A BATLEY-born businessman hosted a visit to his premises by Shadow Chancellor George Osborne.

Lawrence Tomlinson, whose LNT Group employs almost 700 staff across the UK, gave the prominent Conservative politician a tour of the group’s companies, which include LNT Construction, new care home operator Ideal Care Homes and iconic British car marque Ginetta.

Andrew Long, group development director, showed Mr Osborne the technology behind the firm’s new Ginetta G40 road and race car as well as its ground-breaking electric vehicle, the G50EV.

Mr Osborne also met 10 of the group’s young apprentices, who have been appointed through the National Apprentice Service.

Mr Osborne praised the “fantastic facilities” available at LNT Group, adding: “We really need to encourage the growth of British manufacturing.”

Mr Tomlinson said: “As the founder of a privately-owned corporation which exports products all over the world, I am very interested to hear Mr Osborne’s thoughts on how a Conservative government would improve the business landscape – not just within Yorkshire but on an international scale, too.

“The LNT Group has bucked the recession well, but since it spans a number of sectors, I welcome any ideas as to how we can stabilise the economy and encourage UK manufacturing industries to buy within the UK. We need to start helping each other.”