Leeds Manufacturing Blog

Yorkshire and Humber poised to become ‘renewables super cluster’

“The pressure to source renewable energy has never been greater”, said Industrial Trends Survey from the CBI.

Of 470 manufacturers surveyed, 22% described total orders as above normal, and 31% said they were below. The CBI says the resulting balance of -9% indicates order book levels slipped back in September, though this measure remains…

Manufacturers face volatile material prices

Raw material costs and shortages are driving manufacturers to make ‘radical’ changes to how they work, according to a survey released by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and RBS.

The survey shows that almost half of companies have redesigned products or processes in response to rising materials prices and 40% admitted to substituting some inputs with cheaper alternatives. Nearly two-thirds of companies have sought different sourcing options with just over 4…

British manufacturing: all fired up but underfinanced?

Do you think the government is doing enough to support UK manufacturing? Find out what business secretary Vince Cable and shadow secretary John Denhma have to say on the subject in the new Financial Times video Firing up British manufacturing. As the government attempts to rebalance the UK economy towards manufacturing, debate arounf industrial policy has moved high up the political agenda. But will regional growth programmes and…

Symington’s mops up with sauce brands

Symington’s, the Leeds-based food business, has added to its portfolio of leading names by acquiring the Chicken Tonight and Ragu brands.

The purchase of the two names from Unilever by the Leeds-based business is expected to boost its annual gross sales to around £150m.

It follows the recent acquisition of salad crouton brand La Rochelle and the re-introduction of the Campbell’s soup brand to British supermarket shelves by Symington’s.

Other…

Manufacturing outperforming service sector in export markets

The latest Leeds York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce quarterly economic survey shows that overseas markets continue to present opportunities for exporters and that manufacturers are outperforming their service sector counterparts by some distance.

More than half of exporting-manufacturers are experiencing an increase in overseas sales and orders, according to the survey, and the majority of the sector’s growth is coming from international trade. Service sector exporters reported…

Aire Valley Leeds earmarked for enterprise zone

Leeds City Region local enterprise partnership (LEP) has chosen the Aire Valley Leeds as its preferred location for an enterprise zone.

Enterprise zones are a Government initiative to encourage private sector growth by allowing LEPs to choose areas that can enjoy benefits such as reduced business rates and simplified planning rules.

It said that after a detailed analysis of each proposal the Aire Valley Leeds was identified as…

Manufacturing drives UK economic growth

Britain’s manufacturers are continuing to drive UK economic growth on the back of export-led demand, with manufacturers optimistic about growth prospects in the short term, according to the second quarter 2011 Manufacturing Outlook survey published today by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and BDO LLP.

The survey shows output and orders balances turned out as strong as expected in the last quarter, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of growth. And…

Power generation industry making major investments

Chinese manufacturer Power Link Machine Co has unveiled its new European HQ in Yorkshire, creating at least 15 new jobs.

The fast growing international company is aiming for its UK operation, based at Sherburn Enterprise Park near Leeds, to grow to a turnover of £10m within two years.

From its Yorkshire base Power Link is looking to establish itself as a European leader in the manufacture and distribution of diesel power…