New help for manufacturers will generate £1.5bn growth and create 23,000 jobs

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A new nationally operated Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will focus on helping small and medium sized manufacturers to grow, Business Minister Mark Prisk announced in October.

The new service will be delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) and will help create £1.5bn in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs.   

The Manufacturing Advisory Service will continue to deliver a national service to all manufacturing businesses in England but the new consortium now means that there will be a specific focus on:

  • driving business growth through strategic and technical support for SMEs developing Advanced Manufacturing capabilities and creating high value jobs;
  • enabling business improvement with manufacturers operating in global supply chains; and

 

  • linking SMEs with the Apprenticeship programme delivering a minimum of 1,250 engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships annually.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said:

“Manufacturing contributes half ofBritain’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 balancedUKeconomy.

“Britain has world class manufacturers and the new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will help them grow and create more outstanding companies with a particular focus on helping SMEs.

Simon Griffiths, Area Director at MAC, said:

“MAS is designed to support all manufacturers to retain employment, improve productivity and deliver significant growth to theUKeconomy.

“At its core is a passion and drive to help dynamic, innovative businesses to grow – even in a challenging economic environment.  These principles are very much at the heart of the MAC consortium’s own business strategy and values.

“Our proven expertise in delivering advice to growing businesses combined with specialist regional, market and technical knowledge allows us to bring scale, commitment and innovation for entrepreneurship to the future of this programme.” 

He continued: “As the service moves to a national delivery model the consortium will continue to recognise and cater for regional needs. The service will continue to be delivered from locations acrossEngland.” 

Previously delivered through the Regional Development Agencies the new service will deliver four times the current return on investment.

The Manufacturing Advisory Consortium comprises Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium Ltd and MAS SW Ltd.

 

BXL Chief calls on West Midlands businesses to engage with young people to prevent future riots

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BXL's John Ling

West Midlands businesses were today urged to step forward in order to help prevent young people getting involved in future riots.

The rallying cry was made by John Ling and comes after an approach to tackling the recent disorder stalled due to a lack of a clear vision on how to engage with local youths who are struggling with a lack of skills and unemployment.

The Chief Executive of the region’s education business partnership believes the answer lies in less consultation, reducing the number of brokers looking after their own interests and the development of a robust plan that companies can buy into and start delivering.

“We have all been extremely slow to react to the troubles we saw in the summer and I class Government, local councils, the third sector and business in this collective ‘we’,” explained John.

“A strategy for working with young people and business volunteering has not yet been sorted and, in the meantime, a few token ‘on the ground’ initiatives have yet to deliver real sustainable benefit.”

He continued: “Schools and the third sector aren’t going to hold the answer and the Government’s National Citizenship scheme will be just a drop in the ocean when you consider that this new programme supported just 10,000 nationally this year.

“That leaves the way forward in the hands of the business community in the West Midlands. And why not, after all they stand to gain the most tangible benefits from engaging with young people and providing access to positive role models?”

Ling said the need for a region-wide charter to be put in place is crucial and social media could be used to disseminate and secure buy-in from all parties.

In terms of hands-on support, he singled out the need to harness business knowledge, experience and resource to help young people develop skills, raise aspirations and provide greater employment opportunities.

Training more business volunteers and mentors and then matching them with schools is a good starting point and there is an urgent need to develop an efficient signposting service that offers a single gateway to all the advice and support.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, funding simply won’t allow that,” added John.

“BXL already run www.youxl.co.uk, a website and resource base created to provide trusted and crucial information for young people. This is soon to be expanded to support businesses and educators online for volunteering and careers information.

“Education Partnership Centres, such as those seen at Jaguar Land Rover and Redcliffe Catering, also offer a great way of engaging with large numbers of young people. These onsite venues provide vocational learning and insight to more than 25,000 individuals a year and if we can get more employers on board this figure could quickly dwarf the Government’s own National Service.

“Let’s also look at giving young people the chance to shape their future by creating and facilitating groups where they can help influence future policy.”

BXL is currently working with the local council on creating a hub for all of this activity at Birmingham Wheels, where a major Birmingham-based construction business has already pledged to provide temporary buildings.

However, 18 month-old plans to turn it into an enterprise/employability zone focused on vehicles have been hit by internal arguments and political uncertainty.

John concluded: “The message is simple. The West Midlands needs to come together as one, provide the strategy and let business drive the support. Importantly, we need to do it now and not leave it till we are picking up the pieces again from the Riots of 2012 and beyond.”

For more information on BXL visit www.bxlworks.org or contact. You can also follow it on twitter @bxlservices

Event will show Black Country firms that being ‘responsible’ is good for business

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Cleone Foods' Wade Lyn will be speaking at the event

Black Country companies looking to boost their sales by doing business responsibly are being urged to attend a free of charge breakfast event being held next week (Nov 9th).

The ‘Profits v Responsible Business – does there have to be a choice’ conference, which is being backed by Business in the Community (BITC) and University of Wolverhampton, will aim to show companies how they can be more profitable by committing to a sustainable agenda that focuses on respecting people, communities and the natural environment.

Held at Wolverhampton Science Park, delegates will hear from Aaron Reid (Responsible Procurement Consultant at Carillion), Dr Silke Machold (Reader in Governance and Ethics at the University of Wolverhampton) and Mark Clemson, Managing Director of New World Solar on what it takes to strengthen supplier partnerships, enhance brand reputation and to secure and retain important contracts.

There will also be the chance to listen to Cleone Foods’ Wade Lyn on his company’s commitment to this approach and how it has led to him being named the Prince’s Ambassador for Responsible Business in the West Midlands.

“Being a responsible company is not just for the big corporates; small and medium enterprises have their role to play and also deserve to enjoy the bottom line benefits that come with it,” explained David Darlaston, Regional Director at BITC.

“From talking to firms all over the West Midlands it was evident that there was a huge demand for us to hold events that can engage with smaller companies that want to know more about what it takes to be sustainable.”

He continued: “Wolverhampton is one of the first events to be held and we believe the high profile speakers will add a lot of benefit to local companies. There will also be all the latest information on the support you can access to do business responsibly.”

Business in the Community, which is the UK’s largest and best-known knowledge network for those involved in responsible business, has recently launched its first-ever SME membership package.

This covers three main areas: 

  • Advice and support (annual strategy meeting, tailored action plan, guided access to website, media round up)

 

  •  Employee Development and Community Impact (participation in Give and Gain Day, access to quarterly team meetings, support and added value for community work)

 

  • Profile and Network (access to a 850 company strong BITC Network, free attendance to member’s forums, reduced rate on high profile events, use of BITC logo communication and regular updates)

 

David concluded: “We would urge any companies interested in corporate social responsibility to join the debate. No matter what part of the journey you’re on, the SME membership offer could add real value to the way you do business and your bottom line performance.”

Places are limited, so early booking is advisable by contacting Samerina Sahota on 01902 717491 or samerina.sahota@bitc.org.uk.