MANUFACTURING firms from Worcestershire were urged to bid for their share of a £1.89m funding pot at the Manufacturing Advisory Service’s Supply Chain Conference at RAF Cosford. The money, which is available until March 2015, will help them enter new markets, encourage innovation, boost international trade and create new jobs. Companies can access a host of grants that range from small improvement plans to £10,000 of funding towards major transformational projects that have the potential to achieve 20 per cent growth. Nearly £500,000 had already been committed to more than 80 firms and the total assistance has the potential to safeguard or create in excess of 1200 jobs.

“The entire Conference was set-up to explore how our manufacturing SMEs can take advantage of the upturn in the global industry and the UK’s new found popularity with international manufacturers,” said Lorraine Holmes, MAS Area director for the North and West. “Automotive has obviously taken up a lot of the media headlines, but we are also seeing growth within aerospace, electronics and emerging markets, such as offshore wind…you only have to look at the recent Siemens announcement to see that.

“One of our roles at MAS is to ensure that our SMEs are aware of these opportunities and, more importantly, are in a position to take advantage of them. This may involve making them more competitive, helping increase capacity, upskilling both the workforce and management team, even helping companies with relocation. The £1.89m we have left – a combination of the ERDF Growth Programme and core Government funding - can really unlock potential and provide the transformation some manufacturers are striving for.”