Central Industry

A Black Country firm is forging its future and helping to keep manufacturing alive in the Midlands. W H Tildesley has been in business for 140 years.

Now it's invested more than a million pounds to make sure its still around for the next 140.

The ceramics industry in the Midlands has gone through a tough time over the last two decades, with factory closures, out-sourcing and job losses.

But industry leaders in Stoke on Trent say things are on the up, with more people looking to buy pottery that has been made in the UK.

More than £138m is to be invested in projects across the Midlands. The Government funding is aimed at creating and safeguarding thousands of jobs in manufacturing firms and small businesses.

BMW have announced it's to invest a further 250 million pounds in its three Mini factories including its plant at Hams Hall in North Warwickshire.

It will safeguard thousands of jobs there and at its other sites in Oxford and Swindon.