Recently I had the pleasure of visiting Stock Sweepers based at Forest Vale Industrial Estate in Cinderford and talking with owner, Jeff Stock, about the challenges of the past year and his optimism for the future.
I was pleased to learn that Stock Sweepers, like many businesses in the Forest of Dean, had benefited from the Chancellor’s support packages during the pandemic. I know that these have been a lifeline for many businesses and enabled them to keep their valued staff employed.
Owner and founder of Stock Sweepers, Jeff Stock, started his business some twenty years ago and it has grown to employ over 70 people at its Cinderford site. The Forest of Dean is no stranger to world leading companies, and Stock Sweepers is just that. As the only British owned manufacturer of road sweeping vehicles, Stock Sweepers export from their Cinderford factory to customers in North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
It was great to have been guided through the factory by Jeff and to have seen the intricate and detailed process of assembling a modern and technologically advanced road sweeper. What makes this company a leader in its field, is that Stock Sweepers are designed to last. Each vehicle in their range has been specifically planned with durability in mind, with the aim of limiting the amount of down time needed for repairs. It was a pleasure to talk with some of the highly skilled staff employed at the Cinderford site.
Aside from high-quality manufacturing jobs, Stock Sweepers is also a source of advanced computer aided design (CAD) employment in the Forest of Dean. Many of the components used in the making of these machines are designed in house by the CAD team.
I would like to thank Jeff, and the whole team at Stock Sweepers, for inviting me to visit and giving me the opportunity to learn more about their business.