PMG e-Newsletter for January 2015

PMG e-Newsletter Edition #61 - January 2015

Summary of Contents

Page

PMG Meeting Dates 2015 2

I News

Your career, your lifestyle, your future! 2 PMG’s Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair 2015 - All day on Sat 7th March 2015 – At Plymouth Guildhall 2 Government must commit to more research and development 3 Plymouth’s manufacturing sector – new figures released by the Office of National Statistics show its continued importance to the local economy

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£2 billion roads investment for the south west of England 4 The Business Growth Service 4 New Early Morning Train Service to Plymouth 4 Ground work is to get underway to expand Langage Science Park 5 South Yard outline planning application now submitted 5 Manufacturing Output Increases 5 Other News in Brief 6 Awards open for entry

II PMG Members’ News

Princess Yachts at the 2015 London Boat Show 6 Open for Business - Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery – Various dates 6 HellermannTyton increases footprint at Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park 7 Other News in Brief 7 Members’ videos and newsletters 7 New Members this month 7

III Business to Business including grants & funding

Engineering Skills Fund Opens for SMEs – up to 50% funding 7 Opportunity to Advertise in easyJet inflight business magazine 8 Bringing the Cloud to the South West 8 Unlocking Business Investment 8 Green travel grants for businesses 9 ATN Group are a CIPS and IoSCM Approved Training Company 9 Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) 9 Expert Support with Social Media 9 £7.5m R&D funding opportunity opening for registration (12 Jan 2015) 10 £2m funding open for registration 10 Invest in the Heart of the South West Investor Growth package 10 Other business contacts received this month 10 Company Profiles of Potential Overseas Partners & TSB Funding Competitions 10

IV Talent Retention & Recruitment 11

Experienced & overseas candidates looking for recruitment 11 Students looking for work or work placements 11 Vacancies 11

V Events, Training Courses & Other Information

SWW Focus Group for Facilities / Estate management personnel - January 8th 2015 08:45-10:45am 11 Plymouth International Trade Club on Tuesday 20th January 17:30 - 20:00 Plymouth Science Park 11 Ecommerce: Selling Online Internationally - Future Inn, Plymouth International Business Park, 1 William Prance Rd – Plymouth 22nd Jan 2015 9:00 am - 1:30 pm

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Lean Games Day with John Bicheno - 22nd January 2015 - Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa, Oxfordshire Buckingham Lean Enterprise Unit (BLEU) Cost - £380 per delegate or £290 network rate

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‘Unlocking Big Data - Investing in Human Capital’ 08:45 to 16:00 28th January 2015 at Met Office Exeter 12 Women in STEM Plymouth event – 4:30pm Wed 28th January 2015 City College Plymouth 12 Insider Breakfast meeting - Business Growth Plymouth – 29th January 12 ‘Finance in the South West’ 08:00 to 14:00 25th Feb 2015 at Exeter Racecourse, Kennford, Exeter, Devon, EX6 7XS 13 Shingo Master Class – March to June 2015 (various dates) 13 Other Courses/Events 13

VI Requests for Assistance & Corporate Social Responsibility Matters 14

CSR Related newsletters 14

VII Consultations, Reviews, Surveys & Calls for Evidence 14

Other surveys

VIII Economic News; Newsletters, Briefings & Articles 15

Other sites of interest to manufacturers 16

Credits & Disclaimer 17

PMG e-Newsletter – January 2015

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PMG Meeting Dates 2015 PMG Full Members’ Meetings (for firms with 100 employees plus)

07:30am 16th

Jan AGM (Fri) Future Inn

6:00pm 12th

March (Thurs) TBA

07:30am 15th

May (Fri) Future Inn

07:30am 17th

July (Fri) TBA

6:00pm 17th

Sept (Thurs) TBA

7:30am 12th

Nov (Thurs) Future Inn

PMG Network Members’ Meetings (for firms with 10-99 employees)

