Supply chain receives £100m boost – Engineering Capacity

Companies can now bid for a share of the £100m, which will provide research and development support, skills training and investment capital and encourage major new suppliers to ‘re-shore’ in the UK.

“A strong manufacturing sector is vital to a balanced economic recovery, and I want to ensure that Britain’s supply chains are up to the task of supporting the sector in the long term,” said Business Secretary, Vince Cable.

The funding comes from the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI), which has previously secured almost half a billion pounds of public-private investment for 44 projects in the UK.

Previous recipients of AMSCI funding have included technology for increase the scale of 3D printing of metals, and re-shoring the manufacture of cats’ eyes from overseas to the UK.

It has also included the creation of a National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme led by the Aerospace Growth Partnership to address skills shortages and improve R&D collaboration in the aerospace sector. The £35m project aims to create nearly 5,000 jobs in the supply chain.

Terry Scuoler, chief executive, EEF, added: “This is another welcome boost for British manufacturing, which will have a positive impact on the wider economy. Our own research shows that in the last three years, 1 in 6 companies have re-shored production back to the UK with many turning to a UK-based supply chain for parts and components. High value manufacturing creates jobs and wealth here so I’m delighted to see the government getting behind it.”