London and South East Manufacturers Report Record High for Jobs, Growth and Investment
16/06/2014 Manufacturing Advisory Service North West (MAS)
Recruitment confidence amongst London and SE manufactures hits a three-year high according to the latest (January-March) Barometer Survey by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). The regular quarterly survey is the largest of its kind, sharing the views of over 800 small to medium (SME) manufacturers across England.In the South East and London region, more than half of business surveyed (55%) are looking to create new jobs, marking a 17% increase on the same period last year. This is the highest level of confidence in staff recruitment seen in the history of the report.
These encouraging figures are reinforced by growth in sales in the region - 66% of firms reported an increase in the previous six months and 79% expect to win more work between now and October - a 19% and 18% rise respectively from March 2013.
Responses also reveal a record appetite for investment in new plant and machinery (59%) and in developing new technologies (51%).
Chris Needham, Operations Manager for MAS in the South East and London, is delighted with the positive messages coming out of the Barometer. He said, "It's fantastic to see confidence continuing to build in the region. Across a multitude of sectors, the businesses that MAS helps all recognise the need to build for the future - and the rise in sales and employment reflects that trend. This survey is a great indicator of the many success stories within our manufacturing economy."
We spoke to just some of the regional manufacturers who reported positive business activity:
Chris Poland, Operations Director at Acro Aircraft Seating in Redhill, Surrey says: "We are urgently in need of engineers and are actively recruiting - there are not enough available. We expect to double our production output over the next nine months."
Joe Bowes, Managing Director of Plastic Parts Direct, specialists in plastic injection moulding in Banbury, Oxon said: "By investing in up- to-date technology and equipment we are looking to increase our turnover by 10% this year."
David Bradley, Managing Director of David Bradley Engineering in Brockenhurst, Hampshire wrote: "We have seen a marked increase in business over the last 12 months. The last six months has exceeded all expectations."
Harold Butterworth, Managing Director of Agritron in Oxon said "We are currently running at about three times the rate of this time last year."
Alastair Jessel, Managing Director of Taywell Ice Creams in Tonbridge, Kent says: "Our turnover is up 25% already this year before summer has even arrived but, without our recent investment in new equipment, we would never have managed to keep up with orders and open new export markets in The Far East and Middle East."
Steven Barr, Head of MAS, commented: ""This is the clearest signal yet that our manufacturers believe the upturn is sustainable. Three record figures for recruitment and investment in machinery and technology suggest many small manufacturers are planning for the long-term and, encouragingly, they are taking action now to manage future expansion."
MAS Advisors can help with this by preparing the right strategies for growth, covering the customers, products, equipment, people, resources and finances necessary for sustainable growth."
TO RECEIVE YOUR COPY OF THE FULL REPORT EMAIL barometer@mymas.org
For more information, please visit: www.mymas.org
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