Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the MP who is better known as The Speaker of the House of Commons, has visited non-flammable hard surfaces façade manufacturer Shackerley, based in Euxton, a village in the MP’s Chorley constituency in Lancashire.

Shackerley supplies its façade systems to projects across the UK and beyond, and has been a major employer and a thriving business in Euxton for more than 50 years.

Since the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017 it has seen significant growth in demand for its non-combustible stone, ceramic and brick rainscreen cladding systems, made at its ISO 9001-accredited factories in Lancashire.

That growth has led to the substantial investment in an additional factory, doubling the company’s manufacturing capacity. With the new factory has come new machinery, new technology and additional storage facilities.

The expansion has led to job security for Shackerley’s existing team and the creation of new jobs along with a boost for the company’s supply chain.

Sir Lindsay’s visit enabled the MP to tour one of Shackerley’s Lancashire factories, witnessing the company’s quality assured manufacturing processes and patented, Queen’s Award-winning façade systems.

Sir Lindsay was able to chat to staff to find out more about how new jobs at Shackerley are helping to create sustainable employment and support the levelling up agenda in Lancashire.

Founder and CEO of Shackerley, Lancashire entrepreneur Brian Newell, who was made an MBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours, greeted Sir Lindsay at the company’s headquarters. He talked him through the Shackerley product range and some of the recent projects where the façades have been used, such as the Student accommodation in Leeds with its natural limestone cladding featured in Natural Stone Specialist magazine in 2021 (read that here).

Brian explained what the investment programme will mean for future growth potential and local jobs. And as he toured the factory with his guest, he explained to Sir Lindsay how Shackerley’s custom-built machinery works, as well as highlighting the company’s best practice approach to quality checks, product testing and traceability.

Brian Newell commented: “We are delighted that Sir Lindsay Hoyle has taken time out of his busy schedule to come and see what we do here at Shackerley, learning more about our contribution to both the local economy and the construction industry.

“We are proud to be innovators in the façade sector and to have raised the bar for our industry in terms of quality and safety. Sir Lindsay’s visit was a great opportunity to showcase all of that.”

Having showcased it, Shackerley is now hoping for plenty more order orders.