By KLTV Newsdesk –

Harpreet Uppal highlights industry strengths, challenges, and future priorities

Harpreet Uppal, Member of Parliament for Huddersfield, has placed the town’s manufacturing sector firmly on the national agenda after championing local firms during a Parliamentary debate on 19th November.

Speaking in the debate on the Specialist Manufacturing Sector: Regional Economies, she praised Huddersfield’s rich industrial heritage and raised key issues shared with her during recent visits to businesses across the constituency.

Showcasing Huddersfield’s Industrial Strength

In the weeks leading up to the debate, Harpreet visited leading local manufacturers C&J Antich and Sons and Thomas Broadbent, and joined a roundtable hosted by the Calderdale and Kirklees Manufacturing Alliance (CKMA).

These engagements highlighted the region’s innovation and resilience, from world-class textiles and advanced engineering to cutting-edge firms driving exports and sustaining skilled jobs.

Business leaders shared priorities, including tackling high energy costs, strengthening supply chains, investing in skills, and improving local infrastructure.

During her visit to C&J Antich, Harpreet toured the factory once worked in by her father, formerly a weaver, and saw how modern machinery has transformed production.

The company’s portfolio ranges from the high-end “Ferrari of cloth”, as described by the Managing Director, to advanced fibres used in technological applications, innovations that keep the firm competitive on the global stage.

Industry Voices Presented in Parliament

At the CKMA roundtable, Harpreet outlined the Government’s new Industrial Strategy and listened to business leaders’ views on long-term priorities.

She stressed that the strategy represents a ten-year plan designed to provide stability rather than short-term fixes.

In Parliament, she reaffirmed that manufacturing “matters to Huddersfield, and it matters that we make things in this country.”

She also referenced several other local industry visits she has made since becoming MP, including:

• W. T. Johnson & Sons – a fourth-generation textile finishing firm established in 1910
• Thomas Broadbent and Sons – engineering specialists operating since 1864
• David Brown – a defence manufacturer producing highly complex equipment
• The Textile Centre of Excellence – a hub for training and research
• Olympus Technologies – robotics specialists since the 1980s
• Camira Yarns – woollen spun yarn producers founded in the 1860s
• Reliance Precision – a leader in precision manufacturing for 60 years

Calls for Investment in Skills and Stability

During her speech, Harpreet directly urged the Minister for Industry, Chris McDonald MP, to ensure continued investment in vocational training, skills development, and workforce support so that local firms can grow and recruit locally.

She also raised concerns about rising energy costs, the ongoing impact of Brexit on supply chains, and the increasing importance of cybersecurity for businesses of all sizes.

Harpreet concluded by saying: “If we invest in people, prioritise skills and provide stability for the specialist industries that underpin our economy, we can restore pride and prosperity to the regions that built this country.

“That means creating secure, high-quality jobs. It means keeping our young people in the towns where we grew up, and it means ensuring that the next generation can take pride in the industries that define their communities.”

Reactions from the MP and Industry Leaders

Speaking after the visits and debate, Harpreet said: “Manufacturing is part of Huddersfield’s DNA, and it remains central to our future prosperity.

“From textiles to engineering, our local businesses are competing on the world stage – creating jobs, training apprentices, and keeping skills alive in our town.

“My role is to make sure their voices are heard in Parliament and that government policy works for them.

“I know it has been a challenging environment for businesses, but I am glad the Government is supporting SMEs by providing free apprenticeship training for under-25-year-olds. This is a significant step.”

“That’s why I’ve been meeting directly with local manufacturers. To listen, to learn, and to champion their concerns.

“Whether it’s on skills, exports, or energy costs, I’ll keep pressing Ministers to back Huddersfield’s industry and secure the long-term investment our businesses need to thrive.”

Following the visit to C&J Antich, Managing Director David Antich said: “It was brilliant to have our local MP, Harpreet Uppal, visit Antich and Sons (Huddersfield) Ltd.

“After a tour of our production facility to showcase traditional textile manufacturing and innovative market-leading 3D woven composite technology side by side, we had a constructive discussion about how the Government can work with businesses like ours to grow the economy and keep Britain making.”

“We are so lucky to have an MP who is engaged in listening (with her ear to the ground) to what local Manufacturing companies need, taking time to talk to businesses about how they can play a role in growing the local and national economy.

“We look forward to working with Harpreet in the future to back Huddersfield businesses, especially in our traditional industries of weaving and Tailoring.”

The debate and recent visits underscore the pivotal role of manufacturing in Huddersfield’s past, present, and future—and reflect a renewed commitment to ensuring the sector continues to thrive for generations to come.