Published: May 10th, 2019
Small to medium-sized (SME) manufacturers in the Marches are now able to take advantage of an £11.8million business support boost, dedicated to helping them grow and address key skills issues.
The
Manufacturing Growth Programme, which is funded by ERDF and delivered by Economic Growth Solutions (part of Oxford Innovation), has been extended until September 2021 and will help a further 2400 companies to tackle barriers to growth, with the potential of creating 2500 new jobs.
The previous scheme in the Marches created 109 new jobs, with an additional 36 forecast to be created by the end of July this year. In total, the MGP delivered 134 improvement projects to 134 manufacturers in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
Support
Support can be used for an array of improvement projects, such as continuous improvements, change, environmental and sustainability, leadership and management, marketing, people and skills, productivity and capacity, quality and strategy.
The additional funding aims to provide a more valuable and quality level of assistance from a local Manufacturing Growth Manager that has years of industry experience. An in-depth business diagnostic and comprehensive action plan will be provided as part of the new programme, alongside improvement grants starting from £1,000.
In response to company feedback, a series of manufacturing themed workshops have also been added and will be available from Summer 2019 to help bridge current skills needs within manufacturing businesses and support future skills requirements in line with Industry 4.0.
"In October 2016, we were given the task of setting up a programme capable of delivering over £10.3m of dedicated business support to SME manufacturers and I’m delighted to say that, thanks to the hard work of the staff and the Manufacturing Growth Managers on the ground, we have achieved that," explained Martin Coats, Operations Director of Oxford Innovation.
"Over the course of the last two and a half years we have helped more than 2,000 SMEs to identify and overcome barriers to their growth and this has added millions of pounds to the local economy and created in excess of 3000 jobs, safeguarding thousands more in the process."
Hubs
"The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership and Marches Growth Hubs in Hereford, Shropshire and Telford have seen first-hand the value we add to firms in their respective areas and this has resulted in their commitment to support us for another two and a half years."
The Manufacturing Growth Programme is available to small to medium-sized manufacturers who have an intention to grow, increase competitiveness and improve productivity while increasing turnover, creating new jobs and introducing new products/services and processes.
Dean Barnes, Regional Director of the Manufacturing Growth Programme added: "The £11.8m extension will provide enhanced support to more SME manufacturing businesses in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford, as well as having the opportunity to add further value to those companies we have already supported.
"Our Manufacturing Growth Managers are trusted experts that understand the language MDs are talking and, through a new manufacturing diagnostic tool, can guide them on making the right decisions, before bringing in specialists on specific issues they are facing or opportunities they’re looking to explore."
He concluded: "Accessing MGP has never been easier. The process is slick, the scope of support is tailored to each company’s needs, the diagnostic provides an in-depth look into their business and the results, as already proven, are making a real difference in terms of increased turnover, jobs and new products/processes."
Businesses are urged to contact the Marches Growth Hub or business support staff at the hubs in Shrewsbury, Telford and Hereford, depending on where their business is based for further guidance.
