TYRE manufacturer Michelin in Stoke on Trent hosted a visit by the city’s latest MP and the leader of the city council.
Tristram Hunt, who secured the seat for Labour at the last election, and Cllr Mohammed Pervez were given a full briefing and tour of the factory during a visit to the firm’s head office.
They met with Michelin UK’s Managing Director Jim Rickard, Factory Manager Peter Marsh and employees before being given a tour of the truck and bus tyre retreading operation.
They spent a large part of the visit touring the Campbell Road site’s Remix and Encore tyre retreading operation, which are set to be upgraded into state-of-the-art facilities as part of a new £20m modernisation programme announced earlier this year.
The Campbell Road site currently employs more than 1,000 people and remains one of the largest private sector employers in the Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire area.
The invitation to tour the facilities was extended as part of Michelin’s commitment to fostering good business and community relations with external stakeholders in North Staffordshire.
Mr Rickard, who met with both officials, said: “We are delighted to have two of the city’s leading public figures visit our UK headquarters and manufacturing site.
“They seemed to really enjoy the visit and it gave us an opportunity to demonstrate how we contribute to the local economy and communities in North Staffordshire and to discuss matters of interest to the city’s business community and Michelin.”
The visitors also met with Michelin Development Director Mike Cole to discuss the company’s small business loans funding arm.
The funding stream offers support between £5,000 and £50,000 to companies in North Staffordshire that are creating jobs and helping to sustain the local economy.
Just under two years ago, Michelin Development issued a challenge to Stoke’s entrepreneurs and SMEs to become more entrepreneurial after applications to the loans fund dried up – placing North Staffordshire at the bottom of the Michelin Development regional league table.
Businesses in the region heeded the call to action and the loan fund is nearing the £1m mark in terms of loans approved.
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