Leeds Manufacturing Blog

Deloitte launches global manufacturing competitiveness index

Posted by guest blogger, David Raistrick, UK manufacturing industry leader for Deloitte, based in Leeds

Our global manufacturing competitiveness index reveals that the UK, US, Japan and Western European countries are expected to become less competitive over the next five years, as China, India and Korea maintain their leading positions. The UK is currently ranked 17 on Deloitte’s global competitiveness index and is expected to drop three positions to…

Yorkshire Resilient Nature Paying Off

Blog from Jason Whitworth, partner and manufacturing expert based at BDO in Leeds

There’s no denying the region’s manufacturing businesses have had a tough time, but we are starting to see Yorkshire’s resilient nature pay off, as more companies report signs of improving demand and are looking to the future with greater confidence about prospects for recovery.

We have seen a larger than expected improvement in output and…

Carbon and People Key to Future of Manufacturing

Two words – ‘carbon’ and ‘people’ sum up the biggest challenges facing manufacturing, according to CEO and chaiman of GSM Group Barry Dodd. Speaking this week at a manufacturing lunch organised by Leeds Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by law firm Irwin Mitchell, he argued that rising fuel costs in energy and logistics combined with new ‘carbon taxes’ will make it critical for business,…

Call for ‘Minister of Manufacturing’ as Output Rises

UK Manufacturing recorded its strongest growth for 23 years in March, according to the National Institute for Economic and Social Research. Manufacturing output grew by 2.3% in March – the sharpest rise since 1987 – strengthening growth within the wider economy and suggesting that the recovery is more secure than previously thought.

The rise in output has been driven by a…

Manufacturing Risk From Abroad

Former Trade Minister Lord Jones has sounded alarm bells ringing with his concerns about the number of foreign-sourced components being used in UK manufacturing and a warning that government should make the future of manufacturing sector a main priority.

According to Lord Jones, action is urgently required to ensure continued investment and maintain skills levels if the sector is to be sustainable in the long term. He argues that all…

Harvard goes Continental

Innovative Leeds-based lighting specialist Harvard Engineering has launched a new facility in St Georges-les-Baillargeaux, France to spearhead the company’s growth across Europe. Harvard has identified a rapidly developing LED market across the Continent, where it plans to distribute its CooLED and LeafNut products and the company’s business development director Peter McDonnell, will be responsible for the new French facility

Learn to organise, organise to learn

Jeff Gold, Professor of Organisation Learning, Leeds Metropolitan University and Fellow of the Northern Leadership Academy talks about the need for learning and change in business and the challenges this presents for SMEs.

Challenges Ahead for Manufacturing

Posted by guest blogger, David Raistrick, UK manufacturing industry leader for Deloitte, based in Leeds

Now For the Real Oscars

Following the froth and gush of the Oscars, Leeds manufacturing companies continue to distinguish themselves with more meaningful awards.

Harvard Engineering pulled off a hat-trick in the Yorkshire Forward Innovator/10 Awards, including the Sustainable Innovation prize for its ground-breaking LeafNut system for street lights.

And ATB Morley has reached the finals in the Best Exporter category of the Going Global Awards hosted by Yorkshire Forward…

Eureka

Good to see a well-earned and extended piece on a regional television news programme for fast-moving Leeds healthcare star Surgical Innovations (BBC Look North Leeds Sunday February 14). Having invested a further £1m in new product development, the company’s unique instruments for non-invasive surgery continue to lead the market at home and abroad and even had a Government Minister trialling them on camera.