Manufacturing summit to dispel industry myths

While latest figures show that manufacturing growth has reached a 16-year high, the sector’s “outdated” image is still holding it back.

To tackle the problem, Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have asked the country’s most innovative manufacturers to throw open their doors to students and teachers. This week-long national event is the first of its kind, offering an insight into engineering and manufacturing.

Read more: http://realbusiness.co.uk/employment/manufacturing_summit_to_dispel_industry_myths

Manufacturing posts best results in 16 years

Forecasts show that manufacturing is on target to outperform the rest of the economy this year.

Led by strong growth in export orders – particularly from emerging markets – British manufacturing will tackle the impact expected from spending cuts head on, says manufacturers’ organisation EEF.

Last year, the manufacturing sector outpaced expectations by expanding by 3.8 per cent.

This year, another strong result is forecast, with 3.5 per cent growth for manufacturing, compared to just 2.1 per cent growth for the economy as a whole. In 2012, growth is forecast at 3 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively.

Read full article: http://realbusiness.co.uk/sales_and_marketing/manufacturing_posts_best_results_in_16_years

UK manufacturing ‘unsung hero’ of economy

Britain’s manufacturing industry is helping to revive the economy and is ‘powering ahead’, according to a new industry survey.

Research by the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) discovered that the UK’s manufacturing sector is in good health and has reported strong trading conditions for the third quarter in succession.

The EEF survey also revealed that manufacturing will outperform the rest of the economy by the end of 2011. However, it warned that next year will still bring challenges to manufacturing as companies deal with rising costs and uncertainty.

Read full article: http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/uk-manufacturing-unsung-hero-of-economy.html

Double-dip fears calmed by manufacturing boost

Research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that 31% of small and medium sized manufacturing firms expect the volume of total new orders to rise, with domestic orders expected to increase over the next quarter.

Furthermore, a separate report by Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply, discovered a strong demand for boosting production had been reported in the industry for the first time in seven months, calming fears that Britain may slip into a double-dip recession.

Read full article: http://www.growingbusiness.co.uk/double-dip-fears-calmed-by-manufacturing-boost.html

Manufacturing sector targets growth

The manufacturing sector has set out a new plan for growth which will help to create a more sustainable and balanced economy in the UK.

According to EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, workers in the industry, including those in sales recruitmentposts, have welcomed the “greater clarity” that the government has provided on its tax and spending plans and on how it will play a smaller role in the economy.

Read full article: http://www.thesalesengineer.co.uk/news-800155009-Manufacturing-sector-targets-growth.aspx

British manufacturing ‘at risk of collapse in five years because of skills shortage’

Although manufacturing output is rising, 90,000 jobs in the West Midlands will prove hard to fill by 2015, warns new study

British manufacturing is at risk of “collapse” due to a worsening skills shortage that will leave thousands of hi-tech jobs unfilled over the next five years, a senior academic warns today.

Prof John Bryson of the University of Birmingham’s school of geography will tell an international conference on wealth creation that although the sector is thriving in terms of output, its future is bleak because of the failure of the education system to produce school leavers and graduates with the right expertise.

According to Bryson’s research, manufacturing produces more now in equivalent value of products than it did in 1966, the peak year for manufacturing employment in the UK. But companies fear their businesses may not survive into the next decade because of their inability to recruit employees with the right expertise.

Read full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/sep/02/british-manufacturing-collapse-five-years

Small manufacturers experience growth

Stronger demand and companies rebuilding stocks of goods helped boost production among the UK’s smaller manufacturers during the last quarter, according to the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) latest quarterly SME Trends Survey.

Just over 40% of small firms surveyed by the CBI said output rose in the three months to July compared to 20% that said it fell. The resulting balance of +21% is the fastest growth since April 1995 (+25%), and a marked improvement on the previous quarter.

‘Smaller manufacturers enjoyed a bumper quarter with production ramped up to meet growing demand and to rebuild stocks,” said Russel Griggs, chairman of the CBI’s SME Council.

“Exports are leading the charge, reflecting the pick-up in global trade and the relative weakness of sterling, but firms are still seeing their profit margins squeezed because of rising costs.”

Looking ahead to the next quarter, the report states that firms anticipate a slight fall in output, as the trends in domestic and export orders are expected to weaken.

Source: http://www.newbusiness.co.uk/

Manufacturing sector returns to growth

Manufacturing production in the UK has risen for the first time in two years, according to data released by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

The business group’s latest quarterly Industrial Trends Survey revealed a stronger than expected rise in output in the three months to January.

Of the 461 manufacturers surveyed, 31% said output rose during the three-month period, while 20% experienced a decline. The resulting balance of +11% is the strongest figure since January 2007.

Export orders rose for the first time since January 2008, boosted by the relative weakness of Sterling and improving global demand. 30% of firms said exports grew during the quarter, while 24% reported a fall, giving a balance of +6%.

UK exports hit 13-month high

UK exports in November reached their highest rate in over 13 months, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics.

Exports rose to £20.2bn, the most since October 2008, driven by sales of consumer goods and chemicals.

“A narrowing trade balance is consistent with a rebalancing of the external and internal sectors of the economy and it’s certainly a trend which we hope is maintained over the next couple of years,” said Philip Shaw, an analyst at Investec.

Industrial output rises

Industrial production in the UK increased by 0.4% in November compared with the previous month, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics.

This is more than the 0.3% rise that economists had been expecting and gives weight to those that believe the country exited recession in the last quarter of 2009. However, manufacturing output showed no growth and six of the 13 manufacturing subsections saw monthly falls in output.

“At face value headline industrial production is not a bad number, but it is disconcerting that manufacturing went sideways,” said Alan Clarke, economist at BNP Paribas.