Business and trade minister visits Desford Caterpillar site
BUSINESS and trade minister Nusrat Ghani visited Caterpillar‘s Desford plant to learn about latest developments at the site.
The construction equipment manufacturing giant last year celebrated the 70th anniversary of the opening of its Desford plant, its first site out of the USA.
The minister met with Bosworth’s MP, Dr Luke Evans, and Rob Walker, UK operations manager for Caterpillar, to hear how the firm recruits more than 30 new apprentices at the Desford site each year.
Ms Ghani also heard about the pivotal role the Desford plant plays in manufacturing the Backhoe digger and the move to producing electric diggers in Bosworth. In all 85 per cent of Caterpillar products made in the UK are exported around the world.
Shortly after the visit, new figures from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit showed Hinckley and Bosworth is the fourth-biggest net zero economy in England and
Wales. With net zero firms making up more than 12 per cent of Hinckley and Bosworth’s economy, this represents a value of £258 million.
Jobs in the sector have an average wage of £44,600, compared with the national average of £35,400.
Dr Evans, who organised the ministerial visit, said his constituency’s thriving net zero sector was “thanks to the work from the team of 1,800-plus people at Caterpillar and other businesses in our area that are leading the way on innovation and sustainability.
“Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction equipment, having their site here means local people get high value, cutting edge jobs, and with it an exciting future.
“The Midlands is brimming with economic and strategic potential thanks to businesses like Caterpillar who continue to invest tens of millions of pounds into making our area the perfect place to grow their business.”