Construction equipment hire and services provider Speedy welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak to its new net carbon-zero innovation centre in Milton Keynes.

The Chancellor met with Speedy Chief Executive Russell Down, before touring the new 100,000 sq.ft. site and holding a Q&A session with Speedy employees.

Speedy also supplied generators for use in Eastern Ukraine to help keep essential services running, from relief centres and hospitals to phone masts and water pumping stations.

Mr Sunak said: "I know that many people have felt anxious in recent months about rising costs and it was great to hear some of the questions from Speedy staff here in Milton Keynes.

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"From next month our cut to National Insurance means that many of the staff here, and millions of others around the UK, will have £330 more a year in their pockets. And our £37 billion package of support is giving £400 off every household's energy bill and paying £1,200 to the 8 million most vulnerable households.

"It was also fantastic to hear about the work Speedy is doing to support people in Ukraine – people all across the UK are doing their part as we stand against Putin's illegal invasion."

The innovation centre in Milton Keynes, which represents the sector’s first net carbon-zero hire centre and employs more than 50 people, is supporting contractors building the first phase of HS2 from London to Birmingham, providing low-emission equipment to help meet the project’s sustainability goals, from electric lighting towers to track laying machinery.

Speedy, which operates 200 fixed sites across the UK and works with the industry's largest contractors, said the innovation centre forms a key part of its commitment to creating a more sustainable industry.