AS I write, I am at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, midway through a packed schedule of speeches, receptions and panel discussions. My ministerial brief means that I have been asked to speak on topics such as mortgages, financial services and solutions to high cost credit.

While the media focus is on the big speeches from the main stage, it is easy to forget the real purpose of conference season – to give grass roots party members the chance to connect with and hear directly from their elected representatives. To that end, I will spend hardly any time in the main hall but will be touring events all over the conference venue, meeting people and taking part in debates.

Another important part of the schedule of all ministers is to tour the exhibition hall, where charities and interest groups get the chance to set up stall and lobby for the issues that matter to them. My tour will take in a large number of organisations – some who have specifically asked to see me – but many more which constituents have asked me to seek out, including the Alzheimer’s Society and Royal British Legion.

I am returning to Salisbury for a packed Thursday and Friday, including speaking to the Local Enterprise Partnership and an audience of businesses and stakeholders.

LEPs are the distribution mechanism by which government support reaches the regions. It is their responsibility to really get under the skin of the local economy and to invest strategically in projects which both maximise the potential for growth and build on existing strengths.

It is great news that they have committed to support the Maltings redevelopment to completion – a project that has gained new significance given all the disruption and unwanted attention it has faced since March.

I am also looking forward to my first meeting with the people who have been tasked with marketing Salisbury to national and international visitors. I know that some people instinctively resist the idea of ‘consultants’ but this is an opportunity for the city to bounce back from 2018 stronger than ever and it needs to be done in a co-ordinated way. I am hopeful that a single entity pulling together all of the input from local traders, big attractions like the cathedral, Visit Wiltshire and many others will ensure that the extra money the government has given us to support our tourist economy won’t get lost in mixed messages and will have the maximum impact.