WYRE Forest MP Mark Garnier visited a thriving manufacturing business in Kidderminster, as its family owners marked the latest phase of their investment plans.

Solid Surfacing Company, which specialises in made-to-order work surfaces and washroom interiors, has completed the final phase of its three-year £40,000 investment programme which included an overhaul of its 8,000 square-foot factory, offices and installation of new machinery.

Mr Garnier was given a guided tour of the manufacturing facility on Spennells Industrial Estate by husband and wife team Bill and Jill Reid. Bill co-founded the firm in 1994 and was joined by Jill in 2010 following her successful legal career. After 21 years, the business now employs 17 people, including son John, the firm’s business development executive, daughter Alexandra, who manages the Worktop Centre, and nephew Andrew, a CAD technician.

Mr Reid said: “We were all delighted to welcome Mark to the factory and to our Worktop Centre showroom. He enjoyed the tour and meeting the team. It was great to see the local MP genuinely interested in the progress we’ve made and our plans for the future.

“We started our investment programme back in 2012 so it’s fantastic to be celebrating our 21st anniversary in such great shape.

“We’ve ploughed a lot of money in to extending the showroom, improving the layout of the workshop and introducing new high-tech machinery.

“It’s a commitment that has undoubtedly helped us grow, design and build more innovative products and maintain our position as a leading supplier to the public, retail and education sectors. It’s an exciting period for us and we are determined to expand further.”

Mr Garnier said: “I always enjoy visiting businesses across the whole of Wyre Forest and it was a great pleasure to meet the team at Solid Surfacing. It is because of the commitment of businesses like Solid Surfacing that we have an economic recovery at all.

“Providing jobs and prosperity for local residents needs people like Bill and Jill Reid to take personal risk and they, like hundreds of thousands of business owners across the UK, are helping the British recovery.

“I wish them all the success for the future.”