32 manufacturing roundtable
There have been mixed reports, both promising and disappointing, of UK manufacturing performance in recent months. So, The Business Magazine and Southern Manufacturing 100 listing sponsors, NatWest, lawyers Shoosmiths, accountancy firm MHA MacIntyre Hudson, global insurance broker JLT and IT service provider Taylor Made Computer Solutions invited well-informed sector representatives to the Ageas Bowl to discuss the current Solent region manufacturing story
Understanding the mixed messages of modern manufacturing
Participants
Kate Arnott: Partner, accountants MHA MacIntyre Hudson
Nigel Campkin: MD, Thomas Sanderson window stylings, blinds and shutters
Antony White: Relationship director, NatWest
Gemma Langley: Head of manufacturing, recruitment consultancy ARM
Michael Sachpekidis: Business development manager, Moog Controls UK
Graham Steele: MD, badge branding specialist Diametric
Tim Walker: MD, Taylor Made Computer Solutions Sean Wright: Partner, law firm Shoosmiths
Lined up to debate: the Roundtable team
How is the local manufacturing sector currently faring?
It’s doing okay answered Tim Walker: “If you are inclined to believe the recently published GDP statistics then manufacturing is not actually doing that well, but that’s not at all the experience we have within our clientbase across the defence, consumer goods, pharma, and oil and gas sectors.
“Where there are issues in certain specific sectors, people are diversifying by introducing new products or moving into different markets to serve new customers.“
Business THE M A GA ZINE
www.businessmag.co.uk TM
Kate Arnott: “We are definitely seeing more inward investment. Recent statistics have shown a slight dip but there’s still a lot of opportunity out there. Our recent survey (MHA Manufacturing and Engineering Report 2015 –
www.mha-uk.co.uk) showed more than 75% of businesses are predicting expansion in the coming year. The southern region is actually bucking the national average (40%) with over half saying they will grow by more than 10%. So, as a region we have definitely got something to be optimistic about.“
Tim Walker
Adrian Price, partner at Menzies, confirmed growing inward investment, notably from America, India and China and particularly German businesses. “We have very good facilities in the south – excellent universities, infrastructure, and Solent LEP, Manufacturing Advisory Service, Business South championing us. Aerospace and marine are particularly strong in southern Hampshire with some spin-off businesses such as those in composite materials, drones and robotics actually doing very well.“
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – DECEMBER 15/JANUARY 16
John Burbedge: chaired the discussion and reports the Roundtable highlights
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