Ibstock hosts MP visit

Last month brick manufacturer Ibstock became the latest to play host to a member of the Shadow Cabinet.

Nick Herbert, the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs was given an ‘on the ground’ insight into the current condition of the construction industry, at Ibstock’s Laybrook factory in West Sussex.

Regional production manager, Andrew Craddock, marketing manager, Andrew Halstead-Smith, and Simon Storer from the Construction Products Association took Herbert round the factory.

Herbert said: “It was fascinating to see how bricks are made at Laybrook and to hear about Ibstock’s plans for the future. As a local business in my constituency, it was useful to listen to their concerns about the impact of the recession too. With the collapse in house-building, the construction industry has been hit very hard but it was encouraging to hear that Ibstock is doing what it can to retain its skilled workforce in the area.”