New MAS service gets lift-off
A £1.5bn programme focusing on growing small and medium manufacturing businesses has officially launched after being spearheaded by the WM Manufacturing Consortium.
Business minister Mark Prisk unveiled the long-awaited Manufacturing Advisory Service as new statistics revealed a small increase in the sector's output.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which will be led by a new Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC), is available to all manufacturing businesses across England.
It will be headed up by the MAC, which comprises Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium and SWMAS.
It has been estimated that the new MAS will help to generate £1.5bn in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs.
Simon Griffiths, MAS area director north and west, said: "Small manufacturing businesses will also have access to a new initiative recently announced by the government to improve the global competitiveness of UK advanced manufacturing supply chains.
"The up to £125m fund will cover the whole of England and will help to support the UK supply chain, encourage new suppliers to invest in the UK and support economic growth."
The programme was officially launched as the latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) from data analyst Markit revealed that manufacturing output rose to 49.6 in December from 47.7 in November.
A mark of 50 signals a growth in activity, said Markit. Export orders also increased over the month, but the manufacturing industry still ended the year with its worst quarterly result in two years.
Launching the MAS programme, 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."
