FRIDAY was a busy one in the constituency, writes Redditch MP Karen Lumley in her diary from Westminster.

I held one of my regular business leaders meeting at the Abbey Hotel.

Local business bosses are invited to share best practise as well as to hear guest speakers, and just to network with like-minded people.

This time around 30 of them listened to presentations about the new apprenticeship schemes, and about plans for the crucial Redditch Eastern Gateway project which will hopefully bring hundreds of jobs to the town over the coming years. These are exciting times for Redditch.

I also enjoyed a visit to long-established Redditch manufacturing company AE Oscroft & Sons Ltd to meet with and congratulate their apprentices, as well as to take a look around and talk to current managing director Chris Oscroft.

Based in Heming Road on the Washford Industrial Estate, AE Oscroft have been in Redditch for nearly 70 years, although recently moved to a larger site, and are specialists in the design and manufacture of pressings.

They are very active in employing apprentices and was great to see these schemes in operation and to congratulate and present awards to the apprentices.

I also enjoyed a brief tour round Redditch in a BT Openreach van, as they wanted to show me some of the improvements that are being made in broadband connections.

I also enjoyed a very lively conversation with sixth form students from RSA Academy Arrow Vale in the latest in my series of Snack ‘n’ Chat events, which give teenagers the chance to ask me questions on policy and about life as an MP, hosted by McDonald’s in Oakenshaw.

I look forward to meeting students from Tudor Grange and St Augustine’s High Schools, as well as those from HoW College in future months.

This week in Westminster will see largely a continuation of debates on the recent Queen’s Speech, specifically on the subjects of Defending Public Services, Europe, Human Rights and Keeping People Safe at Home and Abroad, Education, Skills and Training, and concluding on Thursday with Economy and Work.

As ever, to keep up to date with what I am doing, visit tellkaren.com