Pictured above: Mr Afriyie is pictured at a flight demonstration wind tunnel that is bound for the Middle East .Also pictured are Simon Woods, managing director of TecQuipment (centre) and partnership chief executive Ian Viles (right)

A shadow government minister praised regeneration agency Erewash Partnership and a medium-sized engineering manufacturer when he visited Long Eaton.

Adam Afriyie, shadow minister for innovation, universities and skills, saw how high-technology is used by specialist education equipment manufacturer TecQuipment when he toured the company on Friday evening (Jan 29).

Mr Afriyie spent more than an hour looking around the Bonsall Street premises of the firm which has an annual a turnover of several million pounds and exports around 88 per cent of its output to more than 80 countries worldwide and said he was impressed.

The company, which employs more than 60 people, recently introduced a double shift system and took on several extra manufacturing and support workers because of increased orders.

"TecQuipment is exactly the type of high-tech engineering and manufacturing company that Britain needs to pull us out of recession," he said.

"It is the perfect example of research and development, engineering, innovation and exporting."

Simon Woods, managing director of TecQuipment, said: "We have always seized opportunities to demonstrate our capability and in the current economic climate are very proud to be manufacturing and exporting, believing that this very important for any realistic recovery for the UK."

Mr Afriyie later went on to speak to members of the Partnership - a public, private and voluntary sector partnership supported by more than 40 businesses - at conference venue Mayfield House on Nottingham Road.

"Erewash Partnership is an excellent example of what local enterprise partnerships can achieve," he said.

"It's responsive and voluntary and delivers what the local area needs."

Partnership chief executive Ian Viles said: "We are always delighted when senior politicians come and see the varied industrial and commercial base that we have in Erewash.

"We are particularly pleased to show off TecQuipment, one of the jewels in the crown of the local manufacturing and engineering sector which is performing well.

"It is companies like TecQuipment which will help the local economy as the country recovers from the recession."

The visit by Mr Afriyie, MP for Windsor, was arranged by Jessica Lee, prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Erewash.