Children across the West enjoyed over 900,000 free bus journeys during the summer, saving families almost £1 million and encouraging greener travel 🚌 Great to see Transport Secretary @heidialexander.bsky.social highlighting the Department for Transport-funded scheme's success recently!

A £25 million investment to grow our creative industries is a huge vote of confidence in our new chapter in the West 🎬 It was great to speak about what the future holds at @arnolfiniarts.bsky.social this week 🎨

A pleasure to catch up with Damien Egan MP and to meet the Fishponds Community Planning Group. Talking to local people underlines how important things like bus infrastructure and community space are - real priorities in this new chapter for the West!

Today, on Armistice Day, across the West we stop to reflect on the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of our armed forces. It was an honour to lay a wreath on Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in Bristol.

You've heard about our landmark tech deal with Colorado - a UK first! But does anyone know what quantum actually means?

Fantastic to visit @uwebristolofficial.bsky.social during their annual Green Week to hear about innovative work around skills, sustainable transport, business growth and much more. 🌍 We'll continue to work together to put climate resilience and sustainability at the heart of the West's growth.

Our landmark tech deal with Elevate Quantum and the University of Bristol this week is an important first step for more investment and jobs in the West 📈

I was proud to speak at this year's West of England Nature Partnership conference in Bath on Monday. 🌲 Our connection to nature is in our DNA, and part of the reason why we love to live here. That's why nature recovery and climate resilience are woven through our Growth Strategy.

We’ve made the 36 bus free to ride this week so more people can give it a go 🚌 Ruth hopped on board for the first time today - here’s what she thought 👇

I'm so proud of what we've achieved together in the last six months. But I know there's a lot more to do, and the best is yet to come.

We've just signed a landmark tech deal! Fantastic to welcome Elevate Quantum, who came from Colorado to sign the agreement with us and the University of Bristol. This deal is the first of its kind anywhere in the UK and an important first step for more investment and jobs here in the West.

From sustainable transport to clean energy, nature recovery to retrofit, 'green' jobs are booming in the West. This #GreenCareersWeek, why not explore your options, find courses or get free coaching from Skills Connect to get you started? > #GCW2025 www.skillsconnect.org.uk/career-insig...

More jobs, more train stations and more affordable homes. This is what I want the West to look like in 10 years' time 👉

Carving '72,000 new jobs' into a pumpkin is harder than it looks. Luckily, our Growth Strategy sets out exactly how we'll create new jobs - from the everyday economy to clean energy, the West is the place to invest.

Rail travel should be for everyone - so we're investing to make Lawrence Hill station fully accessible for the first time since it opened in 1863. Here's what local people have to say about a new lift and improved stairs 👇

The Portishead Line is on track to reopen for passengers for the first time in 60 years 🚂 Final enabling works are now underway - bringing us one step closer to faster, greener journeys in the West and reconnecting 50,000 people to the rail network ✅

South Bristol will be better connected by the m1 metrobus, thanks to a £3.6 million route extension to Imperial Retail Park. Together with new night services and green electric buses across the West, we're starting to build the reliable, bus network our region deserves: tinyurl.com/m1extended

Plans to build a new railway station at Henbury are a step closer after securing planning approval from South Gloucestershire Council. It's another welcome boost after the New Towns Taskforce recently recommended Brabazon & the West Innovation Arc for new town status: tinyurl.com/HenburyPlanning

A joint statement with the Police & Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset: tinyurl.com/MayorPCC2ndOct

We've taken the West's new Growth Strategy to government. Since last week: ✅ £40m for Twerton & Hartcliffe ✅ £25m for our creative industries ✅ New town a step closer ✅ GWR set for public control Together, we’ve turned the page and started a new chapter for our region.

Today's pay deal between First Bus and Unite drivers is more good news in a great week for the West of England, as we work together to build the bus network that local people deserve: tinyurl.com/BusDriverDeal

From Oscar winners to world-famous festivals, culture is at the heart of who we are. Just days after our Growth Strategy launch, today’s £25 million government boost for our creative sector will mean more opportunities for people across the West: tinyurl.com/25mCreativeWest

Our first FGF #Lab25 event of the day - 'Powering Places, How industrial strategy can deliver national renewal' - featuring 5 panelists: * @mayorhelengodwin.bsky.social Mayor of the West of England * @Antonia Bance MP - Business and Trade select committee member * Alex Bevan - FGF Research Fellow

Recently, the West has outperformed every region on economic growth – bar none. This is the place to invest. I'm taking our message from this week's Growth Strategy launch to Labour Party conference to secure more investment for the West of England.

We’re a step closer to a new town for the West! The New Towns Taskforce has recommended a corridor of development in South Glos and Bristol, connected by sustainable transport, including Brabazon, a transformed Parkway station, and the Bristol & Bath Science Park: tinyurl.com/WestNewTownCloser

Today’s Rugby World Cup final will be the most attended women’s rugby match in history. With @mayorofwy.bsky.social, @kimmcguinness.bsky.social, and Lisa Nandy, I’ll be rooting for the #RedRoses🌹 – who have inspired a new generation across our whole country. Come on England!

