When a major employer chooses to base key operations in our area, it has a real positive impact on local jobs, skills and opportunities that families here can benefit from in the long term.
I was pleased to join National Gas leaders, alongside Minister Chris McDonald MP and Andrew Pakes MP, to mark the opening of their East Region headquarters in Hampton recently.
This new headquarters will be the operational hub for National Gas’ work across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Kent, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Suffolk – placing our constituency firmly at the heart of Britain’s energy network.
The announcement forms part of an £870 million investment in the East of England over the next five years. That funding will support critical infrastructure projects – from upgrading compressor stations to modernising maintenance systems – and help drive local partnerships with businesses and contractors across our region.
As part of that commitment, around 250 new jobs will be created and around 300 roles safeguarded, offering good employment and training opportunities for people in and around Hampton and, more widely, in Peterborough and Huntingdonshire.
What makes this investment particularly meaningful is the focus on future-ready infrastructure. Peterborough’s compressor station has undergone significant upgrades, with new turbines installed that are compatible with both methane and hydrogen blends. This ensures we can keep energy flowing reliably today, while preparing for cleaner fuels tomorrow – a key part of building energy security as the UK transitions to lower-carbon sources.
For local people, the benefits go well beyond new jobs. It means apprenticeships and training pathways that help young people get started in engineering and technical careers without having to move away.
It means local supply chains getting long-term contracts that help bolster our economy. And it signals confidence in this part of the country as a place where major national infrastructure will be run, supported and developed.
This kind of investment doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects the work we and others have done to make the case for our area – highlighting Hampton and Peterborough as a practical, capable location with strong connectivity and a skilled workforce.
It also reflects a broader ambition to balance investment across the country, ensuring that communities like ours benefit from the jobs and growth that come with nationally significant infrastructure projects.
Of course, opportunities like this need to be matched by local action: supporting training providers, encouraging apprentices, and making sure local businesses are ready to bid for the work. I’ll be working with National Gas, regional partners, and our Labour government to ensure the benefits of this investment reach as many people as possible.
In many ways, this announcement is just the beginning. By securing this long-term commitment from National Gas and building on our local strengths, North WestCambridgeshire will continue to play a central role in Britain’s energy future – and that’s good news for the people who live and work here.