A major boost to the local economy was made today as William Haley Engineering Ltd officially opened its new £500,000 factory extension in East Brent with guest Tessa Munt MP.
Tessa said, “This is a large investment in a highly successful local business. People are often surprised that our local economy hosts industrial and manufacturing firms, but it does and I’m proud that we have such diversity and skills locally.”
William Haley Engineering Ltd is the largest structural steelwork company in the south-west, having built the steel frame for the new Weston Pier and currently building many steel frames for schools across the country.
Part of this East Brent investment is the latest robotic plasma cutting machine for heavy steelwork. Haley Engineering’s investment has the construction of Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in mind. The firm is aiming to expand and expects to increase employment by 20%.
The Haley Group, based in East Brent, employs 147 people, 50 in East Brent, 82 in Gloucester and 15 in Sutton. It is a family owned business primarily engaged in the manufacture of steel and composite structures. The Group is strong on Research and Development and won an award for this from Network Rail. One of the Haley companies has just been awarded a Partnership with the University of the West of England to investigate composite structures for radomes for radar structures. The Group is currently number 2 in the world in this area of expertise and is aiming to increase its market share through research to improve the benefits and lower costs.
Tessa Munt
20th August 2012