The UK’s small and medium-sized manufacturers are being urged to take part in the latest National Manufacturing Barometer to help shape future government policy, and highlight current trends and opportunities.
The rallying call, made by organisers SWMAS and Economic Growth Solutions, aims to boost the number of respondents this year from 270 to more than 500 manufacturers.
The barometer offer management teams the opportunity to input recent/future sales performance, investment plans and recruitment intentions, providing a clear snapshot of confidence against the current economic climate.
Every barometer features a special feature on a topical issue and this time the survey will ask several questions on ‘maximising your workforce efficiency to support productivity and growth’.
Managing director of SWMAS Group, Simon Howes explained: “Smaller manufacturers can sometimes be overlooked when we discuss economic performance and aspirations for the future… We can use the information to shape the business support we provide, while lobbying the government on how they support industry.”
The survey is live from today (Monday April 24) and reportedly takes no more than 15 minutes to complete. With only response accepted per manufacturer, senior managers are urged to complete the survey by clicking here.
The last National Manufacturing Barometer revealed that SMEs in the UK had remained resilient in the face of Brexit uncertainty, with more than half (57%) of firms recording an increase in sales during the previous six months.
It also found strong optimism for growth, such as two-thirds of respondents expecting sales to grow again during the first half of 2017, half of companies planning to invest in new capital equipment and technology, and almost the same amount (46%) expecting to grow their workforce to cope with increased demand.
Another key finding was that a surprising 42% of respondents stated that they didn’t know whether the UK Industrial Strategy is built to deliver their business needs, clearly showing there is a lack of visibility and understanding among SME manufacturers.