Cat Eccles MP and Alex Ballinger MP have visited MJ Sections Ltd in Netherton, in the Stourbridge Constituency, to hear directly from the company about the challenges facing the steel industry and the pressures currently affecting manufacturers.
The visit provided an opportunity for the MPs to meet with the team at MJ Sections Ltd, a highly skilled component manufacturer supplying parts across the rail, aerospace, and power generation industries. During the visit, Cat and Alex heard about the company’s work, the importance of its specialist manufacturing capabilities, and the vital role businesses such as MJ Sections Ltd play in supporting skilled employment, local supply chains, and the wider UK economy.
The meeting follows concerns raised by MJ Sections Ltd about proposed changes to steel tariffs and quotas, and the impact these could have on manufacturers. The MPs discussed the importance of ensuring that businesses have access to the materials they need at competitive prices, while protecting the future of UK manufacturing.
Cat has been actively raising these concerns in Parliament, highlighting the challenges faced by steel companies in Stourbridge and the need for government to continue supporting the sector. Following engagement from businesses and MPs, the Government has already amended changes to steel quota arrangements, helping to reduce the impact of the proposed measures on UK manufacturers. However, Cat and Alex emphasised that they will continue to press for further action to support businesses, protect skilled jobs and ensure that the UK remains a competitive place to manufacture.
Speaking after the visit, Cat Eccles MP said:
“It was a pleasure to visit MJ Sections Ltd and meet the team behind this impressive Stourbridge business. Companies like this demonstrate the high level of skill, expertise and innovation that exists within our local manufacturing sector.
I am grateful to Steve and the wider team for taking the time to share their concerns with us. The challenges facing steel businesses are significant, and it is important that their experiences are heard. I will continue to raise these issues in Parliament and work to ensure that the voices of local manufacturers are represented as we look at the future of steel in the UK.”
Alex Ballinger MP said:
“I really enjoyed my visit to MJ Sections Ltd on Friday.
I understand the very serious concerns that steel businesses have at the moment, and I am regularly speaking to ministerial colleagues to urge them to better support this industry. Visits like this highlight just how vital these industries are here in the Black Country, and we must do everything we can to protect them. Thank you for having us.”
Steve Cresswell, of MJ Sections Ltd, said:
“We were pleased to welcome Cat and Alex to discuss the challenges facing our business and the wider steel industry. It was valuable to have the opportunity to explain the pressures manufacturers are facing and the importance of maintaining a competitive environment for UK businesses.
We appreciate their engagement and willingness to listen to the concerns of companies operating within the steel supply chain.”
Photo attached: Cat Eccles MP with Alex Ballinger MP, Steve Cresswell, Commercial Manager and Elle Lewis, Purchasing Assistant, from MJ Sections Ltd outside their Netherton site.
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