Rt Hon David Blunkett MP paid a visit this week to the Sheffield  factory of Burgon & Ball, one of city’s longest standing traditional garden tool manufacturers.

Burgon & Ball is a thriving family business, est 1730, whose product range originated in agricultural tools and is now diversified into a wide range of garden tools and design-led garden accessories.

Burgon & Ball are working with Blunkett, the Regional Growth Fund/RBS and Creative Sheffield to plan for future growth and investment in Sheffield manufacturing.

Following the visit, Blunkett said: “Politicians of all parties eulogise about the importance of manufacturing, of craftsmanship and of creativity. Burgon & Ball tick all the boxes as a historic example of the innovation and craftsmanship of Sheffield, but also a living example of enterprise and modernisation. We should be very proud of this company which is at the heart of Sheffield’s history and at the forefront of our city’s future.”