The theme for this year's #LoveMK Day is encouraging people to look forward and in Milton Keynes we have so much to be positive about as we look to recover from the pandemic.
A City Of Growth - Fastest Predicted Economic Recovery Rate In The UK
A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and law firm Irwin Mitchell has predicted Milton Keynes will have the fastest economic recovery rate of any city or town in the whole of Great Britain.
It predicts a a 9.9% bounceback in annual gross value added (GVA) across 2021 and credits our skilled service sectors, such as IT and business services, and distribution and storage for this recovery.
Building Back Greener - Most Electric Charging Points Outside Of London
The Prime Minister has announced his ambitions for the UK to build back greener from the coronavirus pandemic and this can be a huge boost to Milton Keynes where we already already lead the way with green technology.
MK has more electric car charging points than any other city or town in England outside of London and 114 of these are rapid charging units which puts us top per 100k population in the whole of the country.
We can make MK a hub for exciting new innovative green technology which will help create more jobs in the area in the future.
A Brand New Hospital For Milton Keynes - £200m Investment in Healthcare
We've seen during the pandemic the heroic work of our fantastic health workers in the NHS and how important they are to our lives so I'm delighted MK will be getting a new dedicated Women's and Children's Hospital which will help our healthcare system cope with the demands of the future.
We Are A City Of Businesses - 5,280 More Businesses Than 2010
In 2019 Milton Keynes had 5,280 more businesses than it did in 2010 with a total of 14,105 businesses across the city. In fact in 2019 we were the 6th best city in the country for business start-ups and the 2nd best for total businesses per 10k population.
This highlights the brilliant business driven minds we have in MK - ready to innovate and take chances on their ideas to drive our economy forward.
Throughout the pandemic the Government has protected business in Milton Keynes in the form of millions of pounds worth of grants, vital loans and of course the Furlough Scheme which helped keep 33,900 people in jobs at its peak last May.
A Sporting And Music City - 4 Women's EURO 2021 Matches In Milton Keynes
Stadium MK - the home of our local football team MK Dons - will be hosting four matches at the delayed UEFA Women's EURO 2021 next summer, which will include one of the semi-finals on 28th July.
The Dons previously hosted three Rugby World Cup 2015 matches and has also welcomed England Under 21s to the stadium in previous years.
And it's not just as a host to sporting events where MK is making a name for itself, rock band My Chemical Romance's much anticipated 3 UK return gigs will all take place in Milton Keynes.
MK Can Bounce Back Better...
And we mustn't forget the incredible community spirit here in Milton Keynes which has got us through lockdown. From the wonderful volunteers who helped deliver shopping to the extremely vulnerable to the morale boosting local heroes who helped cheer neighbourhoods up with a bluesmobile playing feel-good tunes or a street singalong. It's all shown how resolute the people of Milton Keynes are and it's because of all of you that MK will have a bright future and will bounce back better.
That is why I #LoveMK.