Manufacturing support mapped out in the East of England (From Watford Observer)

Manufacturing support mapped out in the East of England

9:44am Monday 1st March 2010 in

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As EEF launches National Manufacturing Week across the UK today, manufacturing firms from the region are being urged to make the most of publicly-funded business support, particularly during the tougher economic times.

To help them do so, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has today launched a newly-expanded manufacturing “station” on The Business Map – an online tool that helps companies find a wide range of business support and funding options.

The first port of call for companies seeking support is Business Link, where a team of advisers are on-hand to offer free and professional advice to both established and start-up businesses in the manufacturing sector.

Business Link works with companies to establish which support route will ensure maximum benefit in line with their specific aims and needs. Advisers act as a central contact between other businesses, specialist partners and suppliers to assist with issues such as outsourcing, contracts and funding.

One important route of referral for Business Link is the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). Funded by EEDA, sector specialists from MAS-East works alongside over 500 companies a year free of charge, to identify simple and practical step-changes which can have a huge impact on their bottom line.. Benefits to those who have worked alongside a MAS-East adviser have been valued in excess of £100,000 per company.

One Hertfordshire business that has benefited from Business Link’s guidance is Andrena Furniture, purveyors of fine furniture with an emphasis on hand made quality.

After initial contact with and support from Business Link, Managing Director Gary Anderson re-approached Business Link for some impartial advice on manufacturing systems. Gary was referred to MAS-East, who sent representative Roy Matthews to carry out an overview.

Gary was impressed with Roy’s approach and how quickly he was able to comprehensively analyse Andrena’s systems. As a result of MAS-East’s overview, Gary was prompted to re-evaluate aspects of his manufacturing processes, including batch sizes, which came in particular use when it came to the purchase of new machinery. Gary concludes, “We’ve achieved a huge amount in a short time, largely due to the assistance we have received from Business Link, and we know that we can rely on its continued support as we take the business into the future.”

At www.bizmapeast.co.uk/manufacturing, local firms can access everything from maps and downloads of the East of England’s strong and diverse manufacturing clusters and supply chains, to details of testing facilities across the region, sector specialist advice through Business Link to a £1 billion manufacturing fund recently launched by RBS/NatWest.

Figures recently released by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply found growth in the manufacturing sector at a 15 year high. But with local companies still recovering from the long-lasting effects of recession, EEDA’s chair Richard Ellis is keen to see more companies take advantage of the publicly-funded support that is out there to give them a boost.