| On Friday I visited Ford’s Halewood plant alongside colleagues Marie Rimmer MP and George Howarth MP to see how they’ve been operating over the last year or so, and was pleased to hear that they are planning for the future and changes in the industry over the next few years as companies move from producing internal combustion engines to electric systems.
Ford has been a central part of Halewood since 1963. In the almost 60 years since it has been a hub of skilled work and innovation in the auto industry, and this was evident as we toured the production line and saw first hand the high quality work produced here and shipped out to other countries. The transmission plant, which was brought back fully under control of the Ford group in March, plays a vital part in the supply chain across Europe.
What was evident during the visit was the commitment of staff, many of whom have spent almost all their working lives with the company. There is, between all staff on the site, over 9,000 years experience in manufacturing high quality transmissions for cars across the Ford and Volvo fleet. They play a vital role in the local economy. Ensuring that the Halewood plant remains at the centre of Ford’s production is massively important.
I was also pleased to see the charitable work they do, with donations made annually to community groups and initiatives across Liverpool. It’s this commitment to the local area that has rooted Ford in Halewood and its community, and I look forward to supporting them in the future as the car manufacturing industry evolves. |
