New MAS service gets lift-off 4th Jan 2012
A £1.5bn programme focusing on growing small and medium manufacturing businesses has officially launched after being spearheaded by the WM Manufacturing Consortium. Business minister Mark Prisk unveiled the long-awaited Manufacturing Advisory Service as new statistics revealed a small increase in the sector's output.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will be led by a new Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC, comprising Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium and SWMAS) and is available to all manufacturing businesses across England.
The initiative is aimed at improving the global competitiveness of UK advanced manufacturing supply chains and it is estimated that it will help to generate £1.5bn in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs.
Launching the MAS programme, Prisk said: "Manufacturing contributes half of Britain’s exports and has much higher productivity than the rest of the economy so it is essential to our plans for growth. That is why we are taking steps to ensure our industrial base is thriving as part of a strong and balanced UK economy."
