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Regional Development Agencies welcome Advanced Manufacturing package

28/07/2009

England's Regional Development Agencies have welcomed the government's support for Advanced Manufacturing announced today by Lord Mandelson.

Advanced Manufacturing is a term used to describe innovative high value-adding manufacturing activity. These businesses make complex and high specification products; use sophisticated processes; and offer associated services. Their success depends on a high level of design or scientific skills and is underpinned by key enabling technologies, including ICT. They develop and exploit new materials, new designs and new processes to gain global advantage over their competitors. Examples can be found in many sectors, from aerospace to industrial biotechnology.

The Advanced Manufacturing package announced today will see over £150 million being made available to help ensure that these businesses in the UK survive, thrive and expand - creating jobs and wealth, meeting societal needs, such as health, and addressing challenges, such as the need for environmental protection.

Many of the initiatives announced today, such as the further £4m expansion of the Manufacturing Advisory Service, are supported and complemented by the investments made by England's Regional Development Agencies. The new government support package ranges from meeting the needs of advanced manufacturing businesses for access to finance, facilities and advice, to specific sectoral needs for investments in skills and key technologies.

Commenting on the Advanced Manufacturing publication, Dr Bryan Jackson, Chairman of East Midlands Development Agency (emda), which leads on Manufacturing on behalf of all Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), said: "England's RDAs are champions of business, led by business. We have been lauded for our success in providing business support by bodies such as the National Audit Office and EEF - the manufacturer's organisation. Peter Mandelson has therefore asked us to take a leading role in industrial activism that will secure the survival and long term competitiveness of our businesses in key markets including advanced manufacturing.

"We are proud of our track record, and the strong and enduring partnership with central Government that has already helped realise the success of global initiatives such as The Manufacturing Advisory Service, as well as region-specific investments that deal with localised needs and priorities. We welcome Government's plans for investment in advanced manufacturing and everything this will do to help us ensure the ongoing success of this sector for the English regions."

Speaking on behalf of England's regional development agencies, Richard Ellis, chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), said:

"This new support will provide a further stimulus for the growth and emergence of a new manufacturing economic base. Advanced manufacturing, along with sectors such as low-carbon manufacturing, digital communications and aerospace, has the potential to drive UK Plc out of the downturn and towards a new, sustainable period of economic invention, prosperity and wealth.

"We are delighted that Lord Mandelson, by visiting this region, acknowledges the vital contribution the East of England makes to this agenda. Visual Planet is one of hundreds of advanced manufacturing firms prospering in this region and we are delighted to have been able to support them through the Manufacturing Advisory Service."

The Advanced Manufacturing document builds on the Government's Manufacturing Strategy and the New Industry New Jobs strategy of 2009, where the Government set out its framework to support the development of new industries and new jobs in Britain, as well as setting out the activities that are taking place to unlock the enormous potential that advanced manufacturing provides for the country.

For more information about support available for Advanced Manufacturing, visit http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/advancedmanufacturing/

ENDS

For further information please contact Nick King Media and PR Manager on 0115 988 8375; email: nickking@emd.org.uk

About the RDAs

• The RDAs are business led organisations set up by Government in 1998 to promote sustainable economic development in England. They work with key public and private sector regional partners to increase the economic performance of the regions and reduce social and economic disparities within and between regions.

• The RDAs take it in turns to manage the collective work of the RDA network for a six month period. From 1 April EEDA took over as Chair of Chairs for the RDA national network. This means that EEDA represents the network to Government and other stakeholders on a wide range of issues. The role of Chair of Chairs rotates around the RDA network each six months and EEDA's tenure ends on the 1 October 2009.

• For more information on England's Regional Development Agencies please go to www.englandsrdas.com