Small business focus for new manufacturing service
A new manufacturing advisory service has been launched in the Midlands by business minister Mark Prisk. It will aim to create £1.5bn in economic growth and 23,000 jobs.
Prisk said the service, to be carried out by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium, will focus on small and medium-sized manufacturers and also hopes to safeguard 50,000 jobs.
Its aims include linking small businesses with the government's apprenticeship programme to bring about 1,250 places in the engineering and manufacturing sectors each year, providing technical and strategic support to help small businesses develop advanced manufacuring and create jobs and boost global supply chains.
Prisk made the announcement while he visited motor sport and aerospace specialist Arrowsmith Engineering in Coventry, which he praised for growing its business by 20 per cent following support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Prisk said: "Manufacturing contributes half of Britain's exports and has much higher productivity than the rest of the economy so it is essential to our plans for growth.
"That is why we are taking steps to ensure our industrial base is thriving as part of a strong and balanced UK economy.
"Britain has world class manufacturers and the new Manufacturing Advisory Service will help them grow and create more outstanding companies with a particular focus on helping small and medium-sized businesses."
