, commitment and hard work of Honda’s talented workforce and the local community. Swindon is a great place to invest and create high-skilled jobs, and our Task Force will continue to support this, ensuring that Honda workers and suppliers are supported and able to seize new opportunities now and in the future."

In March the Government announced a £16 million programme for UK automotive suppliers to support and develop the Honda supply chain.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.