The government has officially launched the revamped Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) – a "new national programme which will focus on helping small and medium manufacturing businesses to grow".
The service will be delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) which is comprised of Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium Ltd and SWMAS Ltd.
The new look MAS will help to generate £1.5 billion in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs according to the government.
Mark Prisk, manufacturing minister, said the service would play a key role with a specific focus on helping SMEs improve competitiveness and unlock their growth potential.
Karl Eddy (pictured), head of government infrastructure advisory at Grant Thornton and head of MAS, said that this "historically successful programme" would be driven into a new era in which business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector would be encouraged to contact local advisors.
He added: "Small manufacturing businesses will also have access to a new initiative recently announced by the Government to improve the global competitiveness of UK advanced manufacturing supply chains. The up to £125 million fund will cover the whole of England and will help to support the UK supply chain, encourage new suppliers to invest in the UK and support economic growth."