Q&A with Labour Party West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Metro Mayor candidate Helen Godwin

Editor's note: earlier this month, the Bristol Initiative hosted the first hustings for the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority's next Metro Mayor with candidates from the Conservative, Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties in attendance. We invited all candidates to do a Q&A on our blog, and here we speak to candidate Helen Godwin of the Labour Party.

What do you think a Metro Mayor's role should be?

The Metro Mayor should be a connected local leader who bridges community and business interests while working collaboratively with central government to secure investments for regional development. 

The role involves providing strategic leadership in addressing complex devolution dynamics in a diverse region, bringing the right stakeholders together to deliver meaningful change, and implementing practical solutions for transportation, housing, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. 

The Metro Mayor should be transparent, collaborative across political divides, and focused on delivering value and tangible benefits for all communities across the West of England.

What would be your top priorities for your first year in office?

The top priorities for the first year would be:

• Working with the Labour government to unlock funding that the region deserves
• Improving transportation by creating a reliable integrated and consistent bus network with "one ticket, one timetable"
• Accelerating railway station openings to improve connectivity (Portishead, Filton North, etc.)
• Developing a strategic housing plan to build "the right homes in the right places" with essential services from healthcare to transport links to education
• Creating pathways from education to employment, particularly in green jobs
• Establishing partnerships with universities, startups, and businesses to stimulate innovation and investment
• Implementing an early years guarantee for the region to support families

How do you plan to collaborate with the business community to ensure policies meet regional needs?

My collaborative approach with the business community will be rooted in direct engagement with leaders from key sectors, ensuring their voices shape regional policies. 

I'll prioritise listening to businesses on issues that directly affect them, such as road closures and parking restrictions, while appointing an Innovation tsar to secure investment and showcase our region globally. 

By accelerating the Good Employment Charter in partnership with businesses, we can set high standards while supporting our high streets and building on our strong culture and hospitality offerings. 

I'm committed to creating thriving ecosystems for startups, particularly in the green and AI sectors, while fostering connections between our universities and businesses to develop robust R&D capabilities that drive sustainable economic growth across the West of England.

How would you raise our region's profile with government and the private sector to secure the investment that we need?

As your Labour Mayor working alongside a Labour government, I'll leverage this unique alignment to unlock crucial funding opportunities for our region. 

I'll use my proven track record of cross-party collaboration and strong government connections to put the West of England firmly on the map. By building bridges with ministers, civil servants, and local leaders across the political spectrum, I'll showcase why the West is the investment destination of the future. 

I'll position our region as an AI growth zone to attract new jobs and businesses, while highlighting our incredible potential for green jobs and sustainable development. Through strategic media engagement, op-eds, and high-profile visits, I'll demonstrate both our success stories and untapped potential, ensuring decision-makers understand that investing in the West of England means investing in proven success and future innovation.

Why are you best placed to be Metro Mayor?

My deep roots in this region as a born and bred Bristolian, and raising my family here give me a genuine understanding of both our challenges and potential. 

My experience as a Bristol cabinet member who successfully protected vital services despite brutal budget constraints proves I can deliver real change under pressure. 

I've built my reputation in both business and politics on getting things done by bringing together diverse stakeholders - investors, business leaders, and government officials. 

My practical knowledge of local governance, combined with my balanced perspective as both a business leader and parent with strong community connections, allows me to represent all regional interests effectively. 

With a tangible track record of delivery, I offer the strategic connection between local needs and national government that our region needs now - a Labour Mayor working collaboratively with a Labour government to accelerate growth and deliver ambitious change for all our communities.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this guest blog are those of the author. Business West is an apolitical organisation and does not endorse any statements provided in this guest blog.