MANUFACTURERS in the West Midlands are being urged to take part in a major review of the sector which could ultimately shape the destiny of the industry for decades to come.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands (MAS-WM), which helped more than 1,800 companies in 2010, is asking firms to respond to the Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Review.
The review outlines the ambitions for manufacturing, sets out the key competitive strengths on which the UK can build and examines the major long-term growth opportunities.
Simon Griffiths, chief executive of MAS-WM, said: “This document sets out the action the Government is taking to provide the right business environment, the key competitive strengths on which we can build, and examines the long-term growth opportunities and challenges.
“What we want to do as an organisation is to make sure that manufacturers in our region know about this framework and are given every opportunity to comment on the plans.
“There will never be a better opportunity for firms, working at the coalface, to have their views fed into the decision making process so they actually influence policy that will evolve over the next decade.”
The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Review will reflect the capabilities of UK manufacturing, the strengths of the economy and the opportunities for broad-based growth from globalisation, technological development and the move to a low carbon economy.
It will aim to tackle barriers, such as skills, rising energy costs, security of supply, export and regulatory issues, not to mention asking what support manufacturers want to overcome all of these challenges.
“Manufacturers need to read the document and ask themselves ‘Are these ambitions the right ones – are there more pressing issues’, (also) ‘What Government action would you like to see,” added Mr Griffiths.
“We have already had a £50m commitment to enhance the Manufacturing Advisory Service and a further £600,000 is being invested in a two year automation and robotics programme that will deliver greater productivity and increase precision performance.
“It it pleasing to see that advanced manufacturing is so high on the list of priorities and companies need to do their bit to ensure their voice is well and truly heard.”
All comments should be sent to amgr@bis.gsi.gov.uk by February 11th and will be considered by the dedicated review team in preparation for the first report in time for Budget 2011.
