VIP visitors paid tribute to a fire safety firm's staff.

More than three quarters of the Protec Fire Detection firm's 140 manufacturing plant works have obtained or are working towards NVQ qualifications.

And Lord Trefgarne, chairman of awarding body EMTA Awards and managing director Charles Moody OBE visited the Nelson head office to meet the workforce.

The company is registered by EMTA as an approved training centre for NVQs.

Protec, founded in 1968, is one of the leading firms in the building safety systems market and is involved in projects including the Millennium Dome. The firm employs 550 people including 270 at the Nelson head office.

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