Manufacturers upbeat as big week begins
Mar 1 2010 by Peter McCusker, The Journal
Ian Williams, One North East director of business and industry, said: “This survey reflects the feeling of growing business optimism across the North East economy as we move forward out of recession and into new growth.
“A confident and vibrant manufacturing base is crucially important to the North East economy – employing nearly 150,000 people with the major contribution that this makes to the regional economy.”
The report says that over the past three months a balance of 9% of companies across manufacturing reported rising output.
Positive responses on new export orders confirm that the recovery in world trade is supporting some output growth. More companies are now expecting output and orders to expand than at any time since mid-2007.
Manufacturing Week, which starts today, is aimed at debunking the myth that the UK has lost its manufacturing base and highlighting the success of the country’s manufacturers in the face of the recession.
It will also promote EEF’s manifesto, which calls on the Government to make it easier for companies to access funds for research and development of new products.
It says that 75% of business R&D in the UK is carried out by manufacturers, worth almost £12bn and it has called on the Government, which buys £175bn of goods and services a year, to make the procurement process more efficient to the demands of industry.
Details of the week and campaign can be found by visiting www.lovemanufacturing.co.uk.
