Manufacturers in the south west appear to be increasingly confident about the future, according to the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the South West (MAS-SW).
The latest Manufacturing Barometer Survey reports that 63% of manufacturing businesses indicated increased sales turnover in the last six months, with 60% forecasting further increases.
Despite the national picture suggesting uncertainty in employment rates, south west manufacturers report that more than 50% expect staffing levels to remain the same whilst 43% expect to take on more staff – a 10% increase compared to the previous quarter. Less than 6% expect to decrease staff levels, which is welcome news for the area.
Simon Howes, MD of MAS-SW, said: “The survey results highlight clearly that there is a strong focus on growth within the manufacturing sector in the region. 54% of firms report a rise in enquiries, whilst turnover is expected to rise or stay the same for 90% of those who responded to our survey. This is great news for the manufacturing industry and the south west economy as a whole.”