5:00pm 3rd

Feb TBA

12:30am 22nd

Apr TBA 7:30am 30

th June TBA

5:00pm 30th

Sept TBA 12:30am 12

th Nov (Thurs) Future Inn

Health & Safety sub-group

1:30pm 19th

March TBA

1:30pm 18th

June TBA 1:30pm 10

th Sept TBA

1:30pm 26th

Nov TBA

Skills & Recruitment sub-group

3:00pm 4th

Feb TBA

All day 7th

March Apprenticeship Fair Plymouth Guildhall

3:00pm 4th

June TBA 3:00pm 24

th Sept TBA

3:00pm 2nd

Dec TBA

Finance & Compliance sub-group

3:00pm 11th

Mar TBA

8:00am 14th

July TBA 3:00pm 21

st Oct TBA

Resource Efficiency sub-group

3:00pm 25th

Feb TBA 3:00pm 23

rd June TBA

3:00pm 15th

Oct TBA 3:00pm 15

th Dec TBA

Continuous Improvement sub-group

2:00pm 11th

March TBA

2:00pm 10th

June TBA 2:00pm 9

th Sept TBA

2:00pm 11th

Nov TBA

NB: Venues for individual meetings will be notified to you through the Chair or Secretary of each group.

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‘Growth in manufacturing output for the domestic market had eased, due in part to slowing demand for intermediate products in export supply chains. Contacts had reported a slowdown in a number of subsectors since the summer, including automotive components, plastics, printing and chemicals, with some contacts suggesting that a period of UK restocking was coming to an end. The immediate outlook was uncertain and many small and medium-sized companies reported poorer-than-usual visibility on future orders’. More - here – Bank of England Agents' Summary of Business Conditions December 2014

I News Your career, your lifestyle, your future! 1. The PMG’s latest publication is now available. It’s

aimed at individuals that member firms may be seeking to recruit who will have to relocate to the Region for the first time and are perhaps wondering whether to make the move or not. It’s a promotional booklet designed to help sell not only our enviable quality of life but importantly the undoubted strength of our sector. It features a series of re-location case studies from across the membership – everyone from graduates to MD’s. Thank you to all who assisted with this project. All members at the time of printing are listed in the closing pages – cross-referenced to their individual websites. We have a limited number of hard copies which we will be sharing primarily with the firms featured, but I will also be bringing spare copies to upcoming meetings early in the New Year if you should want one. Meanwhile, to see a copy please visit the PMG website here Finally, can I give a plug to our creative designer and brand manager for this project, Mr Andy Staples who has done a cracking job and has helped to underwrite some of the cost. http://www.macgregorstaples.com/ I would thoroughly recommend him to you.

PMG’s Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair 2015 - All day on Sat 7th March 2015 – At Plymouth Guildhall 2. Next March, at the beginning of national apprenticeship week, the PMG

is planning to host its own exclusive recruitment fair at Plymouth Guildhall. Within days of announcing our plans the following member firms have already agreed to support the event: Aldermans; Babcock International Group; BD; Hymec Aerospace; MGB Engineering Ltd; Plessey; PTG Precision Engineers and Princess Yachts International plc. Footfall is guaranteed to be high! We intend using all means possible to promote the event. We are currently bidding for funds that would help pay for advertising on local radio; cinema and through the local press. We’ll also be using social media and our contacts to get the message out direct to schools and Colleges and their pupils. Do you want to be there? Aside from everything else, it’ll be a great way of promoting the area’s manufacturing sector and raising our corporate profiles to the parents and youngsters from within the City region. I hope that you’ll be able to join us. By the way, if you’re one of our smaller

members and you’re new to exhibiting we’ll aim to help you with the necessary kit etc. More - here

Government must commit to more research and development 3. The Government must commit to a 3 per cent target of GDP of research and development (R&D)

spending by 2020 to ensure the UK doesn’t lag behind international competitors, says the Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee in its Business-University Collaboration report published in December. The BIS Committee finds that more than 30 years of under-investment in R&D has left the UK trailing countries such as the USA, Germany and France in science and innovation spending, threatening the opportunities for economic growth offered by the research excellence of the UK’s world class university system. More – here Report - here

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Plymouth's Manufacturing Sector's GVA (£m)

Plymouth’s manufacturing sector – new figures released by the Office of National Statistics show its continued importance to the local economy 4. The total gross value added (or ‘GVA’) of

Plymouth’s manufacturing sector was published last month to reveal it was worth £759m in 2012. Figures for the previous year were updated at the same time, increasing output to £778m – see graph. This means that the surge seen in recent years has been maintained. Total GVA for the Plymouth economy in 2012 was worth just less than £5bn meaning that manufacturing accounts for 15.3% of the total. By the way, if you are wondering what the definition of GVA is: ‘it’s a measure of the value of the goods and services produced in an area or sector of the economy. It is primarily used to monitor the performance of the national (and regional) economy and is now the preferred method by many to measure the overall economic well-being of an area’. For a copy of the complete ONS dataset click - here

