Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, has celebrated the 70th anniversary of Caterpillar in Desford and invited the Industry Minister to visit the site and see the advanced manufacturing base.
On September 1st Dr Evans joined Rob Walker, Caterpillar’s UK Operations Manager, and Jerome Guildford, Vice President and General Manager, who travelled from America for the event, to celebrate 70 years since the company opened in Desford – it’s first site outside of the US.
The local MP was invited to plant a tree to commemorate the anniversary and was given a tour of the factory, where they employ 1,300 people and have invested tens of millions of pounds.
Two weeks later Dr Evans raised his visit in the House of Commons during questions to the Department for Business and Trade.
Dr Luke Evans, Member of Parliament for Bosworth, asked “I was lucky to be invited to the 70th anniversary of Caterpillar being founded in my constituency.
“It was the first place outside the US it set up a base in, and it now employs 1,300 people, making things such as the electric backhoe loader.
“Will the Minister congratulate Caterpillar on its investment here, from where it exports across the world? And would she like to come and see exactly what it does in Bosworth?”
Nusrat Ghani MP, the Minister for Industry and Economic Security, responded “I join Dr Evans, a great champion of Bosworth, in congratulating Caterpillar on 70 years and 1,300 employees. That is fantastic. I look forward to going along and having a go on the electric diggers!”
Speaking afterwards Dr Luke Evans MP said “Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction equipment, a lot of which is made at the site in Desford and exported around the world! They show what investment can bring in jobs and prosperity to our area and nation, so it was a pleasure to celebrate that relationship.”
“I regularly speak about the economic and strategic potential of businesses across the Midlands, and Caterpillar is a prime example of the innovation within in our community… building advanced loaders that reduce emissions yet still get the job done.
“I’m delighted the Industry Minister will visit Caterpillar to see some of the technological advancements that hundreds of local people are working on and developing right here in Desford.”
