Local MP takes office space at National Metalforming Centre

The National Metalforming Centre (NMC), which is home to and owned by the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), has made a political appointment by welcoming its latest tenant: Sarah Coombes, MP for West Bromwich. Located just off the A41 in the Black Country, the modern office space will help Coombes build stronger links with local industry.

Labour MP Coombes is already developing a proactive relationship with the CBM to help her understand some of the challenges and opportunities that exist for its members in 2025. This includes contributing to the organisation’s paper on the proposed Industrial Strategy. She has also asked a critical question in the House of Commons regarding onerous claims from the HMRC for backdated steel safeguard tariffs impacting CBM members and others across the UK.

The CBM’s Chief Executive Geraldine Bolton is delighted with the move: “Sarah has already shown in seven months that she’s a passionate advocate for manufacturing. We’ve built strong lines of communication with her so she can take our message and the views of our members back to Whitehall. Basing herself at the NMC puts Sarah in the heart of the action and gives firms access to her team to raise issues, highlight positive achievements and discuss the support they need to be competitive.”

She continues: “The NMC is ideally located in her constituency, whilst the state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and flexible meeting space make it perfect for hosting different meetings and public surgeries.”

Coombes, who previously worked for Tom Watson as his head of policy and communications for three years, has already visited four local manufacturers to see first-hand the region’s industrial capabilities. This activity included meetings with Steel & Alloy Processing, Robinson Brothers, William King and Fred Smith & Sons. While the four companies offer different capabilities, all are critical suppliers to sectors such as automotive, aerospace and renewable energy.

“West Bromwich and the wider Black Country has a strong manufacturing history dating back centuries,” says Coombes. “It’s been brilliant working alongside the CBM and local businesses in the constituency. The NMC is local to our constituents, accessible by public transport and has brilliant facilities. I look forward to working closely with the CBM and the manufacturing sector in West Bromwich, securing a positive future for more jobs, opportunities and growth.”

The NMC has become a popular base for local businesses and one of the Black Country’s prominent venues for hosting training sessions, workshops and meetings. Operated by the CBM, its secure private parking and flexibility of rooms, coupled with the latest technology, air conditioning and catering services, is proving popular with both SMEs and larger multi-nationals, plus business support groups.

“Sarah and her team will now be sharing the same home as the CBM and this will help us forge strong links in support of our local members,” says Bolton. “We’ll also gain a close and personal insight into how policy decisions impact our firms, both positively and negatively. We’ve seen how much she wants to support manufacturing and our evolution into a world-leading, sustainable industrial power, and we look forward to working with her to make a difference. One of our key priorities this year is to bring more like-minded organisations into the shared space at NMC; organisations who can support the local business community by pooling expertise, resources and knowledge. A series of targeted events will be held to promote this drive.”