Knaresborough manufacturing firm Craven & Co is “exactly the kind of business we need to rebalance the UK economy,” declared local MP Andrew Jones, who’d made a point of visiting the firm’s modern 50,000 sq ft factory in Manse Lane to praise the company for the quality of its products and for providing local jobs.
Craven & Co is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of storage and handling equipment and Mr Jones came to inspect new production lines including a newly-bought £100,000 robot spot welding machine.
The investment in new machinery comes during a period of significant growth for Craven & Co, whose bespoke and standard wire and metal shelving is used mostly by the catering, medical and education sectors.
Sales have increased by 40% in a year, which has led to a 10 per cent increase in jobs plus expanded shifts and weekend working.
The company boats all its products are made of quality all-British materials and has recently won a number of orders over competition from China.
Mr Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said: I have been impressed by what I’ve seen and by how the company has developed quality product manufacturing in this area. As a nation, we are slowly pulling out of the recession and this is exactly the kind of business we need to rebalance our economy. It’s a good Knaresborough company flying the flag for Britain.
He added that Craven & Co wanted to further expand its skilled workforce from among the local community – especially manufacturing and engineering apprentices – and to this end was developing links with local sources of employees.
