Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice visited Regal Precision Engineering in Colne today (Friday 12th), to hear from the sharp end how local businesses are coping with the economic downturn. 

Regal Precision Engineering has recently been awarded a £17,000 contribution towards a £42,000 software system upgrade from the Local Enterprise Grant Initiative (LEGI) funded by the Government.  This is part of a major initiative to increase employment opportunities and help safeguard existing jobs.  Pennine Lancashire has had £750,000 in funding during 2009/10, using the local authorities as the link to local employers.

Gordon Prentice commented, “The LEGI grant will enable Regal Precision Engineering to upgrade their core software system that controls the operation of the machine tools.  The upgrade will provide a better interface with the production data, supporting financial and production efficiency.  This will help the business compete for orders well into the future.”

“It is vital to safeguard local jobs and provide essential capital for local companies during these difficult times.  This initiative by the Department of Communities and Local Government is just part of the raft of measures to safeguard jobs and help businesses survive the world economic downturn, following the 2008 banking collapse.”

The picture shows Gordon Prentice MP and Howard Nicholson, Managing Director of Regal Precision Engineering in the engineering plant.