Bim Afolami, the MP for Hitchin & Harpenden, has been visiting a series of local businesses.

On Thursday, January 19, Mr Afolami visited CARNOT on Old Hall Farmyard in Little Wymondley. Their prototype engine aims to help boost decarbonisation efforts and works on a range of fuels.

Mr Afolami chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Renewable and Sustainable Energy and sits on the powerful Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee.

He said: "It was brilliant to see the innovative and forward-thinking work that CARNOT are doing to decarbonise transport in areas where electric vehicles won’t work.

"This is an area where I have been working closely with ministerial colleagues and industry and it is fantastic to see some of the great strides that are being made by this important small local business in our community.

READ MORE

"I have been particularly looking at hydrogen power in Westminster and we had a wide-ranging discussion about the role that hydrogen can play in the future.

“CARNOT’s prototype engine will work and it has the potential to be transformative – going into heavy goods vehicles and heavy machinery where electric vehicles are not an option. It can work off of fuels like hydrogen or ammonia, and could be a world first as part of our drive to net zero."

On January 13, Mr Afolami visited Simmer, a food delivery start-up in Hitchin providing fresh and balanced meals to customers' doors each week.

The Comet: Bim Afolami MP also visited Simmer, a Hitchin-based start-up.Bim Afolami MP also visited Simmer, a Hitchin-based start-up. (Image: Bim Afolami MP)

He said: “Local businesses are so important to our communities and to growing our economy in Hitchin, Harpenden and the villages. It was great to visit family-run business Simmer in Hitchin to meet their team and hear their story.

"They are exactly the kind of brilliant local start-up that we need to foster and encourage in our community – run by fantastic young local entrepreneurs.

"I enjoyed talking to them about the challenges and opportunities that they have locally and I look forward to seeing what they do next – as well as enjoying the great meal that they very generously gave me to take home!”

Mr Afolami's visits will continue on February 7, when he will officially open a new facility owned by Hitchin-based water treatment company Euraqua UK.