Sajid Javid, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Conservative Party MP for Bromsgrove, has visited electrical wiring accessories manufacturer Focus SB in St Leonards on Sea.

The MP was welcomed by the company on the same day it announced the opening of its seventh sub-distributor showroom in China at a launch event.

The company is a market leader in its field, and has has maintained its success through investment and innovation. In November last year it installed an Autopulit robot polishing, graining and brushing cell from surface finishing specialist Ellesco to improve production of switch rockers.

Mr Javid had a private tour around the head office and factory premises based on the outskirts of Hastings, accompanied by local Conservative Party candidate Sally-Ann Hart, to discover how the British manufacturer has risen to the challenges of Brexit and local issues impacting business operations.

The British manufacturer attracted the attention of the chancellor to learn about the success story behind the business, which saw it become the first and only UK manufacturer in its industry to be licensed to export products to China in 2017.

Company chairman Roger Kemp commented: “We are pleased to welcome Sajid Javid to our factory today. It gives recognition to all the hard work put in by our employees and our partners in China to make a success of opening up the China market for our electrical accessories, where we now have seven showrooms and 10 sub distributors.”

Read more: Sussex-based Focus SB expects £6m turnover after MGP investment

Focus SB’s R&D into a new product range for China is just one in a recent string of ongoing major investments made since managing director Gary Stevens’ appointment in January 2016.

This has included the purchase of an advanced 3D printer; robot cell; expansion into additional premises and growing the workforce.

Recently awarded ‘Most Dynamic Employer’ by local charity Little Gate Farm, the company’s future plans were of considerable interest to Mr Javid as Focus SB looks set to provide real prospects to resident job seekers in Hastings, which is one of the more deprived coastal towns in Sussex.

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