Government minister hails Rugby as a key player in boosting the British economy on the global stage
The Secretary of State for Business, Skills and Innovation was shown British investment and innovation in action at a recent visit to The Autins Group who manufacture lightweight materials for the automotive industry.
Sajid Javid toured the headquarters of The Autins Group on March 10th with Mark Pawsey, MP for Rugby. Mr Javid, who is also President of the Board of Trade, was shown how Autins has expanded in recent years thanks to significant investment in new technology, premises, equipment and training.
The Autins Groups CEO Jim Griffin explained that the company has increased turnover fivefold since 2012, and has set up factories in Sweden and Germany to expand its European customer base. Mr Javid also learned about the companys latest project to establish an R&D site at the Horiba MIRA Technology Park near Nuneaton.
We were delighted to receive a visit from the Secretary of State and to be able to show him how a relatively small British company can grow with the right business strategy and the right support, comments Jim Griffin.
It is vital that government ministers keep in touch with what is really happening in manufacturing: the challenges that we face and the way in which the government can help us get bigger and better. Our local MP Mark Pawsey helped organise the visit and has always been very supportive of industry in his constituency.
The Autins Group has been developing and manufacturing acoustic and thermal materials since 1966. They are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year with the launch of an innovative new lightweight product. The company is also helping to train the next generation of engineers. They are collaborating with car manufacturer Toyota who are training the companys apprentices in their school at Derby and are also heavily involved with Warwick and Solihull UTCs through the Warwick Manufacturing Group.
The Autins Group is a real success story and I was delighted to be able to share their achievements with the Secretary of State during his visit to Rugby, comments Mark Pawsey. Manufacturing is such a vital industry for our country, for creating jobs and opportunities, and Rugby really is leading the way thanks to businesses such as Automotive Insulations.
After his visit, Mr Javid said: I was delighted to visit the Autins Groups with Mark Pawsey and talk to Jim Griffin and the team about the great things happening in manufacturing at the firm. It shows the fantastic work being done in Rugby and across the West Midlands to boost the British economy through world class products. We need companies like Autins to thrive and I am delighted that the car manufacturing industry in the West Midlands continues to expand, creating more jobs and a brighter future.
The Autins Group headquarters is based at the Automotive Insulations site in Rugby, Warwickshire. The company also includes Scandins in Sweden and Rheinland Insulations in Germany. It employs around 200 people across the group.