On Friday, 7 June, Caparo played host to Emma Reynolds MP who came to tour the facility and see the type of work undertaken there.The Willenhall site encompasses Caparo Modular Systems, Caparo Advanced Composites, Caparo Tube Components 2 and Clydesdale Jones. During the visit, Emma met with senior and local members of the Caparo team and had an extensive tour of the Caparo plant and also opened the new Caparo Advanced Composites facility.

As one of the largest employers in the West Midlands, Caparo is a major contributor to the local economy. With over 1,500 people working across the Caparo businesses in the region, a total payroll bill of £300 million and spend with suppliers in excess £1.5 billion in the last 5 years, the company is also one of the largest steel conversion and engineering enterprises in the United Kingdom. Supplying a national, European and global customer base in a number of industries – automotive, construction, off-highway, aerospace, oil and gas, and power generation to name a few – Caparo engineers and manufactures almost 80% of its turnover from the Midlands.

Emma also met with Douglas Dawson, Chief Operating Officer of Caparo Group and Chris Gane, Managing Director of the Caparo Materials Engineering Division. Whilst there, Emma discussed the challenges for the local economy and also shared ideas on current and prospective initiatives that support engineering and manufacturing in the Black Country.

At the end of her visit, Emma Reynolds said: “It is exciting to see such a lot of engineering and manufacturing skill, which produces outstanding results for big international names, originating from Caparo at Willenhall. I am keen to assist businesses that create a positive contribution to the local and national economy, and raise the profile of Wolverhampton.”

June 2013