£2 billion roads investment for the south west of England 5. As part of a £15 billion package to triple levels of spending by the end of the decade to increase the

capacity and condition of England’s roads, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander announced that the SW is set to benefit from: a £2 billion transformation of the A303 into a new strategic corridor to the south west, this includes a new 1.8 mile dual-carriageway tunnel on the A303 under Stonehenge which will unite the landscape and environment around Stonehenge - it will also unlock the key pinch-point that has prevented the transformation of the A303 in the past, making it possible to upgrade the entire route to expressway standard. This is the largest of a total of 6 road-widening projects over the next 15 years, which will create an all-dual route from the M3 to the M5 at Taunton, with improvements around Sparkford and to the A358 link being the first to enter construction. Press release - here. Interactive map - here

The Business Growth Service 6. We are delighted to inform you that the government has today (5th Dec)

announced the launch of the Business Growth Service which consolidates GrowthAccelerator and the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) along with schemes from the Intellectual Property Office (IP Audits) and the Design Council (Design Mentoring) into a single service. The Business Growth Service will make it easier for businesses with the potential, capability and capacity to improve and grow to access expert advice and support. Businesses that require export support will be referred from the Business Growth Service to UK Trade & Invest and UK Export Finance. The service is also closely linked to InnovateUK and the British Business Bank. Grant Thornton UK LLP, which is currently responsible for GrowthAccelerator and MAS, will deliver the Business Growth Service with its sub-contractors. If you would like to discuss how we can work together in the future in more detail, please contact your local Business Growth Manager or the National Stakeholder Manager, Lisa Taylor (lisa.taylor@uk.gt.com, 0207 728 2514). Stephen Peacock, Director, Business Growth Service.

New Early Morning Train Service to Plymouth 7. The Leader of Plymouth City Council and figures from the business

community including the Secretary of the PMG, have welcomed a new direct, early morning train service into Plymouth. Arriving at 10:33, a full 40 minutes before the previous first direct service from London, the improved service has been a top aspiration of the City for a number of years. It supports the generation of economic growth through improved connectivity between major centres.

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Ground work is to get underway to expand Langage Science Park 8. Plymouth City Council has invested £2.6 million in expanding the science park

so that more high-end companies will be able to move in, creating around 80 new jobs. The Council is handing over the 2.5 acre site to the contractors Britcon, who were appointed in September to develop and build the site which will see two new blocks comprising nine different-sized units, ranging from 1,250 square feet to 20,000 square feet. The units will incorporate flexible office space (heated, carpeted, lit and ready for occupation) that can be easily extended to suit users specific requirements. The site will also have large service yard areas, dedicated parking, cycle shelters, waste recycling zones and electrically operated loading doors. The completed scheme will have energy saving features such as solar photo voltaic systems, efficient heating systems to the offices and increased levels of insulation, which when combined, should minimise carbon emissions and reduce running costs for occupiers. The scheme is due to be finished by summer 2015. Anyone interested in renting the units should call the Council’s land and property team on 01752 304161 or email landandproperty@plymouth.gov.uk More – here

South Yard outline planning application now submitted 9. Plymouth City Council has taken the next major step in transforming areas of South Yard into a

dynamic new centre for the south west’s marine sector that is expected to bring with it 1,200 jobs. With the submission of the outline planning application, the City Deal team has drawn up the broad framework for the future of South Yard’s Area 1 and Area 5. They will be transferred from the MOD in three phases from March 2015. Important heritage buildings will have a part to play in the exciting new future for the 23-acre site which is to be transformed into marine industries production campus. The report to Cabinet asks the Council to commit £5 million from its investment fund to continue the extensive preparation work needed to transform the area into a thriving production campus for cutting-edge marine technologies such as remote-controlled dive vessels, energy-efficient ships, ocean survey developments, marine science research, marine construction as well as more traditional marine activities such as boat building. More – here and here

Manufacturing Output Increases 10. Nationally, total production output is estimated to have increased by 1.1% between October 2013

and October 2014. This increase reflects rises of 1.7% in manufacturing (the largest component of

production).There were increases in eight of the 13 manufacturing subsectors compared with a year ago and the largest contributor was the manufacture of food products, beverages & tobacco. Comparing September’s figures with a year previously across the UK and Euroland, the UK experienced the strongest total manufacturing growth, and stronger growth in three of the nine listed manufacturing sub-industries. The difference was most marked in the manufacture of ‘food products’ (UK growth of 7.5% compared to 1.0% in the euro area) and was also comparatively strong in the manufacture of ‘chemical products’. More - here

