William Hague officially opens renovated Pendle offices

Throughout the visit he praised the former Royal Mail post office’s “strong visual impression” and the “impressive” use of technology, and talked to Leader Times Newspapers about how XLCR are an example to the rest of the country.

He also turned his attention to other Pendle businesses, particularly the independent shops in Colne - putting their success down to the strong entrepreneurs in the borough, a good sense of Lancashire enterprise, and a go-ahead atmosphere.

In what is expected to be his last visit to Pendle before his retirement next year, he said: “XLCR is an example by pioneering new ways of doing business. We live in a new Internet age, and some businesses like this are doing very well on that. Also, they are training people, and one of the things that we have really concentrated on in this government... is apprenticeships and training. We have started 1.8million apprenticeships since the last general election.

“I am always very impressed by people I meet when I come to Pendle - and this is a Yorkshire man speaking. I come over that border and I know I am going to get a warm welcome and see some exciting things, and that is true today.”

Leader of Pendle Council Coun. Joe Cooney: “I think it is great that he has taken time out of his busy schedule to visit a successful business based in the centre of Cool Colne.”

Lee Duerden, who is in his 15th year of running XLCR with Shaun O’Neill, added: “It has been great, and nice to have a high-profile character coming to mark the opening of the refurbished building.

“We have completely renovated the ground floor in a half-a-million pound investment, and are refurbishing the whole building. There has been a technical emphasis, and a focus on making it a fun place to work - like having a pick and mix stall in the office.

“The business started with Shaun and myself and we have gone from nothing to having 22,000 vehicles - it has just got bigger and bigger, and stronger and stronger.”