News from the manufacturing sector

Alison recently attended an event run by the Manufacturing Advisory Service in Yorkshire which contained an update on the government's thoughts on supporting this sector.

- The government have decided to support high growth manufacturing businesses (i.e. +20% growth for more than 3 years!) – this only represents about 6% of all manufacturing companies or 1500 across the UK. They will identify and support them through a Business Coaching for Growth Support Service. MAS will remain but at a lower level, probably at a regional level but the jury is still out on how the service will work. Business Link will no longer be supported

- One CEO of a manufacturing company is sitting on the board of the new Sheffield City Region local enterprise partnership (LEP) which covers Sheffield, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, Bassetlaw & North East Derbyshire. These are NOT replacements for regional development agencies (RDAs like Yorkshire Forward) and no-one is quite sure how they will work or what their remit will end up being. The good news is, they are totally industry-driven to give support to business in the region from other businesses in the region. No more quangos or middle-men. There is only approximately £10m funding available for the next three years for each LEP and the first round of bids obviously shows massive over-subscribing. But each LEP is free to pick what will best fit the region. Key aims for our LEP: advanced manufacturing, employer-led skills and support, finance (i.e. access to finance for SMEs) and a digital hub.

- Skills – SEMTA is the Learning Skills Council for manufacturing. There was interesting information on skills gap (at skills level 2 + 3) – primarily lies in the 25-40 age range (i.e. the managers of the future). This is a big problem that needs sorting.

- The Leadership Solar System (by Bill McGrawley) – 4 planets, which I thought fed nicely into ECUS' Environmental Management vision and values. This states that you need the four qualities below to lead.

1. High morality

2. Optimal product portfolio

3. Unleash people

4. Understand strategic landscape.

In addition you need prudence, the ability to listen, decisiveness, honesty, communication, no greed, don’t exploit, diversity (skills) and a measured response to challenges.