Coventry-based Penso Group was applauded by HRH The Duke of York for its approach to innovation and job creation
Penso Group, which specialises in niche vehicle development, interior trim and electronic systems integration, hosted a visit from His Royal Highness The Duke of York on Friday December 16 as part of a delegation organised by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and UK Trade and Investment.
His Royal Highness received a guided tour of the company’s 42,000 sq ft facility in Coventry before viewing high profile projects involving Jaguar Land Rover, the Mercedes-Benz London Vito taxi and the revolutionary Morgan 3 Wheeler.
Prince Andrew was also introduced to the firm’s latest recruit, 19 year-old Jak Gudger, who only started his first-year Production Apprenticeship on Monday. Overall Penso has created 40 jobs in the last two years taking it workforce total to 100.
This year alone, Penso manufactured over 600 vehicles, produced 4500 wire harnesses and completed well over 1000 bespoke interiors for a variety of OEM clients.
“The Royal visit capped an amazing year for Penso, which has seen us win lots of exciting new projects in the automotive sector, as well as new contracts in defence, renewable energy and aerospace,” explained Michael Collins, Penso sales and marketing director.
Representatives from Penso also took the opportunity to express their views on access to finance, the skills agenda and the importance of bringing through the next generation of engineers with the Duke who said that: “Penso is a great example of modern day manufacturing, a business that is using design, innovation and engineering excellence to develop future automotive technologies and create tens of jobs.”
Backed by strategic support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands, Penso was launched in 2004 after a management buy-in by Daniel Hurcombe, managing director, and David Roche, technical director.
