Help for SME manufacturers- BIS launches advisory servi

The service, which is available to qualifying manufacturing businesses across England, will be delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium and is estimated by BIS to generate £1.5billion of economic gross, 23,000 jobs, and is reckoned to safeguard another 50,000 jobs – we shall see!

Whilst we tend to view such initiatives with a healthy degree of scepticism, our client base contains a number of small to medium sized businesses with an outstanding skill base in the engineering/manufacturing sector, for whom the MAS may just provide a platform to enable them to make the most of local opportunities arising in the automotive sector.

The MAS is said to be open to any company, provided they are engaged in manufacturing, regardless of size, though it is primarily intended for SME. In broad terms – a company is said to be an SME if: 

a) It has fewer than 250 employees at the time of the application (including part time, seasonal and temporary staff).

b) It has an annual turnover of no more than £34million, or a balance sheet total not exceeding approximately £29million.

c) It is independent, (a company is said to be independent if ‘less than 25% of the company will be owned by one or more enterprises which don’t meet the definition outlined above, except for investments held by public investments corporations, venture capital companies, or institutional investors, provided no control is exercised).

The new MAS offer will comprise of:

Level 1 (Enquiries)Provided by a small team of experienced advisors, geographically dispersed round England. This will ensure detailed local knowledge supported by an enhanced website offering a range of online support packages.

Level 2 (Manufacturing Review)Continue to provide one (two day for more complex businesses), on-site specialist diagnostic review. MAC will use a new diagnostic tool based upon the principals of ‘manufacturing excellence’, developed in conjunction with the Warwick Manufacturing Group, which includes comparisons against best-in-class.In addition a ‘fast track’ over the phone Level 2 will be introduced for common, well understood issues.

Level 3 (Events)Continue to provide training and networking events, including Best Practice Visits. These will be an integral part of delivering the Business Improvement Actions identified at Level 2. This will be complimented by a Sustainable Improvement Community, using best practice social networking tools to provide peer-led best practice examples with lower costs forms of self help.

Level 4 (Consultancy)Introduction of a three tier level four project structure:MAS Foundation Service: Funding up to £1000 (or a maximum of 50%) towards an improvement project, targeted at companies who need basic low level help.

MAS Step Change Service: Funding of up to £3000 (or 50% maximum) towards a more significant improvement programme.

MAS Transformation Service: Funding of up to £10,000 (or 50% maximum) for a strategic change to the business. 

Level 5 (Referrals)MAS Advisors are responsible for identifying partner organisation support, but retain responsibility for referral until it is demonstrated and confirmed by the recipient company, that the partner organisation has addressed the recipient company needs.

For more details of what is available, and for a full definition of an SME, please click here

We at Alsters Kelley, have long standing experience in the negotiation and preparation of manufacturing/supply agreements, technology transfer arrangements and general commercial contracts. If we can be of assistance, in the first instance, please call Colin Witherall on 0844 561 0219

Photo: Colin Witherall, corporate consultant