Bill Rammell, minister of state for the Armed Forces and MP for Harlow, officially opened the 4,645sqm plant on Monday (14 September).

Following the opening, Rammell met with Blue Group managing director Paul Mursell who put forward his plan for quarterly meetings of local businesses in order to improve community relations and raise money for charity.

Mursell said: "We have sent out invites to all of the companies in Harlow that employ more than 100 staff, inviting them to join us at a breakfast meeting. We will also invite along local colleges and the hope is to talk about increasing the number of apprenticeships in the area.

"If we can raise a couple of thousand pounds for local hospice St Clares at each meeting that will also be beneficial."

The first meeting is scheduled for early October, Mursell said.

Blue began the move to the new Harlow facility in August last year, following an 82% increase in turnover. Previously, the company had several facilities across east London with its main facility situated just outside the Olympic zone.