HOPEFULLY an important announcement the day after Philip Hammond’s budget on March 8 reached you.

At a follow-up meeting the next day, there were announcements supporting the ‘Midlands Engine’ including significant investment in skills, connectivity (broadband) and local growth, while setting out how the government plans to drive the region’s huge potential and promote it to the world.

It’s our local version of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ as promoted by the government.

A little throwaway line presents a total game changing opportunity for Herefordshire - ‘at the heart of today’s plans with the Local Growth Fund investing £8 million to create a new world-class teaching university in Hereford’.

I alluded to this project in my column last June and the £8m is part of a £24m commitment due through various funding channels.

As founder members of the new university (NMiTE, New Model in Technology & Engineering) we have financially supported the project, along with 99 other founders, providing over £1,000,000 of early funding.

The work behind the scenes of the trustees and volunteer support staff has been colossal and they have created a legacy for the city and county that will have long and far-reaching impact.

Not only providing a local high quality university choice for our youth and school leavers, but also attracting talented youngsters to the region.

This is a reversal of the current trend of some of our most talented school leavers departing the county for higher education, never to return.

Orchard Valley Foods are proud to have been involved at such an early stage and I’m honoured to have worked with the trustee team directly in seeking some additional private sector finance.