Made for Manufacturing programme offers SMEs the chance to kickstart 2021
Manufacturers in Greater Manchester are being invited to start 2021 with a fully-funded programme aimed at enhancing manufacturing excellence and enabling growth.
Made for Manufacturing will empower leaders from small, medium and large businesses across the city region to improve their quality of service and product, ensure better lead times, and reduce their overall business costs.
Run by GC Business Growth Hub, the second Made for Manufacturing programme launches in January, with applications open now to manufacturers who are focused on improving efficiencies and growing their workforce.
The group-based course will take place over a 10-week period. It offers tailored advice and support from expert speakers, peer-to-peer learning, plus one-to-one support from an expert manufacturing advisor based within the Hub, part of the Growth Company.
What sets Made for Manufacturing apart from more time-intensive courses is that it is delivered in short dynamic online sprints; this enables leaders to identify opportunities and put them into practice quickly without halting business momentum.
Its combination of virtual tours looking at good industry practice, workshops and engaging practical activities enables manufacturing leaders to hold a mirror to their company – and commit to actions that will lead to continuous improvements.
Andy Mosley, print manager at Manchester Manufacturing Group Ltd, one of the businesses in the first programme, said: “We hope the course will help us to benchmark our current procedures against industry best practice – identifying processes that fall short, then using the techniques learned to implement and make the necessary changes.
“We’re looking at finding brand new ideas to take away to further improve ‘right-first-time, on-time delivery’, product quality, waste management and environmental impact, whilst also helping us to strengthen communication within the company.”
Programme manager and manufacturing advisor, Nick Brandwood, said: “One of the major benefits of Made for Manufacturing is that it enables manufacturers to build a support network with other high calibre business leaders on the course.
“Having the support of alumni who share the same passion will be most valuable as these businesses look to the future, after a turbulent year for the industry.
“Anyone interested in taking part should get in touch soon because we have just 10 places that will go quickly. There’s no better way to start 2021 than by showing you your business really is Made for Manufacturing.”
Over the past five years, GC Business Growth Hub’s manufacturing team has worked with 600 manufacturing companies, delivering a £20m-plus increase in sales and supporting the creation of more than 300 jobs.
Made for Manufacturing sessions are designed to share ideas, offer support, and pinpoint practical actions as a prelude for manufactures to return to the shop floor, engage with their teams and deliver long-lasting improvements.
The 10-week programme begins w/c 11 January and ends in May. Businesses have until 27 November to apply at businessgrowthhub.com/madeformanufacturing.
