SMEs need tailored support following closure of Manufacturing Growth Programme

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The government and local authorities are being urged to provide bespoke advice for manufacturing SMEs following closure of the Manufacturing Growth Programme in June.

MPG

The Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), designed and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice and funded by the European Regional Development Fund, helped the manufacturing sector create or safeguard 12,435 jobs since 2016.

A recent independent evaluation of the programme revealed that over 95 per cent of companies surveyed expected their business to grow in the next five years because of receiving support from the programme, with 63 per cent identifying the development of new products as one of the key areas.

In addition, 63 per cent said they had already seen an increase in turnover, while 52 per cent cited improved productivity as the main outcome of the support received.

MGP was established in October 2016 to address some of the main barriers to growth experienced by SME manufacturers. Since then, it has provided grant funding for business improvement/capital projects and specialist mentoring from industry experts, with 4564 companies assisted across the East and West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber and the South East.

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