Resources
Keep up to date with the latest Business Growth Hub / Lancashire manufacturing news, blogs, client case studies and our 50 factsheets.
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Manufacturers in ‘survival mode’ while waiting for energy bill support
As the government prepares its energy bill support scheme for businesses, research suggests that energy costs are now threatening 60% of manufacturers, with 1 in 3 searching for a new provider.
Monday, September 12, 2022
Manufacturing R&D Catapult moves to Manchester
The UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) has taken up residence in Manchester, where it will provide support that could boost the region’s productivity by £500m per year.
Friday, September 9, 2022
Manufacturing sector goes into contraction for first time in 2 years
UK manufacturing suffered its steepest contraction since May 2022 in August, with high energy bills and job vacancies among the biggest worries in a ‘potent cocktail’ of issues reported by firms.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Re-shoring of manufacturing driving up industrial space rents
Demand for highly sought-after industrial space in the UK has reached its greatest level in five years due to manufacturers mitigating challenges overseas by re-shoring their activities back to Britain.
Monday, September 5, 2022
Cyber hygiene still a major problem in manufacturing
Manufacturers’ organisation Make UK has shared an in-depth report by the Financial Times on the state of cyber security, which found that SMEs are bearing the brunt of recent attacks.
Friday, August 26, 2022
Extra relief on the horizon for energy-intensive industries
Large manufacturers like steel and paper mills could receive additional relief on their energy bills under new government plans, but as yet no such support is on the table for under-pressure SMEs.
Friday, August 19, 2022
Businesses warned ahead of potential fivefold increase in energy bills
Analysis suggests UK businesses could see their energy bills rocket by up to five times when new contracts are negotiated in October 2022, putting thousands of manufacturers at risk.
Thursday, August 4, 2022
2 in 5 SME manufacturers plan to adopt new tech
Made Smarter asked over 200 SMEs in the North West about how the last two years have affected their approach to adopting new technology, with productivity and efficiency highest on the priority list.
Friday, July 22, 2022
8 in 10 manufacturers say ‘decarbonisation’ now a priority
The vast majority of manufacturers are planning to take action to cut their carbon emissions this year, driven primarily by rising energy costs and the desire to ‘do the right thing’.
Monday, July 18, 2022
Automation and robotics ‘most important skills’ in next decade
Skills in automation, robotics and mechatronics are expected to be the most important to manufacturing engineers over the next decade, with lean and resource efficiency also high up the list.
Friday, June 24, 2022
62% manufacturers unaware of pollution prevention obligations
New research has revealed a worrying lack of awareness of pollution prevention requirements for specific manufacturing processes, which may be putting businesses at risk of unlimited penalties.