Chips and chairs are MPs’ manufacturing favourites
OFFICE chairs made in Dudley, oven chips from Staffordshire and Solihull’s iconic Land Rover are among the West Midlands creations hailed by Vince Cable as amongst the UK’s manufacturing highlights.
Launching the ‘Made by Britain’ initiative, the business secretary also singled out Birmingham-based precision components manufacturer Brandauer for its success in exporting to markets all over the world.
Made by Britian is the brainchild of the all-party parliamentary group on manufacturing, which has challenged MPs from every constituency in the UK to nominate an item made on their patch to mark the 160th anniversary of the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Dr Cable said: “British industry remains among the very best for the quality and originality of what it makes. We export our goods to every corner of the world, from famous international brands to products which, while less well known, make a real difference to the lives of millions.
“With the Olympics bringing so much attention to Britain this is a fantastic opportunity to show the rest of the world that we make world beating products.”
Dr Cable said of Brandauer: “There’s a company in Birmingham which has been operating 150 They’re the first people who actually manufactured pen nibs, and are now doing the components of toy trains –extraordinary finicky innards of devices, which they export all over the world, including to markets in the far east which we are often told are completely impenetrable.”
Among the West Midlands creations on the intiative’s website are Boss office chairs, nominated by Dudley North MP Ian Austin.
He said: “The Black Country is famous for its manufacturing past, but we should be proud of the high-tech firms who are based here today. We have a number of leading advanced manufacturers who provide jobs and make a valuable contribution to the local economy; Boss Designs make the best business furniture in the world.
“The chairs George Bush, Tony Blair and other world leaders sat on at the Gleneagles Summit were made here in Dudley.”
Other nominations are McCain’Smiles’, nominated by South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, Jaguar and Land Rover cars, nominated by Solihull’s Lorely Burt and the Aga Rangesmaster oven, a favgourite of Telford MP David Wright.