Public ownership of the West’s trains will return our railways to the service of passengers. Welcome news from Heidi! Record transport investment, including for more trains; reopening the Bristol & Portishead Line; 5 new stations; and this will put our region back on track: tinyurl.com/WestTrains

Our Growth Strategy launch this week was a celebration of the West. Since 2019, our region's economy has grown at four times the national rate – and the best is yet to come. The future starts here. More photos by Toby Geall/Phoebe Stephen from boomsatsuma: tinyurl.com/WestGrowthStrategyPics

A new mural has been unveiled at Ashley Down train station on its first anniversary, coinciding with @railway200.bsky.social. Andy Council painted the 24-metre design, which includes local landmarks like the Mem and County Ground, funded by GWR and the combined authority: tinyurl.com/TrainMural

£40 million investment for Twerton and Hartcliffe has been confirmed, the day after we launched the West's new Growth Strategy. Local people in Bath and Bristol will ensure that this funding helps deliver real change that our communities can see and feel: tinyurl.com/40mTwertonHartcliffe

The West is not just the best place to invest, to spend money – it’s also the best place to spend time. As we write this new chapter for our region, this new Growth Strategy lights the way to a brighter future for us all. Welcome to the West of England. The future starts here.

Rail travel should be for everyone. That’s why the combined authority has launched a new survey about the barriers people face in getting around by train and improvements for older stations, to feed into our future transport investment plans. Have your say: tinyurl.com/WestRailSurvey

NVIDIA's CEO highlighted Isambard-AI, the UK’s largest supercomputer, based at the NCC and University of Bristol, while announcing further investment today during the State Visit. Next week we’ll share our new regional Growth Strategy – including plans for the UK’s first AI Supercluster.

Nature doesn’t constrain our region’s growth – it’s among the many things driving it. This morning at the Wild Summit, the West’s leaders confirmed that nature’s recovery will be embedded in our upcoming Growth Strategy: tinyurl.com/NatureWest 📷 Ania Shrimpton

The Rugby World Cup is coming to Bristol, with England's Red Roses versus Scotland at Ashton Gate on Sunday! 🏉 Head down to the free Fan Zone this weekend and next for games on the big screen, activities, and live music through Culture West: tinyurl.com/RWCbristol

We know how handy Dott e-bikes and e-scooters are for some of us, but we all need tidy pavements. The first week of our #ScootSafe🛴 campaign with Police & Crime Commissioner Clare Moody saw 1,400 parking fines issued (2.5% of rides). Thanks to everyone who does the right thing, however you travel.

The Y8 WESTlocal bus was extended this week, after a year's campaign. The service is in place until March thanks to the West's Bus Grant from Government, backed by South Glos and Gloucestershire councils, Claire Young MP and Simon Opher MP – all aboard! Route/timetable: tinyurl.com/Y8extended

Young people across the West are being supported into work, helping them get on and boosting growth. £5 million of DWP backing includes free bus travel for young people getting to training and interviews. 135 employers are already involved – join them: tinyurl.com/YouthGuaranteeBiz

Clear out that drawer of old cables and devices! Great to see Donate IT and Bath's Share & Repair on The One Show, highlighting their great work transforming e-waste for people to use. I visited their Tech Amnesty recently, which collected over a tonne of old tech!

We're investing £5.4 million in the south of Bath with B&NES Council. Scholars’ Way will mean a mile of better walking, wheeling, and cycling routes for people, from families on the school run to commuters. The new crossing by Ralph Allen School is ready for September: tinyurl.com/ScholarsWay

A new bus will reconnect Yate, Thornbury, and Cribbs Causeway from next week, thanks to regional funding. The Y2C will also serve Engine Common, Rangeworthy, Tytherington, Alveston, Olveston, Tockington, and Almondsbury through the WESTlink trial: tinyurl.com/NewY2Cbus

Ten years ago today, over 150,000 people started to visit Dismaland over its five week run... Now, in the first four weeks of the summer holidays, over 500,000 free journeys have been taken across the West through Kids Go Free! Read more: tinyurl.com/500kKidsGoFree

Artist Andy Council will create a new mural at Ashley Down train station, working with Severnside Community Rail Partnership and more. The artwork, funded by GWR and the MCA, will reflect the area's heritage and mark the station's first year, coinciding with #Railway200: tinyurl.com/AndyCouncilAD

We know how handy Dott e-bikes and e-scooters are for some of us in the West, but it’s time for a better balance. Alongside my new safety campaign with our PCC, and more marked parking, there will be new fines and bans for irresponsible riding and parking. #ScootSafe🛴: tinyurl.com/ScootSafeWest

For too long, Lawrence Hill station has not been fully accessible. Regional funding would change that with a new lift, under new plans. As well as building new train stations, we need to invest in our older ones – and increase services across the rail network: tinyurl.com/StepFreeLawrenceHill

We need to build the right homes in the right places to tackle the housing crisis – with the services and infrastructure that local people need and deserve. Last week, I spoke to ITV about how we’re working together to do just that and do our bit to help meet the national housebuilding target.

A new bus will serve North East Somerset's towns and villages from September, thanks to regional funding. The 768 will connect Writhlington, Radstock, Clandown, Camerton, Timsbury, Tunley, Priston, Nailwell, Englishcombe, Bear Flat, and Bath through the WESTlink trial: tinyurl.com/New768bus

80 years on from the end of the Second World War, we are reminded of veterans’ service and sacrifice, in Asia and around the world, fighting for freedom. My message on #VJDay: tinyurl.com/VJDayWest

Keir Starmer: "Now she’s your Mayor, Helen is working alongside us in the fight to make sure people have the opportunities they deserve." The Prime Minister in the Bath Chronicle, Bristol Post & Western Daily Press on investing in the West, Kids Go Free, and more: tinyurl.com/KeirStarmerHelenGodwin

Good luck to everyone collecting exam results today! I remember getting my A-level results and encourage anyone in need of advice to visit Skills Connect, the West's one-stop-shop for all things careers, skills, and training: skillsconnect.org.uk