PMG e-Newsletter – January 2015

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Other News in Brief • Secretary of State answering questions at the Transport Committee Oral evidence: Investing

in the railway, HC 257 Monday 15 December reference Dawlish – see Q492 Mr Sanders - here • Flybe agrees code-share agreement with Cathay Pacific - Cathay Pacific Airway has announced

that it has entered into a new code-share agreement with the Flybe Group that will connect passengers travelling to/from Hong Kong to seven destinations in the United Kingdom including Exeter. Tickets for the new code-share services are now open for sale. More - here

• Employer-led careers advice service launched - Education secretary Nicky Morgan has announced the creation of a new careers and enterprise company, to transform the provision of jobs education and advice for young people entering the employment market. The ‘careers company’, expected to be fully functioning from Spring 2015, will be independent and will be headed up by current chair of Capgemini UK, Christine Hodgson.

• A student loan system for postgraduate master's degrees has been announced in the chancellor's Autumn Statement. The government-backed loans, worth up to £10,000, will be available from 2016-17 and will benefit 40,000 students. The proposals expect to bring an extra 10,000 students into postgraduate study. More - here

• The nation’s inaugural 14-19 Career College to specialise in engineering will reportedly open

in September 2015, having been granted approval by the Career Colleges Trust. More - here

Manufacturing Business Awards & Competitions open for entry: None this month

II PMG Members’ News Princess Yachts at the 2015 London Boat Show

11. Princess Yachts is set to showcase an impressive 10 boat line-up and new stand design at the 2015 London Boat Show taking place at ExCel, London from 9th to 18th January. Taking centre stage – the Princess 68 and Princess S72 will be making their show debuts. The Princess 68 launched to much acclaim at Southampton and will be making her second UK appearance at London. Alongside, the Princess 43, 52, 56 and 72, 82 and 88 Motor Yachts complete the flybridge display, with the V39 and V48 representing the V Class sports yachts. Princess Yachts will be located on stand E430. More - here

Open for Business - Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery – Various dates including: Exhibition from Sat 17 January to Thurs 12 March 2015 – (Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5.30pm - Saturday 10am to 5pm).

12. In 2013, Multistory and Magnum Photos commissioned nine of the world’s leading photographers to document contemporary British manufacturing. Chris Steele-Perkins visited the following PMG member companies as part of the project: Bandvulc Tyres, Burts Potato Chips, Princess Yachts, Spinnaker International, Tideford Organics, Vi-Spring and Westaways Sausages. You will be able to see several of his images in the exhibition. During a period of great economic instability, and where questions are being raised about the strength of western economies within the worldwide market, there has never been a more relevant time to explore the condition of Britain’s manufacturing future.

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Private viewing: The City Council are also holding a private view for the exhibition on the evening of the 22nd January from 7pm to 8.30pm. Speeches will take place at around 7.30pm including one by Magnum photographer, Chris Steele-Perkins. By invitation only - these will be issued early in the New Year. For enquiries contact Gemma.Axell@plymouth.gov.uk Other related events: Artist talk: Chris Steele-Perkins - Thursday 22 January - 1.10pm to 2pm + Q&A Listen as internationally renowned Magnum Photographer, Chris Steele-Perkins talk about his career and his commission for the ‘Open for Business’ exhibition. Free. Booking advised. here Lunchtime talk: Industry: Past, Present & Future - Tuesday 27 January 1.10pm to 2pm + Q&A Join former Manufacturing Editor of The Financial Times, Peter Marsh for a talk about the history of and opportunities facing Britain’s manufacturing industry. £2. Booking advised. here Capacity 80-100. All events are being held at the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery PL4 8AJ Tel 01752 306228. General info about ‘Open for business’ - here

HellermannTyton increases footprint at Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park

13. Plymouth City Council has sold a five acre plot of land at Plymouth International Medical and Technology Park to HellermannTyton, next to their existing facility securing existing jobs and the company's future in Plymouth. HellermannTyton is one of the leading suppliers of products for fastening, fixing and protecting cables, and has been operating a manufacturing site from their current location at Plymouth's Medical and Technology Park since 2009. Recently Hellermann had identified a need to expand their operation to meet growing demand. At this point the international company could have chosen to expand their business at one of several sites in the UK or at another of their world-wide locations. Hellermann currently employ around 120 people in Plymouth. More - here

Other members’ news in brief • PMG member Source have launched their new website highlighting their design, development,

engineering and toolmaking capabilities: www.source-engineering.co.uk. There will be regular updates with new content and you can also follow them on social media, via the links on the website, for further news and information.

