The Bishop of Huddersfield will visit the Nestle factory in Halifax on Friday 30th October to help strengthen the relationship between Halifax Minster and the town’s private sector.
On the factory tour, the Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs will join the Revd Canon Hilary Barber, Vicar of Halifax Minster; Holly Walker-Lynch, MP for Halifax; Cllr Lisa Lambert, Mayor of Calderdale; and George Oakes, a new 19-year-old intern at Halifax Minster.
The Revd Canon Hilary Barber says, “As well as fostering relationships with the private sector across the town, the Church Commissioners have a large portfolio in Nestle, so this is an important visit at all levels.”
Nestle is neighbours with Halifax Minster and bridges have recently been built between the two institutions after the factory manager, Giles Mann, attended the last Minster concert with his wife and those at the Minster agreed to offer its grounds as an evacuation point for the factory.
The visit to the Nestle factory, which used to host the production of Mackintosh’s sweets and then Rowntrees, is simply the next step in forming this important relationship.
Halifax’s factory is famous for making Quality Streets and After Eight Mints and the party will have a chance to see the production of these family favourites to better understand how Nestle works.
Revd Canon Hilary Barber, Vicar of Halifax Minster, says, "This visit is a great opportunity for the Minster to develop our relationship with the local community and the private sector in Halifax.
"It promises to a fun and fruitful visit and I sincerely hope that our relationship with the factory will continue to bloom over the next few years."
The factory employs around 1,000 people from across Halifax and the surrounding area, making it an important focal point for the town.
To find out more about the Nestle factory, please visit the Nestle website here: http://www.nestle.co.uk/