Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan recently visited Leicestershire-based JC Metalworks and was keen to learn about the business, its challenges and plans for the future.

“I read about JC Metalworks in the paper. The article was all about the assistance they had received from the Manufacturing Growth Programme and what it had helped them to do.

“I’m always keen to meet businesses in my constituency and to learn more about them, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

Ms Morgan joined the founder, chairman and managing director for coffee, an update on the company and a tour of the factory (www.bfs-pressroomsolutions.co.uk).

Managing director Nick Oakland said: “Nicky was interested to hear our story — about how the company was started over 30 years ago — as well as our plans for the future.

“She asked us about the challenges we’re facing, and we said that our single biggest challenge is recruiting the skilled labour we need.

“Our apprenticeship scheme is really beginning to bear positive results, but that’s clearly a medium- to long-term solution.”

During the factory tour, Ms Morgan was shown the manufacturing process and told about plans for further investment in new machines, including a new laser cutter.

Mr Oakland added: “Our laser cutter is 14 years old now. We are looking to bring in a new one that will self-load with steel, so we can run it ‘lights out’ overnight or over the weekend. We hope to have it in place by early next year.”