Council leaders met with a Midlands construction firm as part of their campaign to promote Shropshire industry.

Brothers Peter and Nick McPhillips, joint Managing Directors of the Telford construction company started by their late father, employ 250 in the building industry.

The family firm, which claims to build "anything anywhere", wants to provide even more work for its staff in and around Shropshire.

"We carry out a lot of construction work in the county as well as across the UK. But we believe that it would be a good idea to get more local work for our employees. This would reduce the amount of miles they have to travel, cutting fuel costs and our carbon footprint," said Peter, who praised council leaders for paying them a visit at their Hortonwood HQ.

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"We are a family firm and we want to safeguard jobs in our industry by finding as much work as possible. Our staff work away from home and it would be easier on them if there were more local contracts.

"Our message to council leaders is that we want local jobs for local people who spend their money in Shropshire shops and businesses. This all benefits the whole county economy in these difficult trading times."

Telford & Wrekin Council Leader Councillor Andrew Eade and Chief Executive Victor Brownlees had a "fruitful and constructive" discussion with the McPhillips brothers during their visit.

A contract to build a £1.3 million warehouse extension to Makita Manufacturing UK's HQ in Hortonwood, Telford has just been completed and work is set to start on a £6 million scheme at Castle Farm, Telford. A care home in Woodside is also nearing completion.

(CD/JM)