Councillors view behind scenes at firm

The visit to Ricardo was a new format for the regular meeting West Sussex Cabinet Members hold with the county’s MPs to exchange views on current topics.

Instead of meeting at County Hall, a visit to Shoreham based Ricardo was arranged by Council Leader Louise Goldsmith.

She said: “Building a strong West Sussex economy is a priority for the County Council.

“That’s why it is important for us to understand the needs of the business community, how we might be able to help create the right conditions for companies to flourish, as well as looking at ways in which we can work together.

“I thought using our regular update meeting with our MP’s so they could also visit a world class company based in our county would make for an excellent fact finding opportunity.

“Ricardo is a global world class, multi industry consultancy for engineering, technology, project innovation and strategy. It is investing heavily in research, and employs 1,600 professonal engineers, consultants and staff.

“It is just the type of company that we need in West Sussex.”

Louise also said she was also supporting a Ricardo application to the Regional Growth Fund for the establishment of a new Vehicle Emissions Research Centre at its Shoreham site.

This facility is designed to help in the creation of cleaner and lower carbon vehicles, while generating up to 100 new jobs, and safeguarding many more, within the local area.

Ricardo UK Ltd managing director Martin Fausset, said: “I was very pleased to have been able to welcome the West Sussex County Council Cabinet members and local MPs to Ricardo today.

“Ricardo is a major local high technology employer that has been present in the Shoreham area for almost a century.

“Hosting today’s meeting provided an ideal opportunity to share with our visitors some of the very interesting work that we carry out for our clients around the world, helping to create the next generation of low carbon vehicles and clean technologies.”