Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, was pleased to welcome Penny Mordaunt, Minister of State at the Department for International Trade in Wealden, to showcase local craft skills and engineering excellence leading the classic vehicle industry.
Eagle is a Wealden-based classic vehicle business, which was established in 1984 and enjoys an international reputation as leading restorers of the iconic Jaguar E-type. Eagle performs all aspects of the complete restoration process on site in Wealden, where the vehicles are completely rebuilt using as much of the original car as possible to retain both structure and integrity and leave the layout unchanged.
Nusrat has been working with Eagle to address difficulties the historic and classic vehicles sector is facing while navigating red tape surrounding the movement of vehicles and parts for sales, restoration, competition preparation and events. Subsequently, the Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA) of which Nusrat is a supporter was launched in May last year with a mission to protect and promote the sector and secure its long-term future.
The sector’s contribution to the UK economy is huge, with annual turnover including substantial international trade estimated at £18.3 billion, and provision of around 113,000 jobs in thousands of specialist small businesses and supply chain firms across the country.
Nusrat Ghani said: “I was delighted to welcome the Minister to Wealden and to be able to showcase our fantastic internationally renowned local classic car businesses. The sector provides thousands of highly skilled and well-paid jobs and internships in Wealden and across the UK, and preserves exemplary skills and craftsmanship. I continue making representations to the DVLA and the Department of Transport to support Eagle in finding solutions to problems around red tape. I am grateful to the Minister for visiting Eagle, and I look forward to working with her and the Department for International Trade to get the issue resolved and help promote classic cars on her trade missions overseas.”
Henry Pearman, Founder & CEO of Eagle, said: "It was a great pleasure to welcome The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt, Minister of State at the Department for International Trade, together with former Transport Minister and local MP Nus Ghani, to meet the team of craftspeople at Eagle. Eagle were founder members of the Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance, and we’re delighted to be able to work with Nus and the Minister on our campaign to protect and strengthen the classic car industry.”
