South West industry week: 290 glass jobs lost as Renishaw and Henry maker expand

This week's South West business reports revealed contrasting industrial fortunes. The Business Desk South West said Clayton Glass was sold out of administration with the loss of 290 jobs, hit by high energy and raw material costs and an extended slump in demand [1]. The same publication reported a record year for Renishaw as soaring demand for semiconductors drove growth [2], and said the maker of Henry vacuum cleaners is investing £85m in its Somerset manufacturing base, with plans for an R&D centre and an 8,000-pallet distribution hub [4]. Industrial disruption was also in the news: 60 Hovis drivers in Avonmouth were set to walk out indefinitely from Thursday over pay, a move that could disrupt bread supplies across the South West [3].