The Government this week officially launched its new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to bolster the UK’s manufacturing sector. One of the four partner organisations in the consortium behind the MAS is SWMAS Limited, which formerly provided help for West of England manufacturers.
Here its managing director Simon Howes offers his perspective on what MAS will mean for manufacturers in the region.
“Our company has delivered expert advice and practical, meaningful support to local small and medium-sized manufacturers for the past 10 years. We are delighted that as part of the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) established to drive the new MAS we will be able to continue to provide these services via our network of local manufacturing advisors.
“Of the 13,000 manufacturers in the South West, 75% have fewer than 10 employees and less than 500 are large businesses. Our emphasis will be on helping small and medium-sized businesses unlock their growth potential with continued focus on improving productivity and competitiveness.
“While manufacturers are understandably cautious about their prospects, the new MAS offers genuine reasons to be confident and bullish about the future. Nationally, it is estimated that it may help generate £1.5bn in economic growth, create 23,000 jobs and safeguard a further 50,000.
“There will be a focus on product development. This might include designing new products or adding additional features and improving the manufacturing efficiency or carbon performance of existing ones. We will emphasise how through innovation manufacturers can expand their product offering, moving into new sectors and growth markets.
“The new programme will also be highly collaborative involving partners and relevant third-party organisations to ensure the continued provision of services that make a tangible difference to profitability, sustainability and long-term prospects. The Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the West of England and Swindon & Wiltshire will play a key role in achieving this and we will work closely with them to encourage manufacturers to grow.
“There is a real drive to help the best placed manufacturers to build growing and sustainable businesses. We hope that this could lead them to export more, explore new markets and invest in the latest technologies. This is a challenging but exciting time with new funding available for ambitious South West businesses with real growth potential.”
Companies interested in finding out more about the programme should visit www.mymas.org or call their local advisor on 0845 608 3838.
