Local MP, Huw Merriman was pleased to welcome Treasury Minister Liz Truss MP to his Bexhill and Battle constituency last Friday where she got involved in fence-making techniques during a visit to local business Littlewood Fencing.

Huw invited Liz Truss MP, who is Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, to meet Littlewood Fencing at their head office is in Battle, during her recent trip to East Sussex and Kent where she visited a wide variety of local businesses

Jon Hobden, Managing Director, and Jay Verjee, Chairman of Littlewood Fencing took Huw and the Minister on a tour of the business and explained the wide variety of fencing and security projects that they are currently working on. These range from big infrastructure projects such as rail, roads and utility companies to prisons and other High Security installations. Littlewood Fencing employ over 100 local people from Bexhill, Battle and Hastings area in a wide range of skilled jobs as well as providing employment at other sites across the country.  Their customers are mainly based in the UK and Europe so the Minister was keen to hear about the challenges they currently face and what they consider government priorities should be in the next spending review.

During her visit, Liz Truss donned protective gear to see fencing manufacture being carried out in the works yard and had a go at chestnut paling and fencing.

Huw Merriman said “I was delighted to welcome Liz Truss MP to the constituency so she could hear first- hand what challenges local businesses currently face and their plans for continued growth.  It is great that Liz is keen to talk to a wide range of local businesses to get a good understanding of what they see as the barriers to growth and what they think the government can do to help them remain competitive and successful. Littlewoods Fencing are a great example of a successful local business with a strong commitment to their staff and the local community who are keen to grow and expand which is great news for my constituency.

Liz Truss MP said “‘I was delighted to visit Littlewood Fencing, an example of a great East Sussex business providing skilled jobs and boosting Britain’s exports. This Government is supporting local businesses by keeping tax low and investing in training and infrastructure. Working alongside Bexhill and Battle’s fantastic MP Huw Merriman, I’m keen to make sure businesses here and across East Sussex have all the support they need to succeed as we leave the EU.”

Jon Hobden MD said “We have invested heavily over the last few years in training, improving our systems and gearing up to be ready for the increased workload, so it was great to hear first-hand that the government is committed to spending on improving the country’s infrastructure.”