What unites custard creams, surgical blades and Vitsœ?

Frank Dobson, Labour MP for Holborn and St. Pancras, is championing Vitsœ’s modern craftsmanship and homegrown manufacturing as part of the government’s Made by Britain campaign.

His nomination comes in response to Vince Cable’s call to celebrate ingenuity in design and manufacturing in the United Kingdom.

“Vitsœ is a brilliant example of a design-led manufacturer, whose longevity is testament to the sheer quality and desirability of their product,” said Dobson. “Their shelving system – used all over the world – is an excellent example of invisible design: so good, and versatile, that most of the time you don’t notice it.”

“Vitsœ has worked hard over the years to keep their manufacturing in the UK, even though it hasn’t been easy.” Dobson added. “I am proud to have them in my constituency.”

40 MPs were asked to choose a business in their constituency that excels or innovates in manufacturing. The remaining 610 MPs will be asked to follow suit when the project launches on 6 July 2011, culminating in the creation of a website which will put these groundbreaking businesses firmly on the map.

It is hoped that a major exhibition will also take place in 2012, to coincide with the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee.

“It is a constant surprise to me that so few people know that Vitsoe’s modern-classic shelving system is made in Britain,” Vitsœ’s managing director, Mark Adams, said. “After all, we sell it in over 50 countries worldwide and are constantly praised for the high quality of both our product and our service.”

Amongst the other initial selections were biscuit tin favourites (McVities custard creams from John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle), kitchen stalwarts (AGA Rangemaster from David Wright, MP for Telford), off-road vehicles (Land Rover from Lorely Burt, MP for Solihul) and surgical blades (Swann-Morton from David Blunkett, MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough).