Govt to boost supply chain for manufacturing firms

Small businesses in the UK's manufacturing industry are likely to see a supply chain boost in the coming months after the government announced plans to invest money into it.

Ministers will be notifying successful bidders from the first round of Westminster's Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, a scheme that will see £80 million invested into 11 different procurement projects.

This, the government believes, will help create or safeguard more than 2,000 jobs in the coming years as firms in the chemical and automotive sectors benefit from improvements.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "Over half the UK's exports and almost three quarters of our business research and development activity is in manufacturing, so it's vital that we create the right conditions to encourage growth in the industry."

It comes after the government announced that it will be cutting red tape for street stall traders in the coming months to help make it easier for people to do their jobs.

Posted by Thomas Fletcher

Date published 27 Nov 2012 | Last updated 27 Nov 2012