Witham MP Priti Patel met AUVA Certification's founders at Little Braxted Hall to hear their growth plans, after first meeting them at Farnborough Airshow.

Priti Patel, the MP for Witham, has visited AUVA Certification at Little Braxted Hall, a company that helps businesses in aerospace, engineering and other specialist industries meet certification and quality standards in the UK and abroad.

The visit followed a meeting between the MP and AUVA representatives at the Farnborough International Airshow earlier this year, her office said.

At Little Braxted she met co-founder Graham O’Geran, chief executive Michael Venner and chief operating officer Martin Graham. According to her office, the talks covered AUVA’s plans to expand the business, the case for supporting investment and skilled jobs, and wider problems facing firms in certification, aerospace, engineering and other specialist sectors.

Priti Patel speaking at a round meeting table with three men in AUVA-branded shirts, framed Ireland rugby shirts on the wall behind them
Priti Patel in talks with the AUVA team around the meeting table at Little Braxted Hall. Photo: supplied by the Office of Priti Patel MP

What the MP said

Ms Patel said after the visit:

“It was a pleasure to visit AUVA in Little Braxted following our discussions at the Farnborough International Airshow and to hear more about their ambitious plans.

“AUVA is an excellent example of the specialist expertise, innovation and enterprise we have here in the Witham constituency. Their work supports businesses across important sectors including aerospace and engineering, while helping to maintain the high standards British industry is recognised for.

“I welcomed the opportunity to discuss their plans for growth and investment, as well as some of the challenges facing the sector. We need an economic environment which enables businesses like AUVA to invest, expand, create skilled jobs and compete successfully.

“I will continue to champion AUVA and our outstanding local businesses, support their ambitions for growth and ensure the issues affecting them are heard in Parliament.”

Her office did not say what the challenges facing the sector were, or how many jobs AUVA’s expansion plans might create.

Priti Patel talking across a table to a man in a blue AUVA shirt, in front of a wall printed with the AUVA name
Priti Patel talks with members of the AUVA team in front of the company's branded wall. Photo: supplied by the Office of Priti Patel MP

What AUVA said

Graham O’Geran, AUVA’s co-founder, said:

“It’s great to have such a fantastic, hard-working MP taking a genuine interest in our company, and supporting neighbouring businesses in the area.

“We really appreciated the opportunity to meet Priti again after meeting her at Farnborough Air Show, giving us the chance to further discuss our plans to develop and expand AUVA Certification, while pressing the importance of supporting local innovation, investment and employment. Priti clearly has strong relationships with many other businesses in the local area, and we are grateful for her efforts to support us all.”

Priti Patel listening at a meeting table with three men in AUVA-branded shirts and AUVA mugs on the table
The meeting at AUVA's offices at Little Braxted Hall. Photo: supplied by the Office of Priti Patel MP

What it means for you

AUVA is one of the specialist firms in the Witham constituency, and its MP has now publicly backed its plans to grow. If the expansion goes ahead it could mean skilled jobs locally, though neither the company nor the MP has put a number on them yet.

Businesses in the constituency that want to raise issues with their MP can contact Ms Patel through her parliamentary page.