A new £6 million commitment from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) will fund free business advice for the region’s manufacturers.
The programme will fund the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in the region which will be administered by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation. EEF has been awarded role until 2012.
“The South East has the largest and most productive manufacturing sector of any UK region, with over 260,000 employees,” pointed out Pam Alexander, SEEDA chief executive. “Despite the many challenges these businesses are facing through the recession, it is the innovative, high value products and technologies they produce that may offer our best route into the upturn.
“SEEDA is committed to ensuring these vital businesses receive the advice and support they need, and MAS is an important part of this effort. EEF has done a fantastic job in delivering the service and we are confident they will continue to maintain this high standard of targeted help in the future.”
David Caddle, MAS South East programme manager at EEF, added: “We are delighted that SEEDA has awarded the third MAS South East contract to EEF. Our aim is to deliver a programme of manufacturing support for manufacturers, by manufacturers, helping businesses to realise real, measurable and sustainable improvements whatever legislation or market conditions they face now and in the future.”
SEEDA said its economic support for the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the South East has delivered over £310 million of added value through manufacturing improvements, has handled 20,000 advice enquiries, has funded 4,000 company support programmes and has seen 9000 training events held.