• The finalists have been announced for the Excellence in Business Training Awards 2015 hosted by Cornwall College Business and supported by Pirate FM. They include Princess Yachts International in the ‘Outstanding Commitment to Apprenticeships’ category.

Members’ videos, newsletters and articles: • Magmatic/Trunki - here • Pipex px – drainage systems - here • Vi-Spring – London Evening Standard - here

If you’re a PMG member and you’re reading this and wishing your firm’s good news story was also posted here, then next time please let me know and send me a link to your press release. stevegerry@dsl.pipex.com

New Members this month: None

III Business to Business – including grants & funding

Engineering Skills Fund Opens for SMEs – up to 50% funding

14. This offer is open to any small or medium sized company that employ people in engineering occupations. Its aim is to help companies grow and become more productive through investing in the skills of its current and future engineers. The maximum grant offered for any project is £1.5m. The minimum grant under this funding call is £10,000 (This means that the value of projects must be at least £20,000). Government will contribute 50% of eligible costs to firms who have projects to provide extra training to employees to support:

• Career Progression - enabling those currently in engineering occupations to move forward

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• Conversion training allowing people to transfer from other occupations into engineering to fill skills gaps and to increase your stock of engineers.

The type of training to achieve this depends on what best meets your needs. But the training must lead to skills that are portable and can be used in other companies and occupations (transferable skills). Training should target employees from skilled operators through to engineer associate professionals and those on pathways through to professional status. These skills equate with Levels 2-6 of the Qualifications and Credit Framework. (Annex A provides details of the various skills levels). This funding opportunity is open to applications from 12 December 2014 to 27 February 2015. If you wish to apply you will need to register on the BIS e-Tendering Portal first. Once you have registered you must then complete an application form. Read the attached guidance document before registering. More - here

Opportunity to Advertise in easyJet inflight business magazine

15. Working with Devon Delivers, (Devon County Council’s Inward Investment service) the Plymouth and Peninsula City Deal has agreed to commission an economic supplement that will be used as an inflight magazine for easyJet. The publication will have specific focus on the local marine, advanced manufacturing and leisure sectors, including exploring our unique maritime history, as well as looking at the current context for the City Deal, supply chain and opportunities for inward investment. The magazine will be published in March by Ink and distributed across the entire easyJet network, reaching some 6m passengers. easyJet is separately undertaking a new initiative to target the business traveller audience and grow its current share within the sector. Aside from the inflight option, we will also be using our publication at events and presentations to promote our area to the wider business audience as well as making it

available on our website. A mock-up of what it might look like is available – here. If you are interested contact Robert.Lawrence@ink-global.com

Bringing the Cloud to the South West

16. The Cloud, a term regularly heard across nearly every industry. It has been changing the rules and the way businesses can operate. Technology experts Gartner labelled the cloud in their “Top 10 strategic technology trends”, it is something that will continue to grow throughout 2015 with more companies leveraging the potential benefits. Through our onsite dedicated datacentre, we are proud to be one of the only companies that can offer cloud hosting and storage solutions here in Plymouth and across the South West. Our datacentre has excellent security levels and provides clients with the knowledge of knowing where their data physically is at all times, not something most companies can answer. In addition to this, the cloud services and its security can be tailored to each business, it is not an off the shelf product. Understanding every business that we work with and data security issues they may have is crucial. In most cases we are able to hit the ground running, using our combined industry and technical knowledge of working with businesses across the manufacturing and engineering industry. Please contact us for a free no obligation discussion about how the cloud and other IT industry trends can be used to benefit your IT systems. Acronyms IT, Plymouth Science Park, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BX Tel: 01752 606 553 www.acronyms-it.co.uk

Unlocking Business Investment

17. Unlocking Business Investment is a new grant programme which is being developed for businesses across the Heart of the South West area (the County Council areas of Devon and Somerset, and Plymouth and Torbay) to unlock opportunities to deliver private sector investment, growth and jobs. The programme will be funded by the Regional Growth Fund with support from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and is to be delivered as a partnership between North Devon+ and Plymouth University. The programme is due to open soon for applications, but you can register your interest in receiving updates at ubi@northdevonplus.co.uk

PMG e-Newsletter - January 2015

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Green travel grants for businesses

18. Plymouth City Council is offering grants to help local businesses provide green travel facilities and initiatives for their staff. Match-funding grants of up to £5,000 are being made available through our Plymotion at Your Workplace programme to help businesses encourage staff to leave their cars at home and travel to work by foot, by bus or by bike. The grants could be used to provide various facilities like improved cycle storage, lockers or staff bikes or initiatives such as car share schemes or subsidised bus passes. Applications will be accepted from Friday 2 January and considered on a first come, first served basis, so the advice is to apply early. See our Plymotion grants up for grabs web page for more info.

