Dr Swati Dhingra, a member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, and Steve Hicks, the Bank of England’s agent for Wales, recently visited the Bridgend HQ of Sigma 3 Kitchens, the parent company of Masterclass Kitchens. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities within the UK’s manufacturing sector, with a focus on kitchen production in Wales.
As part of the visit, Dr Dhingra and Steve Hicks toured Sigma 3 Kitchens’ brand-new 130,000sq ft manufacturing facility, which plays a key role in the company’s ambitious expansion plans. The company has invested £20million in increasing production capacity, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and British manufacturing. Its Llantrisant facility will support and feed into the larger Bridgend site as part of this strategic growth.
Sigma 3 Kitchens, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is a leading UK kitchen manufacturer and the driving force behind Masterclass Kitchens. With a continued focus on advanced manufacturing technology and sustainability, the company remains committed to delivering high-quality, innovative kitchen solutions for its customers.
Brian Lakin, chairman, said: “We were delighted to welcome Swati and Steve to our new manufacturing facility. Their insights into the economic landscape were invaluable, and we appreciated the opportunity to discuss how the UK manufacturing sector can continue to thrive.”
Steve Hicks, the Bank of England's agent for Wales, added: “It was incredibly useful to visit Sigma 3 Kitchens with Swati as part of a wider visit to South Wales. Company visits like this are vital for Bank policymakers to hear first-hand from business leaders, and this visit provided helpful insights into both the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.”
Pictured from left to right: Paul Crutcher, Brian Lakin, Dr Swati Dhingra, Steve Hicks, Paul Groves and Gerald Jones.
