We need banks to lend to businesses (From Worcester News)

We need banks to lend to businesses

4:20pm Monday 16th August 2010 in

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WORCESTER’S MP discussed the challenge of finding skilled engineers and the benefit of apprenticeship schemes during a visit to a city-based company, that is the UK’s largest manufacturer of fire-fighting vehicles.

Robin Walker MP held talks with management and workers at Amdac Carmichael, many of whom have worked for the firm for more than two decades.

Although the firm in Weir Lane, off Bromwich Road, is no longer family owned, the Carmichael name has been around in Worcester for more than 100 years. It now exports vehicles to more than 80 countries.

Its main product is the Cobra fire engine, which is designed for and used by airport fire services. Some of the firm’s vehicles are currently seeing service on RAF airfields in Afghanistan.

Mr Walker was able to take a ride in a recently refurbished engine. He said: “Keeping a strong manufacturing base in Worcester is vitally important. We need to make sure that banks are lending to businesses like this one so that they can realise their potential as a UK-based manufacturing and exporting success story. We also need to make sure that we are keeping up our skills base, which is why the coalition Government is supporting more apprenticeships and I have raised in Parliament the need to have more of those apprenticeships in manufacturing.”

Raman Yahaya, the managing director of Amdac Carmichael, said he was grateful for Mr Walker’s interest and support. He said: “He has already been able to help us on some matters relating to the Government and support our plans for the economic recovery.”