On Friday 28 May, Unipart Rail welcomed local MP Kieran Mullan on site to enable him to learn and ask questions about the vital work the supply chain and technology and product solutions specialists have been doing throughout the pandemic.
The visit showcased the people and work that had been undertaken over the past year, during which the rail industry has kept services running. It also served as an opportunity for Crewe & Nantwich’s rail sector to demonstrate its importance for local communities and the country as a whole.
Kieran Mullan was given a socially distanced tour of Unipart Rail’s facility, which included meeting with workers and apprentices on the ground and discussing the range of Unipart Rail products being developed on site.
The visit was conducted as part of the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA) Rail Fellowship Programme, which encourages Parliamentarians and policy influencers to gain hands-on experience in the rail industry, and has been extremely successful, with politicians continuing to pledge interest in taking part.
Over the last three years a large number of influential politicians have taken part, including the Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris MP and high-profile names, such as the Home Secretary Priti Patel MP, Nicky Morgan MP, former Secretary of State for Education and Florence Eshalomi MP, whilst she was Labour’s transport spokesperson at City Hall and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee.
Kieran Mullan MP said: “The rail industry has always been so important to Crewe and is home to many nationally and internationally leading firms who bring jobs and investment to Crewe and the surrounding area. That is why we are well placed to take advantage of investment in the railways, HS2 in particular.
“It was great to meet the team at Unipart who are clearly focused on developing their staff and investing in and growing their businesses. I met experts who have been given fantastic opportunities and they have a Senior Director who has worked her way all the way to the top as a role model. They also have a great safety record which must never be taken for granted in this industry.”
Kelly Warburton, Managing Director UK Rail at Unipart Rail, said: "Our Crewe site has been supporting the railways for over a century, and we continue to be a major employer of highly skilled technology colleagues in the town, who provide innovation, manufacturing and repair services to thousands of rail products every year.
“We are very pleased to be supporting the Rail Fellowship and highlighting to Kieran the importance of our work to both the industry and the local community."
Max Sugarman, Public Affairs & PR Director at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Kieran Mullan today, and to be able to show him the valuable role our rail industry has been playing over the various lockdowns and restrictions.
“Hands on engagement between MPs and industry is vitally important, and we are excited to say that we are getting back to showing politicians of all political hues, and across the entire country, our brilliant rail industry through the RIA Rail Fellowship, Class of 2021.
“Crewe is at the heart of the rail industry, and we want to thank Unipart Rail, as well as the rest of the local rail supply chain, for their hard work throughout the pandemic.”