#ukmfg #LEP #madeinthemidlands Delegates at the recent Funding, Finance and Manufacturing Future event at the Pirelli Stadium in Burton-on-Trent heard that Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent companies are playing their part in a West Midlands “manufacturing boom”.
Backed by the Stoke and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the event was open to all manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses in the area. It is hoped that a network can be built up to enable smaller manufacturing businesses to meet larger companies, encouraging the formation of local supply chains.
LEP chairman Ron Dougan said: “Manufacturing is vital to the success of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire’s economic growth, contributing £3 billion to the local economy and accounting for 55,000 jobs. Between 2006 and 2010, we saw a 40% increase in high-value manufacturing jobs in our area. It is great to see this network up and running and a part of the LEP’s operations.
“We are confident of an ever-increasing manufacturing base, and we look forward to seeing both networks in our area working together to achieve greater successes.”
John Faulkner, managing director of Cab Automotive and president of the Made in the Midlands group, added that West Midlands manufacturing was “booming”.