High unemployment

But those contracts turned into permanent jobs, and now Shep employs 16 Spanish people out of workforce of about 70.Because unemployment is high in Spain, the government has a programme which offers financial help to people travelling aborad to look for work.

Shep Plastics originally used an agency, but the Spanish community has now established a network to help newcomers identify employment opportunites and find accommodation.

It's a two-way relationship that benefits the Spaniards as well as Shep.

Maria Izuieirad was made redundant from her job at a hotel in northern Spain.

Tough

"When you're older like myself, you can't get a job," she says.

Her husband Manuel Gomes works alongside her at Shep. "Spanish law has changed and people over 55 must go out," he explains.

"This is why we come to this country."

Conditions can be tough in Spain for people looking for work. In 2001, only 56% of unemployed people were entitled to benefit, one of the lowest levels in the EU. Entitlement is determined by how long they have been in work and what social security contributions they have made.

But for some people that can mean as little as four months' unemployment benefit.

Major issue

While they should initially receive 70% of their average pay, various factors - such as bonuses and overtime not being included in the calculation - mean they receive much less.

It has been a major issue for trades unions and a big strike forced the government to rethink its policy last year.

But it's easy to see why relocating to England can be an attractive option. For Shep it has meant a big change in working practices. Instructions and manuals - such as those covering health and safety - are now in English and Spanish. And when the firm was awarded Investor in People status, assessments had to be carried out in both languages. Many of the Spanish workers are also taking English lessons. Weather Monica Echeverria has been at the factory for 16 months. "The main reason is because I want to improve my English," she says, although she admits the benefits are slightly mitigated by the colder weather.

The Spanish workers have fitted in well, say local staff.

"Most of the guys work 12 hours a day and they are always willing to work overtime as well," says Rod Nesbitt. "We also have people translating for us if we find it difficult to understand what they are saying." For Shep, it has proved an unusual solution to the problem of finding people willing to go into manufacturing. Malcolm Bradshaw denies that the Spaniards are providing cheap labour. "We pay everybody the same rate," he says.

"It's a shame that the local schools can't encourage children to come and work for a factory like ourselves."

"It's a shame that local schools can't encourage children to come and work for factories like ourselves "

Malcolm Bradshaw, Shep Plastics