PM praises Crown Paints during visit

CROWN Paints opened its doors to Prime Minister David Cameron to showcase its brands, manufacturing expertise, sustainability credentials and the commitment it shows to training and developing its people.

Mr Cameron, along with Jake Berry MP for Darwen and Rossendale, was welcomed by Crown’s managing director Joe Devitt and HR and legal director Graham Haworth.

He was taken on a guided tour of the manufacturing facility, which produces the Crown and Sandtex brands.

Crown has demonstrated year on year growth for the past five years and is currently targeting further growth through development of key UK contracts and strategic overseas markets.

Mr Cameron said: “We need more businesses like Crown Paints in the UK and we need to be making more things, selling more things, in the UK and overseas, and offering more apprenticeship schemes to train up our young people.”

Mr Devitt said: “We are extremely proud of our British heritage, with our roots stretching back to 1777 and being holder of the Royal Warrant demonstrating the quality of our products. It is therefore a real honour to be able to show the Prime Minister around and talk to him about some of our achievements.

“As well as our investment in cutting-edge technology putting the business at the forefront of the industry, we still employ large numbers of people from the local area including several generations of some families. Our apprenticeship scheme is something that we are particularly proud of and it is great to be recognised for our work in this area and as a British success story and key international operator.”