A COMPANY in Wickwar which has just announced 30 job losses has given a talk to local MP Steve Webb.

Staff at Alderley Plc, which manufactures control systems for the gas and oil industry, joined Mr Webb to discuss the current financial crisis.

Group training manager John Patterson hosted the talks, which focused on Government support for training and the economic downturn.

Mr Patterson said: "We are proud of the work that we do at Alderley in training, whether it is the continuous improvement programme in which all staff take part or in the specialist training we give to young engineers. "It is a sad feature of the recession that some of these budgets have to be cut back, but we are determined to do all that we can to steer the company through these difficult times into a brighter future."

Alderley has offices in Russia and the Middle East but has been forced to reduce its Wickwar workforce by 20 percent because of the recession.

The firm is hoping to secure as many jobs as possible and has adopted a continuous improvement plan to monitor how the company is run.

Mr Webb said: "It was a privilege to visit a local company that is winning orders in world markets for its hi-tech equipment. "These are clearly difficult times and it is very regrettable that staff numbers are having to be reduced, but I hope that the company will be able to continue its work to survive the downturn and build on its past success. "I was particularly encouraged to meet a wide range of staff who were working together to acquire new skills and to think how the business could be improved."