BEFORE entering Parliament I was lucky enough to spend time studying in California’s Silicon Valley and then running an investment business.
Home to some of the world's most advanced and valuable companies, it is an incredible place to work.
Taking a ten-minute drive through the Bay area of San Francisco, it is possible to pass the headquarters of technology giants such as Apple and Google and hundreds of other businesses which have changed the way we live our lives today.
The concentration of creativity and innovation is intoxicating and I found working among all this young talent truly inspirational.
I felt that familiar buzz of energy and excellence on a recent visit to a company in the constituency doing some amazing work with robots.
Labman Automation is a world-renowned leader in custom robotic solutions and is based on the outskirts of the village of Seamer, just a couple of miles from Stokesley.
They design and make robots for use in a wide range of industries and their products are exported all round the world. It is growing rapidly on the back of its innovation and reputation for finding ingenious solutions for its customers.
During my visit, I saw some amazing bits of kit being fine tuned before delivery – like the robot testing shampoo samples on hundreds of different types of human hair for Unilever or the one running test applications for a European cosmetics company.
The building where all this happens is striking. Timber-clad and almost entirely open plan inside, it is designed to foster collaboration with the youngest members of staff working alongside senior managers.
It is also a fun place to work. The building features a full-size climbing wall, squash court, go-karts, basketball, pool and table tennis tables. Work hard, play hard is very much a reality here.
It's a world-class company born and bred here in North Yorkshire and we should be very proud of it.
One aspect of Labman's operation I was particularly gratified by was their investment in apprentices – they currently have eight – and also the number of women engineers and designers they employ.
We need to encourage many more young women to consider careers in businesses like Labman and start by encouraging them to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics – the STEM subjects – at school and beyond.
Last year I gave my support to a project led by Richmond and Dales Soroptimists International designed to do just that. The project - called STEM: Jobs for the Girls - included a one-day conference and workshop sessions at RAF Leeming. More than 200 schoolgirls from all over Yorkshire and North-East got a taste of these subjects and their practical applications.
I have just read a comprehensive report on the project and it was a tremendous success with pupils subsequently expressing interest in taking degree course or apprenticeship routes to STEM careers.
There were also lessons to be learned and one is that careers advice in schools is patchy and we need to share best practice. I have written to the Schools Minister, with a copy of the project report, urging him to ensure all girls get the best careers advice and fulfil their potential to be the great engineers and scientists of the future – perhaps working in places like Silicon Valley but hopefully here in North Yorkshire at inspiring companies like Labman.