Firm’s growth is boost to area

As Parliament is on recess again, I had the opportunity last week to spend time in Burnley visiting constituents and businesses.
By Gordon Birtwistle
Published 7th Oct 2013, 06:00 BST
IMPRESSIVE BUILDING: What More UKs base at Shuttleworth Mead.IMPRESSIVE BUILDING: What More UKs base at Shuttleworth Mead.
IMPRESSIVE BUILDING: What More UKs base at Shuttleworth Mead.

Monday started early with a visit to my colleague Andrew Stunnell’s constituency, Hazel Grove. It was good to visit two colleges and speak to young people about apprentices. Once again I was pleased at the interest that these young individuals show when I tell them about the opportunities that exist out there in apprenticeship roles with companies. I told them about my role as Government Apprenticeship Ambassador and about young people who have turned their lives around due to starting as an apprentice. It is so important to me that people today are equipped with the right knowledge in order to help them make career choices.

On Tuesday I was at Sainsbury’s to see some of the work that the Job Centre has been doing there with young people who are out of work. It was great to see them being shown how to do a CV properly, skills and knowledge for applying for jobs. Everyone said it was good to do these things with a real employer and the Sainsbury’s training manager who was running the event was fantastic. .

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I was invited to go to the opening of a new facility at What More UK. The new purpose built facility is 110.000 sq. ft and this company are UK’s largest manufacturer of plastic house wares. I have full confidence in their future growth. The company has grown tremendously over the last 13 years and exports to 47 countries including the Far East as well as most national retailers and high street names in the UK. They recently won a large order from a customer in South Korea and that shipment will be leaving at the end of the month. This is a significant boost to the economy of Lancashire. On Wednesday I was job shadowing at the Job Centre, spending three hours with a young man talking to people on the work programme who are yet to get jobs. Thursday I was at Euravia Engineering and on Friday at a community event for older people at Colne Road Library. I held Friday surgeries and attended a friend’s son’s wedding. On Sunday I worked with my team to deliver leaflets on the Action for Jobs Lib Dem campaign.

Related topics:ParliamentBurnleyJob centre