ATN Group are a CIPS and IoSCM Approved Training Company

19. Based in Plymouth, ATN Group are a Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and the Institute of Supply Chain Management (IoSCM) Approved Training Company that has many years’ experience in delivering procurement and supply chain management training courses to commerce and industry throughout the UK, Europe and the Rest of the World. Key sectors that ATN have delivered training into include; defence, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and manufacturing. Industries with clients such as BP, Babcock, Lockheed Martin and the CAA, all choosing ATN Group for their procurement and supply chain training expertise. Key deliverables include a dynamic training event with a focus on a return on investment, providing an opportunity to access a wealth of experience and enhance current working practices. The core focus in ATN is ‘developing people’, helping them to expand their knowledge and skills and unlock their potential; ultimately providing added-value to the organisation. ATN also deliver a range of Negotiation and Leadership courses, in addition to a suite of business courses accredited by the NOCN. Having recently gained the Investors in People award and the British institute of Learning and Developments Quality Mark, ATN are growing a reputation for dynamic and innovative training. Visit us at www.atngroup.uk 0800 772 3144 or come and see us at Yacht Haven Quay.

Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS)

20. ‘Briar Associates’ are pleased to inform members of the PMG that ESOS Lead Assessor status has been awarded to three of our consultants’. Regards, Phil Brewerton, Mobile 07971 019818 info@briarassociates.co.uk Briar Associates, York House, High St., Amblecote, Stourbridge, West Mids. DY8 4BT Tel 01384 397777

Expert Support with Social Media

21. Ever thought about using social media to enhance your profile but never knew where to start? Aro PR and Marketing, based just outside Plymouth, is a specialist agency dedicated to engineering and composites industries. We are offering free social media packages to companies that want to set up profiles but need that extra help. The package will consist of a half a day training course that includes setting up profiles on each relevant website, designing each profile and then a detailed run through on how to use them most effectively. Part of the package includes a month of unlimited telephone support once you have completed the training. Aro will come to your premises at a time and date of your convenience. The introductory rate for the course is £95+VAT. Aro also offers a one hour free marketing & PR consultancy session to companies. To book a training course, or to reserve a free consultancy session or for more information, email paige.lee@aroprandmarketing.co.uk or phone 01752 894 786. Don’t forget to follow on us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with news and information for other events.

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£7.5m R&D funding opportunity opening for registration (12 Jan 2015)

22. Innovate UK in partnership with Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (dstl) has launched a funding competition for collaborative R&D projects to improve the ways in which energy is managed on ships and other marine & maritime vessels. Businesses within the marine & maritime sector as well as those operating outside the industry with expertise in aspects of electrical systems, energy management or performance monitoring can apply. Read more here. Competition Briefing Event- 22 January 2015, London - Please attend our highly recommended competition briefing event, online or in person. This event is an excellent opportunity for you to receive first-hand information about the competition - its scope, application process, key dates etc. as well as meet and network with peers, market leaders & innovators in the industry. Register for the briefing event or webinar. We look forward to working with you in creating new innovations! For queries about this competition, please contact support@innovateuk.gov.uk Kind Regards, David Elson, Lead Technologist - Marine & Maritime industry Innovate UK North Star House, North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1UE

£2m funding open for registration

23. Innovate UK has launched a funding competition for feasibility studies with up to two million pounds funding available. The competition is only open to small and micro companies (click here for eligibility) across the following technology sectors:

• Advanced materials • Biosciences • Electronics, Sensors & Photonics

• Information & Communications Technology A briefing event for this competition was held on 25 November. You can view the webinar recording here. For any queries on this competition, please contact support@innovateuk.org We look forward to working with you in creating new innovations! Kind Regards, Chris Jones Lead Technologist – Biosciences Innovate UK North Star House North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1UE

Invest in the Heart of the South West Investor Growth package

24. This is a unique grant fund to encourage companies to grow and create jobs, available to SMEs (250 employees or fewer), which are:

UK or overseas owned, and committed to relocating all or part of the company to the Heart of the South West before 31st March 2015, or

UK-owned, which relocated to the Heart of the South West since 1st April 2014, or Overseas owned, with part of the company based within the Heart of the South West. The grant can be used to recover both capital and revenue costs associated with the company’s investment within the Heart of the South West, including for: Recruitment and training, Building and equipment costs, Product development, Match for other sources of funding (within State Aid guidelines).

