SMEs seeking to grow or break into the UK’s supply chain in the transport engineering sector have the support of a new unique organisation, Enscite, dedicated to improving their performance and maximising business opportunities.
Enscite is a collaboration involving four partners – Derby City Council, The University of Derby, Aston University and Cranfield University.
It is focused on forging close working relationships across the aerospace, automotive and rail supply chains – from OEMs through to SMEs – in order to support the growth in re-shoring and to support SMEs seeking to innovate and grow new commercial opportunities.
Enscite has its official launch at Derby’s Roundhouse in April 2014.
The organisation will be the flagship tenant in the Innovation Centre at Derby’s Infinity Park once complete in 2015.
“Enscite’s main aim is to help manufacturing businesses to grow and thrive,” explains Enscite MD Colin McKinnon. “It offers a range of support services to SMEs, including access to a £1m Technology Fund to help firms invest in new cutting edge equipment, and is committed to becoming the UK’s leading national centre for supply chain innovation in the transport engineering sector.
“Enscite exists to work collaboratively with all elements of the engineering supply chain,” adds Colin, “to assist SMEs navigate through and understand it, so they can identify and overcome their own company-specific barriers to growth, maximise the chances and opportunities within the supply chain, and ultimately improve revenue and profit.”
Enscite Chairman Professor John Coyne, adds: “Now is the right time for an organisation dedicated to the engineering supply chain. The sector is set for sustained growth and an increasing number of UK companies are looking to re-shore production in the UK, creating jobs whilst cutting production costs.
“Enscite, its partners, knowledge, business improvement programmes and connections with the sector’s OEMs, bridges the gap for SMEs and the major manufacturers.”
