Eco Factory leads the way

Flintshire factory "Westbridge Furniture" is leading the way in sustainable and local production of high quality furniture. Dr Kay Swinburne, prospective MEP was taken by Antoinette Sandbach Conservative Parliamentary candidate to the Westbridge factory to show how "green production" can make UK business a market leader in their field. Westbridge was established out of the ashes of Deeside Furniture and now has a turnover of £120 million a year, it employs and trains local Flintshire employees, and currently supplies M&S, with further supplies to Next, Sainsbury's and other market leaders.

Antoinette said "The quality of product from Westbridge is clear to anyone who visits the factory. The company has looked at all aspects of production to see how they can produce their furniture in a way that supports the environment. Waste fabric is shredded and used as a base for riding schools, solar panels and timers have cut electricity usage, which makes this factory more competitive, and the fact the furniture is produced in the UK cuts down the carbon cost of transport. What is even more important is that Westbridge has a commitment to train skilled Flintshire workers. This is the type of business whose UK production needs to be supported by sensible financial policies and they would benefit from the Conservative commitment to cut National Insurance costs to support local manufacturing jobs. "