Companies must match the grant funding with private investment. Applications should be made in conjunction with the Heart of the South West Investment Team, and will be reviewed on a case by case basis, and the final decision made by a small, independent group, whose decision is final. More - here

Other business contacts received this month: • LCH – Architecture, urbanism, landscape - here • Lambert Smith Hampton – new deadline on rates appeals - here

Company Profiles of Potential Overseas Partners • For the Latest Co-operation profiles from Enterprise Europe Network South West – here

Technology Strategy Board – Innovate UK - Funding Competitions – news update – £2m funding announcement for Feasibility Studies -

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IV Talent Retention & Recruitment

Experienced candidates looking for recruitment None this month.

• Unlocking Potential – Grads for Growth - here and here

Job Vacancies *****Please remember that we can advertise PMG member vacancies on the PMG website*****

Send me the details: stevegerry@dsl.pipex.com

V Events, Training Courses & Other Information SWW Focus Group for Facilities / Estate management personnel - January 8th 2015 08:45-10:45am 25. South West Water wishes to consult with senior level Facilities / Estate management personnel

within large businesses at a Focus Group session being held at Plymouth Science Park on the morning of January 8th 2015, starting at 08.45 am with breakfast provided. The event will be finished by 10. 45 am - there isn't an agenda, it will be a discussion group, facilitated by Turquoise Thinking (on behalf of SWW who will be present) around brands, brand values, the SWW & Source for Business brand and brand loyalty. No pre work is required. Attendees will need to display a car park permit on their dashboards. Please report to reception upon arrival to ask for the permit and to be directed to the Burrator Room. If you are interested pl. email: karen.woodward@dcbc.co.uk

Plymouth International Trade Club on Tuesday 20th January 17:30 - 20:00 Plymouth Science Park 26. The Plymouth International Trade Club is a great forum for exporters to come

along and gain advice, tips and ask any burning questions to those who have experience in trading internationally. Hear from Simon Earles, Head of Strategy at Heathrow Airport. New research from Frontier Economics has shown that the lack of capacity at Heathrow is already costing the UK up to £14bn a year in lost trade and this figure could rise to £26bn a year by 2030. Also hear from Siddharth Mukne, Business Adviser, UK India Business Council will be discussing the entry strategies for the Indian market. We are looking for active import and export businesses to attend, but also businesses which may not have considered exporting and simply want to find out more about the opportunities and support available. We are looking for active import and export businesses to attend, but also businesses which may not have considered international trade and simply want to find out more about the opportunities and support available. More information can be found on our website. If you would like to attend, please click here to book your place.

Ecommerce: Selling Online Internationally - Future Inn, Plymouth International Business Park, 1 William Prance Rd – Plymouth 22nd Jan 2015 9:00 am - 1:30 pm 27. If you want to attract more online business from outside the UK and fully understand what makes

overseas customers press the ‘buy now’ button, come along to this interactive workshop and take away crucial tips for developing your international online strategy. Delivered by a specialist in overseas communications and website internationalisation, this essential half-day event addresses the following key topics: Does your website or online selling strategy have the potential to reach global customers? Are your international web visits converting into sales? Is your website structured for global markets? Are you aware of how to avoid key legal pitfalls?

1:1 mentoring clinic appointments available to formulate your next steps and provide a brief review of your website, to book a clinic please make sure you select the ticket that includes the 15 minute

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clinic session. Please note there are a limited amount of 1:1 slots and they are available on a first come first serve basis. The clinics will be held in 15 minute sessions between 1:30 and 4:30, regretfully specific times cannot be reserved. This event is 100% funded by the Regional Growth Fund, there is no charge to attend. More - here

Lean Games Day with John Bicheno - 22nd January 2015 - Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa, Oxfordshire Buckingham Lean Enterprise Unit (BLEU) Cost - £380 per delegate or £290 network rate 28. Following the successful sell-out Lean Games Day run on 7th October

