Sheffield bites back over House of Commons cutlery snub
SHEFFIELD showed its steel when weekend reports suggested that the House of Commons was going to buy tableware from Vietnam.
Andy Evans, founder of Sheffield-based Pure PR, did not want the city to be stabbed in the back by a procurement decision and began lobbying.
He said: “I couldn’t believe my ears when the BBC ran a story on Sunday morning saying the House of Commons would replace its silver cutlery with cheap stainless steel imports to save money.”
Local MPs Angela Smith, Clive Betts and Nick Clegg were mobilised, followed by the Made in Sheffield team, cutlery manufacturers and Master Cutler David Grey.
On Monday, the administration committee at the House of Commons was contacted and by Tuesday it was decided that Sheffield-based cutlery manufacturers will have the opportunity to tender for the contract.
Mr Evans added: “This was a fine example of Team Sheffield being galvanised into action, addressing an urgent and high profile issue and delivering a result. Manufacturers, the Made in Sheffield Initiative, the Company of Cutlers and local MPs all played a part in quickly responding to Pure PR’s request to act fast and respond to a report that would have been – excuse the pun – a stab in the back to the Sheffield companies that make the world’s best knives, forks and spoons.”
