HUDDERSFIELD MP Barry Sheerman is seeking meetings with Government ministers after the announcement of 75 job loses at engineering firm David Brown.

The Lockwood-based gear manufacturer said the redundancies – about a sixth of its 450-strong workforce – followed a full review of operations and were necessary to make it a more competitive, customer-focused business.

Mr Sheerman said: “I am shocked by this news and I will be talking to the company’s management as soon as possible.

“I will be seeking a meeting with Business Minister Michael Fallon next week and following up by talking to Business Secretary Vince Cable.”

The Labour MP said he would also be talking to the Ministry of Defence as David Brown was a key supplier of defence equipment.

He said the company was trying to reduce its reliance on the defence sector by developing technology for products such as wind turbines.

Mr Sheerman said he would talk to UK Trade & Investment, the Government’s export support arm, about the possibility of finding new markets.

But he stressed: “We shouldn’t dwell on the negatives. Let’s see if we can find more orders for the company and give them a boost.

“This is an interim phase as the company restructures its business. If they get through this phase, it will grow and expand into new areas such as green technology.”

David Brown managing director Steve Watson said the job losses were being made “with great regret” but said the company remained committed to retaining and developing the skills it needed to succeed in markets such as wind and tidal energy.