£12m boost for manufacturing support agency
JUST A day after the demise of supply chain support agency Accelerate, the Manufacturing Advisory Service has revealed it is to get more £12m to support its work in the sector.
The funding from Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, will secure the extension of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in the region until 2012.
MAS says it will assist more than 3000 companies in introducing lean manufacturing techniques, developing new products, targeting new business opportunities and improving their supply chain.
There will also be more money available to roll-out recently launched initiatives focused on embracing advanced manufacturing and low carbon opportunities.
Simon Griffiths, Chief Executive of the Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands (MAS-WM), said: “Manufacturers in the region have been hit particularly hard by the recession and having access to specialist support that delivers real bottom line benefits will be crucial in helping them emerge successfully from the downturn.”
He continued: “Advantage West Midlands has once again signalled its commitment to the sector and the funding will immediately be channelled into helping companies improve processes and develop innovative products that will ensure a sustainable future for industry.”
MAS-WM has a track record in supporting the region’s manufacturing base, supporting more than 6,000 businesses and adding £250m to their turnovers since its introduction in 2002.
Its services range from immediate impartial advice through a telephone hotline to interactive-best practice workshops and in-company reviews to highlight performance enhancing opportunities.
There is also subsidised project support to resolve complex manufacturing issues, access to technical expertise and specialist programmes such as SC21 that helps companies work towards world class supply chains for the aerospace and defence sector.
“A lot of our success comes from our ability to understand what manufacturers want and need and this is best highlighted by the Automotive Response Programme that was delivered last year,” continued Simon.
“We secured £4.5m that could be used in providing strategic support to help auto suppliers improve their performance and this money was all committed by the end of 2009. Its impact has been significant, with new sales totalling more than £100m and 2700 jobs safeguarded across 200 businesses.”
Debra Blisson, Advantage West Midlands Director of Enterprise, said: “The £12 million contract extension is evidence of our commitment to manufacturing in the region and our belief that a stronger manufacturing sector means a stronger and more prosperous West Midlands economy.
“We know to succeed in the modern global marketplace we need to up-skill, to innovate and to embrace enterprise. MAS-WM will continue to provide that expertise and ensure West Midlands’ manufacturing competes more effectively on the world stage and begins a new industrial renaissance for the region.”
The two-year contract extension starts from April 2010 and will run until 2012.
