Leeds Manufacturing Blog » Engineering Employers Federation

Reasons to be cheerful

Duncan Greenwood — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:40:05 +0000

A new report from the Engineering Employers Federation claims manufacturing firms are enjoying buoyant trading conditions amid rising demand from overseas customers.

The EEF forecasts manufacturing growth of 3.7% this year and 3.2% in 2011, driven by the strength of overseas markets.

Carbon and People Key to Future of Manufacturing

Guest Blogger — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:02:18 +0000

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, and manufacturers in particular, to respond to the environmental agenda.

Finding the right people will also be crucial to long term sustainability of manufacturing. This was reflected in discussion round our table, with many manufacturers now ‘importing’ skills form other parts of the UK but recognising that, ultimately, the ageing workforce profile of the sector makes it essential to open up manufacturing to a new generation.

It’s a problem across the sector as shown by the launch today of the ‘Work Wise’ initiative, which aims to encourage and support young people to take up careers in manufacturing and engineering. The initiative has been backed by 50 South Yorkshire employers who are accutely aware of the need to renew the skills base within industry instead of companies feeding off one another’s skills base.

Given that there nearly twice as many people employed in manufacturing in West Yorkshire than there are in South Yorkshire, the need for an initiative in this kind is even more pressing. Something for the Leeds city region Employment & Skills Board and organisations like the EEF to consider?

Leeds Chamber members survey shows strong growth

David Baggaley — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:31:23 +0000

Results of the latest survey of members of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber shows a stong growth in export sales and orders amongst manufacturers and an increase in the number of businesses recruiting. Key findings show:

Manufacturers reported 33% growth in export sales and 11% growth in export orders, the largest reported improvements in over two years
Matched by a 27% increase in sales in the domestic market (the third consecutive quarter of improvement) and a 8% increase in orders (second consecutive quarter of improvement)
43% report an increase in profit expectation, most positive figure in over two and a half years
44% have increased their workforce and 20% are recruiting

The findings are consistent with the results of the CBI’s latest quarterly Industrial Trends Survey which shows an export-led rise in manufacturing production for the first time in two years: 31% said output rose during the last quarter of 2009, the first time since January 2008, boosted by relative weakness in Sterling and improving global demand.

Engineering Employer’s Federation has also forecast export-led growth of up to 3.4% in manufacturing during 2011, although performance will be uneven across individual sectors. Mechanical equipment, metal products and metals will see strong quarter on quarter growth throughout the year, while transport and automotive will see fall in output as scrappage schemes run out and as a result of cuts in public spending