Newly expanded manufacturing station on The Business Map points the way during EEF’s National Manufacturing Week (1-5 March).

As EEF launches National Manufacturing Week (1-5 March) across the UK, manufacturing firms from this region are being urged to make the most of publicly-funded business support, particularly during the tougher economic times. To help them do so, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has today launched a newly-expanded manufacturing ‘station’ on The Business Map – an online tool that helps companies find a wide range of business support and funding options.

The first port of call for companies seeking support is Business Link, where a team of advisers are on-hand to offer free and professional advice to both established and start-up businesses in the manufacturing sector. Business Link works with companies to establish which support route will ensure maximum benefit in line with their specific aims and needs. Advisers act as a central contact between other businesses, specialist partners and suppliers to assist with issues such as outsourcing, contracts and funding.

One important route of referral for Business Link is the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). Funded by EEDA, sector specialists from MAS-East works alongside over 500 companies a year free of charge, to identify simple and practical step-changes which can have a huge impact on their bottom line. Benefits to those who have worked alongside a MAS-East adviser have been valued in excess of £100,000 per company.

One Herts-based business that has benefited from Business Link’s guidance is Andrena Furniture, purveyors of fine furniture with an emphasis on hand made quality. After initial contact with and support from Business Link, Managing Director Gary Anderson re-approached Business Link for some impartial advice on manufacturing systems. Gary was referred to MAS-East, who sent representative Roy Matthews to carry out an overview. Gary was impressed with Roy’s approach and how quickly he was able to comprehensively analyse Andrena’s systems. As a result of MAS-East’s overview, Gary was prompted to re-evaluate aspects of his manufacturing processes, including batch sizes, which came in particular use when it came to the purchase of new machinery. Gary concludes, “We’ve achieved a huge amount in a short time, largely due to the assistance we have received from Business Link, and we know that we can rely on its continued support as we take the business into the future.”

At www.bizmapeast.co.uk/manufacturing, local firms can access everything from maps and downloads of the East of England’s strong and diverse manufacturing clusters and supply chains, to details of testing facilities across the region, sector specialist advice through Business Link to a £1 billion manufacturing fund recently launched by RBS/NatWest.

Figures recently released by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply found growth in the manufacturing sector at a 15 year high. But with local companies still recovering from the long-lasting effects of recession, EEDA’s chair Richard Ellis is keen to see more companies take advantage of the publicly-funded support that is out there to give them a boost. “Generating one sixth of the UK’s overall wealth, two thirds of its exports and over 3 million jobs, the importance of the manufacturing sector to UK plc can not be overstated. There is a dynamic manufacturing sector in the East of England that employs over 250,000 people region-wide and is built around strong clusters and world-class research and development. But there’s also no getting away from the fact that it’s a sector which has been hard hit by the recession.

“The Business Map’s newly expanded manufacturing station brings the region’s strengths to the fore. It gives manufacturers quick and easy access to critical forms of support from organisations with a track record of delivering staggering returns, whether that’s efficiency savings to weather the rigours of recession, or finding that much-needed edge over your competitors.”

Vital sources of funding are now also available to manufacturers. RBS/NatWest earlier this year launched a £1 billion nationwide manufacturing fund in response to feedback from customers in the sector who are anticipating growing demand for their products during 2010 and beyond. The bank will offer manufacturers loans on competitive fixed rates and with the option to defer repayments for up to three years.

Andrew Moss, Regional Director, Business & Commercial Banking at RBS/NatWest said: “The manufacturing sector has been hit particularly hard by the recession but we have begun to see some encouraging signs for the future as a number of our manufacturing customers are turning their thoughts towards investment to drive competitiveness.

“It is therefore important that the region’s manufacturers are aware of the support available to them, both in terms of finance and wider business support initiatives such as The Business Map and the work of MAS, and utilise these to their benefit.”

Visit www.bizmapeast.co.uk/manufacturing to find out more about business support for manufacturers, or call 08457 17 16 15 to speak to advisers at Business Link.