Made in Britain member Focus SB looks forward to welcoming Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to its St Leonards on Sea factory in November.
Given the good news by the Lord-Lieutenant of East Sussex, the whole company is delighted that The Princess Royal, who has a keen interest in sustainable manufacturing, is to visit Focus SB in person for a private factory tour in November, in the very same year the company succeeded as a winner in the first ever King’s Awards for Enterprise and formally recognised for excellence in International Trade.
A Royal Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering since 2010 and Patron of more than 300 organisations, including several in engineering, Her Royal Highness is Patron of Women into Science and Engineering (WISE), and has done much to support and encourage women to take up engineering as a career.
Focus SB managing director Gary Stevens, who was fortunate enough to meet His Majesty King Charles III in person at a reception for all the King's Awards winners at Buckingham Palace in June of this year, is ecstatic to discover Focus SB has been selected for this prestigious royal visit and is looking forward to welcoming The Princess Royal to the company's head office and main factory on the outskirts of Hastings and St Leonards on Sea, where Her Royal Highness will view in-house manufacturing and finishing processes, meet employees and discover how Focus SB supports its local communities, notably Little Gate Supported Employment, as well as hear more about industry-first successes and the company's commitment to a sustainable manufacturing future.
Mr Stevens says: “It’s a huge honour for an SME based in Hastings to have the recognition of a King’s Award, one of the most prestigious awards a company can be bestowed, but in addition to that, meeting The King at Buckingham Palace and then to have a visit from Anne The Princess Royal is a huge boost and reward for every single employee at Focus SB, without whom, none of this would have been possible. I have been in manufacturing of electrical products all of my career and I started off as a 16-year-old technical apprentice and have worked my way through various businesses from technical to marketing, sales and general management and I have been an MD of two manufacturing companies, including currently with Focus SB.
He continues: "I am passionate about manufacturing and introducing more young people into manufacturing and encouraging them to take up apprenticeships, I would like to think that we are doing our bit here at Focus SB by working with local educational establishments, employment agencies and local charities to fulfil that goal, and that my own journey can act as a beacon for those young people who may be thinking about a career in manufacturing and what can be achieved. After all, manufacturing accounts for 2.6 million jobs in the UK and we are the 8th largest manufacturing country in the world!”
Find out more about Focus SB on their member profile page here
Member-created content 1 year ago | From members