Shake-up at the Manufacturing Advisory Service

THE Manufacturing Advisory Service is to undergo a change in structure under new plans announced by the Government.

The organisation, which supports the development of manufacturing firms around the UK, is to be amalgamated into the new Business Growth Service, effectively a one-stop-shop support body for industry.

Details of the change in approach, which come into effect in the New Year, have been outlined by Chancellor George Osborne.

The new Business Growth Service brings GrowthAccelerator, the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and schemes from the Intellectual Property Office (IP Audits) and the Design Council (Design Mentoring) into a single service. 

Export support will continue to be provided by UK Trade & Investment and UK Export Finance. The service will be closely linked to InnovateUK and the British Business Bank.

It will provide tailored packages of support to help businesses develop new ideas, improve leadership and management skills, exporting and accessing finance. So far as manufacturing firms are concerned, the restructure is unlikely to see too much change on the model already in place.

MAS will continue to support firms in the sector but will operate under the auspices of the BGS. MAS advisors will continue to work with firms to develop new business opportunities and products. It will also advise on streamlining production processes and utilising supply chains.

Business and Enterprise Minister Matt Hancock said:  “Small businesses told us the support available was too disjointed so we have joined it together through our new Business Growth Service, which will provide a tailored package of support to thousands of firms each year.” 

Close