The Mayor of the East Midlands paid a visit to Toray Textiles Europe Ltd (TTEL) to make a clear case for backing British business and recognising the East Midlands as a powerhouse of advanced manufacturing.
From its Mansfield base, Toray produces high-performance fabrics for defence, medical, and industrial use – proof world-class capability, skilled jobs and industrial expertise are already here in the East Midlands.
Mayor Claire said: “Growing Toray Textiles Europe is a strategic opportunity for the East Midlands to secure more high-value jobs, attract further investment, and strengthen Britain’s ability to make more of what it needs here in the UK. We must ensure we put British business at the forefront of opportunities where possible.
“With the recent £20 million investment from Toray Textiles in advanced looms and process machinery, Mansfield’s Toray site is well placed to meet future demand.”
TTEL is a major employer in Mansfield and an important part of the East Midlands’ advanced manufacturing base. Its site is described as Europe’s largest and most integrated synthetic technical textile production facility, employing more than 180 people, producing up to 9m metres of fabric each year, with capacity for up to 20m metres, and more than 200 looms on site.
Paul Daynes, TTEL sales manager, said: “At TTEL we operate at a scale capable of delivering national programmes and manufacture a superior, UK-made product.
“We encourage the Government to engage with us to create a resilient domestic supply chain within the scope of textile manufacturing, dedicated to supporting our Armed Forces.”
Since 2014, the business has invested more than £20m in new equipment and continues to supply technical textiles to more than 30 countries, underlining the scale of its contribution to jobs, innovation, and UK manufacturing capability.
Mayor Claire’s visit sends a strong message that the East Midlands will be central to the next chapter of Britain’s industrial growth. Backing British manufacturers is not just good for communities like Mansfield, it is a practical way to build national resilient supply chains, keep investment in the UK, and give more local people the chance to benefit from secure, skilled work.
This visit puts the spotlight on a simple but powerful point: the East Midlands has the businesses, workforce and expertise to deliver for Britain. By supporting manufacturers like Toray Textiles Europe, Mayor Claire is demonstrating her commitment to making the most of the industrial strength that already exists in places like Mansfield.
The visit forms part of the Mayor’s wider engagement with major employers across the region to understand how existing industrial strengths can be supported to grow, innovate and create long-term, high-quality employment.
As part of the drive for growth, Mayor Claire and Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, are mobilising the region’s businesses to seize new defence industry opportunities as the government ramps up national security spending.
They have launched the Midlands Defence and Security Industry Council, co-chaired by Mayor Claire, to champion Midlands manufacturers and innovators to help bolster national security and also drive economic growth and well-paid jobs for local people.
The Council – a first of its kind for this region – forms part of the Defence and Security Blueprint for the Midlands which sets out to strengthen the defence capabilities of advanced manufacturing, engineering and digital firms.
For the defence sector, TTEL produces about 2m metres of fabric per year including:
Published on: 29 May 2026
Categories: News, Economic Development