Highest monthly turnover at FC Laser

Precision laser-cutting specialist FC Laser saw its customer activity grow by 20% last month, which led to the company achieving its highest ever monthly turnover. Moreover, in the past 12 months, FC Laser has experienced growth of 30%, so this recent level of activity represents a significant development for the business. FC Laser’s managing director Danny Fantom says: “Everyone in the company is always thinking about customer service and how we can improve it; and then improve it again. On top of this, employing a full-time person in a business and service development role has paid real dividends and underlined to our customers just how seriously we take their level
of satisfaction.”
For further information www.fclaser.co.uk

MGP hits ‘1000’ support milestone

More than 1000 SMEs have been given a business boost over the past 10 months thanks to a new £9.7m business support initiative. The Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by Economic Growth Solutions (EGS), has helped companies across the UK to grow, develop new products and overcome production issues that were previously holding them back.
This has already led to 400 new jobs, with an additional 359 positions expected to be created once ongoing projects are completed. At the end of July, £1.6m of grant contributions had been made, with money in place to support another 2200 firms between now and March 2019. The MGP offers an 18-strong network of experienced manufacturing growth managers, access to industry specialists and the opportunity to apply for an average grant of £1400, rising to a maximum £3500. Support can be used for leadership and management, R&D, lean manufacturing, productivity and capacity, quality systems or supply chain development.
For further information
www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk

Sales on the up at XYZ


XYZ Machine Tools has seen significant growth in machine tool orders in the second quarter of its financial year, with the period from 1 May to 31 July registering a 42% increase in sales compared with 2016. This growth is being driven both by UK customers and an increase in business from mainland Europe, where sales have climbed by 12% over the same period.
In comparing year-on-year figures, Brexit has to be taken into consideration as the devaluation of the pound since the referendum has impacted on the cost of importing machine tools. The counter to that is the positive effect of the exchange rate for those exporting machined components, with the latter seemingly offsetting the former for XYZ Machine Tools. “There was inevitably some uncertainty following the referendum and our costs increased
as a result. However, the level of business we are now seeing indicates a much higher level of optimism in the market as a whole and, we along with our customers, are certainly in more positive spirits than we were back then,” says managing director Nigel Atherton.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

MGP hits ‘1000’ support milestone

More than 1000 SMEs have been given a business boost over the past 10 months thanks to a new £9.7m business support initiative. The Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by Economic Growth Solutions (EGS), has helped companies across the UK to grow, develop new products and overcome production issues that were previously holding them back.

This has already led to 400 new jobs, with an additional 359 positions expected to be created once ongoing projects are completed. At the end of July, £1.6m of grant contributions had been made, with money in place to support another 2200 firms between now and March 2019. The MGP offers an 18-strong network of experienced manufacturing growth managers (MGM), access to industry specialists and the opportunity to apply for an average grant of £1400, rising to a maximum £3500. Support can be used for leadership and management, R&D, lean manufacturing, productivity and capacity, quality systems or supply chain development.
For further information www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk

Waste service introduced

A waste management service that aims to get more manufacturing businesses to recognise the cost and environmental benefits of baling and compacting waste is being launched. Wastesaving Audit is being introduced by PHS Wastekit, and includes a free site survey to review businesses’ current waste management practices, a bespoke consultation to advise on where cost savings can be made and a free trial of a baler or compactor machine, plus training on how to use it. “Balers and compactors will – without exception – save businesses up to 90% of their waste disposal costs,” says managing director Joe Roberts.
For further information www.phswastekit.co.uk