A DUDLEY MP has praised local manufacturing after it was revealed the Black Country continues to outperform national averages.

Mike Wood, MP for Dudley South, said after visiting businesses around the borough throughout the last few years, he has himself seen the “resurgence” in manufacturing.

He said: “Employers really do now have the confidence to invest in new equipment, machinery and more importantly people.

“Many local companies such as Davicon, RP Technologies and D A Profiles have all recently increased their workforce, taken on apprentices and invested in new equipment thanks to busy order books.

“These local businesses are the reason the economy is doing much better.”

Kevin Rogers, vice president of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said: “UK and export orders for Black Country manufacturers grew 13 per cent and 15 per cent more than the national average during quarter two.

“Price pressure from pay and overheads is rising, but this is being balanced by expectations that raw materials and finance costs will drop.

“UK and export sales for Black Country manufacturers grew four per cent and nine per cent more than the regional (West Midlands) average during quarter two, which is good news but our manufacturers are much more downbeat about turnover and profitability expectations over the next 12 months.

“In order to deliver our aim to double the size of the Black Country economy by the end of 2023, we need all 32,000 businesses in the Black Country to grow.”