HQ of Manufacturing welcomes Government’s National Strategy

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has today welcomed the Government’s unveiling of a new strategy for the UK’s manufacturing sector – ‘New Challenges, New Opportunities’ – to help UK firms take advantage of changing global trends in manufacturing.

Developed by the Department for Business (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), in partnership with regions and industry, the Government has brought forward its refreshed manufacturing strategy and is reaffirming its commitment to the sector as a key part of a mixed and balanced UK economy in the future.

The strategy brings together almost £150 million of medium term support for UK manufacturing, and sets out Government’s view of what the sector needs for success in the long term - including seizing the opportunities of the low carbon economy, supporting skills, realising overseas opportunities, and improving the perceptions and understanding of manufacturing.

Throughout 2008, the NWDA and a number of Northwest businesses have been contributing to this national framework and support the final publication of this refreshed National Manufacturing Strategy.

Mark Hughes, Executive Director, Enterprise & Skills for the NWDA said:

“Manufacturing’s productivity in the Northwest is second to none. The sector is hugely significant for the Northwest. With so many top performing businesses located here, the Northwest sits as the HQ of manufacturing in the UK, the largest hub of this important sector, which combined makes the country the sixth largest manufacturing economy in the world.

“During this period of challenging trading conditions it is important that we recognise the value of manufacturing on our economy and put the right support in place to ensure we can sustain and grow this sector and attract and develop new talent.

“The expertise in the region has helped steer the national framework and now the national strategy will help drive the content of our Northwest strategy, which we will launch, with our partners help, by the end of the year.”

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The Northwest strategy and action plan for modern manufacturing, which is gathering evidence from the national strategy, regional businesses and other public sector bodies will inform a number of interventions made regionally on manufacturing, including the successful Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in the Northwest.

The Northwest manufacturing sector is the largest in the UK and a priority sector within the regional economy. The sector employs around 400,000 people (which represents 12.0% of the total workforce) and produces almost one fifth of the regions total gross value added (GVA) output.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The NWDA’s work with BERR has included presenting the strengths and opportunities presented by the manufacturing sector in the Northwest, clearly articulating the benefits of regional interventions – highlighting the success of our cluster organisations, Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and NWDA’s business support and investor development, including supporting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The UK’s manufacturing sector has more FDI than any country apart from the USA. NWDA also supported BERR’s regional consultation events which took place in July of this year and were well attended by business and other support organisations from the Northwest.

1. “Manufacturing: New Challenges, New Opportunities,” and supplementary materials published jointly by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, are available at www.berr.gov.uk.
2. The refreshed strategy is based on extensive consultation and working with the Ministerial Advisory Group on Manufacturing (MAG) and other stakeholders. www.berr.gov.uk/sectors/manufacturing/MAGonmanufacturing/page47668.html
3. For further information or to request an interview with a BERR minister, please contact Clare Kennedy on 0207 215 5981 or for a DIUS minister, please contact Josh Coe on 020 3300 8127.

For further press information contact, Neil Roscoe, Senior Press Officer on 01925 400232 or mobile 07980 713282 or neil.roscoe@nwda.co.uk

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

For further information about the NWDA and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk/press

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