As we return to work after the New Year Break, the UK Manufacturing Sector has a much to be optimistic about.
Sector Data suggests that Factory output grew at its fastest pace during December and has indeed seen its biggest increase since the Summer of 2011, The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index increased 51.4, a 15 month High.
On the High Street retailors are keen to rush out strong Christmas Trading figures with the Clothing Chain Next reporting a 4% increase on the same time in 2011 and 11% for online sales.
Locally the Manufacturing Regions are also holding well, the West Midlands is without doubt Championing UK Manufacturing with much inward investment in our Manufacturing Heritage, indeed during a visit to the Region this week Lord Heseltine announced The Region has a chance to pilot proposals to take on devolved powers and also have access to potentially £1 billion worth of funds and extra powers from Whitehall
The region now has three months to draw up a business plan to secure funding and increased decision making ability which would be administered by Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Andrew Essom, Sales Manager with Rical Multiforms, a Division of West Midlands based Rical Group of Companies confirms the Division has seen a dramatic increase in enquiries for manufactured product, Metal Pressings, Wire Forms etc, with a Four month Enquiry log running currently at c£5million with the rest of the Group returning strong Sales within not only the Traditional Workhorse of the West Midlands, Automotive Components, but also a returning tide of Non-Automotive Components including Electrical and Building-construction. Andrew continues at Rical Multiforms, this increase in activity is not only a real benefit to the very hungry automated manufacturing process that enables us to produce high volume components very competitively within the UK, it also increases the need to draw off the Local Talent within the area by increasing our need for skilled Costing and Project managers.
Without doubt if the UK Economy is reporting strengthened activity at Grass Roots level then it is Vital that we all Support what looks like a Second industrial Revolution for the UK?