One of the Midlands’ leading manufacturing advisers has called for the Government to reconsider its decision to close down the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), calling it a “valuable resource”.
Johnathan Dudley, Midlands managing partner of national audit, tax and advisory firm Crowe Clark Whitehill, who is also national head of manufacturing, said the announcement to abolish the Business Growth Service (BGS), which was not “openly” part of the Autumn Statement, came as a shock to many.
The news came with a short statement on the BGS website which said the BGS was closed to new applicants from November 30, 2015, but all existing commitments would be honoured as long as they were completed by March 31, 2016.
Mr Dudley said: “If the intention is to remove elements of the Business Growth Service that are well served elsewhere, or that have run their course, then I can understand but the accessibility to manufacturers of key advisory expertise on subjects like factory efficiency, process control and improvement and just-in-time techniques were unique to MAS and more critically, manufacturers valued and trusted that advice.
“To close the Manufacturing Advisory Service, along with the rest of the BGS, is to throw the baby out with the bath water.”
According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) the decision to close the Business Growth Service will save the government £84 million. DBIS is investing £12 million per year into 39 local growth hubs that are led by local enterprise partnerships.
Mr Dudley said: “We do not want to lose the experience and ‘trusted adviser’ status of key MAS people like Rachel Eade MBE who was awarded her honour only last year for her invaluable work as the automotive sector lead for MAS.
“We need to ensure that we retain the extensive experience and deep insight of Rachel and her colleagues in some form or other.
“It would be a tragedy for the West Midlands to lose not only this kind of resource but also this depth of knowledge of the automotive and other sectors, and I hope that MAS will be reborn in some form or other that is recognisable, viable and that we can all get behind and support,” he said.
“Rachel’s role is not just Midlands-wide, she has operated under a national brief and has won the respect of both multi-national and local manufacturers alike,” he said.
And with the latest Engineering Employers’ Federation report citing “gathering gloom” for manufacturing because of a slowdown in the global economy, he added that this was not the time to be cutting support for UK manufacturing.
Crowe Clark Whitehill hosts the Manufacturing Business Network where some of the region’s leading business owners air their views and discuss growth and support opportunities.