Warmer climes for aerospace firm

The company produces precision aerospace components

A Devon engineering firm has set up a new manufacturing base in Mauritius.

Hymec Industries said it had tried unsuccessfully for about three years to find a suitable industrial site for a new factory in Teignbridge.

The move means 100 skilled jobs which could have been created in Devon by the firm have gone abroad.

Richard Elliot, Hymec's managing director, said although its existing Plymouth site had reached capacity the company will remain in the county.

He said: "We're very disappointed. Both my business partner and myself are local lads and we'd hoped to bring something to the area.

Aerospace park

"Unfortunately whilst we're still here and we have some plans for the area, they're nothing like as grand as we'd hoped."

The precision engineering firm's main site is based in Estover near the city's airport and also has premises near Newton Abbot.

It currently employs about 90 people and is hoping to recruit a further 25 staff in the near future.

Hymec's original plan for Devon was to build an aerospace park for itself and other firms and already had in-principle agreements with five other firms, which could have created a total of up to 300 new jobs.

But land it acquired last year near Bickington was sold when planning permission was refused.

Mr Elliot told BBC News he had been frustrated by the experience. He said he did not blame the local council, but felt it should be more pro-active about helping companies interested in locating to the area.

A spokesman for Teignbridge District Council said it was doing all it could to identify suitable employment land.

Mr Elliot said the decision to base its new factory in Mauritius was because of it high level of skilled labour and lower manufacturing costs.