Swindon manufacturers are being urged to make their views known on the future of support for the industry.
The Government has published its Advanced Manufacturing Growth Review, which outlines its ambitions for manufacturing, sets out the key competitive strengths on which the sector can build and examines major long-term growth opportunities.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service in the South West (MAS-SW), which has helped more than 2,000 organisations since it launched, is asking firms to respond to the Review by February 11 deadline.
MAS-SW managing director Simon Howes said: “What we want to do as an organisation is to make sure that manufacturers in our region know about this framework and are given every opportunity to comment on the plans.
“There will never be a better opportunity for firms, working at the coalface, to have their views fed into the decision-making process so they actually influence policy that will evolve over the next decade.”
Once completed, the Review will reflect the capabilities of UK manufacturing, the strengths of the economy and the opportunities for broad-based growth from globalisation, technological development and the move to a low-carbon economy.
It will aim to tackle barriers, such as skills, rising energy costs, security of supply, export and regulatory issues.
“Manufacturers need to read the document and ask themselves ‘are these ambitions the right ones?’, ‘are there more pressing issues?’, ‘what Government action would you like to see?” added Simon.
“We have already had a £50 million commitment to enhance the Manufacturing Advisory Service and a further £600,000 is being invested in a two-year automation and robotics programme that will deliver greater productivity and increase precision performance.
“It is pleasing to see that advanced manufacturing is so high on the list of priorities and companies need to do their bit to ensure their voice is well and truly heard.”
Firms can download the Review from http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/business-sectors/docs/g/10-1297-growth-review-framework-for-advanced-manufacturing.
All comments should be sent to amgr@bis.gsi.gov.uk and will be considered by the review team in preparation for the first report in time for Budget 2011.
