A HIGH-POWERED new Keighley trade body will bring together companies worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

The Keighley-Made Group aims to give a united voice to the town’s still-flourishing manufacturing industry while boosting residents’ pride in their hometown.

It would highlight that Keighley is one of the country’s leading manufacturing areas with more than 4,000 workers and success selling products at home and abroad.

Companies would be able to share ideas and best practice, while encouraging greater investment in Keighley business, leisure and retail from both the public and private sector.

Keighley-Made, to be launched in September, is the brainchild of Paul Moore, director of Powerrun Pipe-Mech Ltd.

He said around 25 fellow Keighley organisations were fully committed to forming the group, including Timothy Taylor, Tecconnex, Cirtex, JW Laycock, NSF, Joda Freight, Hayfield Robinson, Wydean Textiles and Appris.

He said many Keighley companies had annual turnovers in the region of £20m, some as high as £224m, and employed between 50 and 500 people each. Powerrun employs 30, has a £5 million turnover and carries out projects worth £100 million.

Keighley-born Mr Moore said Keighley-Made would offer practical benefits to member companies, their many employees, and the wider town.

He said: “Keighley was based around the machine tool and textile industries and is steeped in historical engineering achievements.

“Engineering, logistics, manufacturing and brewing still thrives. Keighley companies still supply our expertise, technology, knowhow, skills, services, goods and equipment throughout the UK and the world.

“Like many other northern industrial towns, Keighley faces issues and challenges, but there is a very positive side to it that is being neglected. The town appears to be shrouded in ignorance and apathy.”

Mr Moore is being supported by Keighley MP John Grogan, who said Keighley was still a manufacturing district, adding: “The companies may have fewer employees but they are still just as important in generating wealth for the local economy.

“Recent figures tell us there are still 4,400 people employed in manufacturing across the Keighley area, representing one in seven jobs or 15%. This is a greater proportion than across Bradford district (13%) and significantly higher than across the UK (8%).”

Anyone wishing to get involved should email paul@powerrun.co.uk.