Tomorrow will mark the end of an era as we say goodbye to one of Swindon’s biggest employers in the shape of Honda.

The Japanese car giant has played a huge part in so many lives in the town that its departure will be met with a great deal of sadness by employees, families and businesses who have come to rely on the company over the past 35 years.

Even if you have not had any direct involvement with Honda over the years, you probably know someone who has, which is why so many people will feel the void left by the company.

However, when the South Marston factory turns off its production line for the last time, local people should feel a great sense of pride. Not just for all the incredible cars that were produced at the plant over the years, but because Honda leaves behind an amazing workforce and plenty more employees who have played a crucial role in the supply chain.

These highly skilled, highly trained staff are Honda’s real legacy to Swindon and they are the type of workers who are likely to continue to attract top employers to the town.

Over the last two years, the Council has been leading the Honda Co-ordinating Steering Group working with local partners, including Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, to help facilitate training and employment opportunities for Honda workers and those in the supply chain. This supplemented an extensive in-house programme led by Honda for its employees.

Job fairs are planned over the next couple of months and SWLEP has organised a Facing Redundancy website to help provide advice and support to those who need it.

What I have found really encouraging is that local firms have stepped forward with offers of employment for Honda staff facing redundancy and there are plenty more businesses waiting in the wings. Meanwhile, many employees are planning to start up their own business and others are retraining or looking to go back into education.

We also continue to have a strong record of employment in the borough and over a billion pounds will be invested in the Honda site by Panattoni and at Amazon’s Symmetry Park site, creating thousands of new jobs for local people.

Before the pandemic arrived, we had already begun laying the foundations for future economic growth by securing over £100m in funding to upgrade our highway network and we are also investing huge sums in the town centre. A brand new Institute of Technology is opening in September and we have cutting-edge companies at the innovation centre at Wroughton Airfield focusing on sustainable technologies.

Just as Honda stepped into the space left by Swindon’s railway works in 1986, I am confident other industries and businesses will do so again.

Therefore, while we say さようなら (sayōnara) to Honda tomorrow we are sure to be saying ‘hello’ to many more future employers in the months and years to come.

Gary Sumner is the deputy leader of Swindon Borough Council