The local MP has visited a busy brickworks in Desford to see how the recovering construction industry is impacting local jobs.

Forterra’s Desford Brickworks welcomed David Tredinnick, MP for Bosworth, where he met the company’s UK Managing Director and took a tour of the site, meeting staff and seeing and handling some of the 80 million bricks the facility produces every year – enough to build in excess of 8,000 new houses.

The recent rise in homebuilding around the country has led the firm to announce additional shifts at the plant, to cope with the increase demand for bricks. The plant currently employs 90 members of staff.

David Tredinnick said: “Desford brickworks has seen a surge in demand for its bricks, thanks to more new homes being built as a result of the government’s Help to Buy scheme and the economic recovery in general.

“This company’s plant is a great example of British manufacturing success in our area, providing skilled employment for local people, and this visit was an opportunity for me to hear about how this government’s policies are driving the recovery and creating jobs.”

Stephen Harrison, UK Managing Director of Forterra, said, “It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Tredinnick to our Desford plant, where we showed him how our dedicated staff create, store and transport 80 million bricks for construction projects around the UK.”

“We are anticipating further growth in new housing starts, and are confident that this factory is playing a prominent part in the economic recovery.” 

Forterra (formerly known as Hanson Building Products) employs approximately 1,600 people in the UK at 18 manufacturing facilities, including Desford brickworks.