 |
 |
||||||
[October 2002]
New Service To Boost West Midlands Manufacturing
The Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands (MAS-WM), was recently launched at the new Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence in West Bromwich. The free or heavily subsidised service will provide hands on advice and support to the regions' 17,000 manufacturers, employing over 517,000 people.MAS-WM consolidates a number of manufacturing and advisory bodies into one single 'centre of choice'. The service provides a direct route for manufacturing companies to best practice, ensuring production technology and processes are of the highest calibre.
The DTI and Advantage West Midlands (AWM) joint initiative will be delivered by a consortium of the Engineering Employers Federation West Midlands, Warwick University and the regions' Business Links, with over £3.2M joint backing from the DTI and AWM.
Speaking at the launch, MAS-WM Chairman, David Botterill said:
"This service will appeal to a broad diversity of companies. From clothing manufacturers to cake bakers, we can provide a diagnostic approach to identifying and solving their exact manufacturing problems. If you make something and want it made better, we can help."
A team of specialist manufacturing advisors will offer businesses practical advice by such means as; a telephone enquiry service, trouble-shooting visits and referrals to associate companies and expert consultants, including the region's technology research institutions, universities and trade bodies.
Having received help from these quality assured manufacturing consultancies, businesses can then return to MAS-WM for more advice or direction to other sources of manufacturing aid, such as research & development grants, as part of a long term working relationship.
Commenting on the launch, Nigel Griffiths MP, Minister for Small Businesses said:
"The MAS demonstrates this Government's commitment to the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is as important now to the West Midlands economy as at any time in the past. It underpins the whole economy. In the West Midlands, over half a million people are employed in manufacturing, more than in any other English region, while West Midlands manufacturers contribute £19bn to UK GDP."
Already 100 companies have been helped by the new service, with more contacting the organisation daily. For more information on how MAS-WM can help YOUR business, call 0845 245 0845 or visit www.mas-wm.org
ENDS