On Friday 11 June, Sella Controls, an independent engineering company specialising in the design and supply of integrated safety, control and automation systems, welcomed local MP, Navendu Mishra. Sella Controls took the opportunity to display their Stockport site, highlighting the UK expertise and products they trade overseas, and introduced him to local apprentices, graduates and the wider team working onsite.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Sella Controls have continued to trade globally and were recently awarded a contract from Stadler Valencia for the supply of Tracklink® III systems. These will be used to control the transition between electric and diesel modes of the Stadler dual locomotives in Spain.
Upon arrival, Navendu Mishra was introduced to apprentices, graduates and other critical team members at Sella Controls, before being led on a socially distanced guided tour of the site. The tour was followed by a discussion surrounding the development of the UK rail sector, including the industry’s growth and investment, as well as supply chain challenges.
The visit was the fourth to be conducted this year as part of the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA) Rail Fellowship Programme, which encourages parliamentarians and policy influencers to gain hands-on experience of the rail industry. The Programme has been a success, attracting a number of high-profile MPs, with more visits planned over the coming months.
Navendu Mishra MP said: “It was a pleasure to visit Sella Controls’ head office in Stockport to see first-hand the important work they do as engineers to design and deliver systems to improve rail safety around the UK.
“As a rail enthusiast, I know how vital this work is to ensure my constituents and others can travel safely across the UK on a clean, green form of transport.”
Chris Elliott, Business Development Director (Rail) at Sella Controls said: “Hosting the visit of Navendu Mishra and Councillor Charlie Stewart provided a fantastic opportunity to introduce Sella Controls and our base for safety engineering excellence in Stockport. Sella Controls’ business has grown substantially in the last ten years, investing in technologies that are made in Stockport and are now exported globally. It’s great to be able to demonstrate how SME businesses are introducing innovation to the world.
“Sella Controls’ growth has enabled it to expand its operations in Stockport, as well as establishing new offices in Ashby and Coalville in the midlands, creating opportunities for a career in rail and process safety engineering through graduate and apprentice schemes.”
Max Sugarman, Public Affairs & PR Director at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), said: “It is great that Navendu Mishra has taken part in our RIA Rail Fellowship Programme visiting Sella Controls’ site in Stockport. Sella Controls is a great example of an SME that is selling UK rail expertise around the globe, supporting the economy at such a critical juncture.
“We are delighted to have now held the fourth in-person Rail Fellowship Programme visit since physical site tours have been permitted, inviting MPs to locations up and down the country, and from all the main political parties, from Labour MP Navendu Mishra in Stockport, to Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney in Richmond, and Conservative MP Mark Fletcher in Bolsover just last week. We look forward to growing our RIA Rail Fellowship Class of 2021 and hosting them at a Parliamentary event in due course!”
Featured photo – From left to right – Chris Elliott (Business Development Director (Rail), Sella Controls), Chris Parr (Managing Director (Process Safety), Sella Controls), Navendu Mishra MP, Cllr Charlie Stewart