2014, we now have a few spaces left on a repeat of this course, which will be running due to extra demand. The course will be run by Mr John Bicheno, Lean guru and Programme Director for the MSc Lean Enterprise at the University of Buckingham’s BLEU department. This course is aimed at Lean trainers and facilitators and follows the launch of the second edition of ‘The Lean Games Book’. John will be running through a number of the games and discussing their use. Please note that as attendees will actually be playing the games, places are limited. All attendees receive a copy of the book as part of their course fee. The second edition has several new games and updated old games. More - here For further information about the Buckingham Lean Enterprise Unit (BLEU) short courses and events please see: http://www.buckingham.ac.uk/business/bleu

‘Unlocking Big Data - Investing in Human Capital’ 08:45 to 16:00 28th January 2015 at Met Office Exeter 29. A free interactive conference has been planned featuring a range of industry specialist keynote

speakers, the event aims to help the Heart of the South West realise its Big Data potential to shape the conversation, examine the skills we need to invest in and define the focus for potential future funding proposals. The event will include opportunities to meet the Heart of the South West’s Big Data community in one of the world’s leading Big Data organisations. Aimed at Big Data practitioners, businesses, learning and training providers and graduate and post graduate aspiring and practicing data scientists, the event will take place at The Met Office. Places are limited and restricted to one per organisation or one per department in large organisations. They will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and as demand is likely to be high, early booking is recommended. To book your place and to find out more visit here

Women in STEM Plymouth event – 4:30pm Wed 28th January 2015 City College Plymouth 30. Following the highly successful PMG-sponsored inaugural meeting of Women in STEM Plymouth, the

group have announced a second event at the City College Plymouth’s new STEM Centre. Guest speakers will be talking about the Met Office in Exeter’s plans to purchase one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. The supercomputer's sophisticated forecasts are anticipated to deliver £2bn of socio-economic benefits to the UK by enabling better advance preparation and contingency plans to protect peoples' homes and businesses. More details- here NB. Places are limited – booking is essential - please email: womeninstemplymouth@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter @WinSTEMplym

Insider Breakfast meeting - Business Growth Plymouth – 29th January 31. With its City Deal project in action for nearly a year, Insider heads to Plymouth for an update on

activity. Given the green light in January 2014, the Plymouth and South West Peninsula City Deal will see £296m pumped into the regional economy over the next 15 years. There are plans to redevelop Plymouth's Devonport Naval Base, as well as support existing companies in the city. There’s the expansion of the GAIN network and investment in new talent by helping more than 1,500 young people into work. Plymouth is also set to share in £270m Growth Deal funding, which among other initiatives, looks to boost broadband and bring 4G connectivity to the ‘deep South West’. So how are plans progressing and where do we stand? What else is on the cards at Plymouth in terms of new developments and what do businesses based in the city want to see happen next? More details - here

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‘Finance in the South West’ 08:00 to 14:00 25th Feb 2015 at Exeter Racecourse, Kennford, Exeter, Devon, EX6 7XS 32. ‘A wide range of speakers from both funders and agencies will each give brief presentations, as well

as contributions from Francis Clark’s corporate finance team. Our keynote speaker will be business and economics journalist Declan Curry. This is an event where representatives of potential sources of finance for the South West SME speak (briefly) to explain what and who their funding is for. The idea is to give an overview of the ever increasing myriad of funds available. These funders and support agencies will be available at the end of the morning to enable attendees to ask follow-up questions, relevant to their business and development plans. RSVP Date: Mon, 16/02/2015 Full details and online booking can be accessed here’. Jayne Phillips Events Co-ordinator Jayne.Phillips@francisclark.co.uk 01752 301010.

Shingo Master Class – March to June 2015 (various dates) 33. The Shingo Master Class consists of 4 modules of 2 days each, delivered through a series of highly

interactive on-site workshops, which will give you the required skillset to overcome the typical sugar high scenario of 'Peak and Fall’ improvement that most businesses experience. Leaders around the world have invested a substantial amount of time and money on initiatives that achieve results, but which never maintain and sustain momentum. Each new tool becomes another possible solution or “best practice” only to create confusion that often results in what we call the “sugar high” – a temporary boost in results accompanied by a fleeting feeling of victory. People begin to believe that sustainable solutions are not only elusive, but that each new initiative eventually becomes “flavour-of-the-month” and leaves unfulfilled aspirations. The Shingo Master Class will teach you how to overcome this. 4 modules will cover the following areas: • Module 1 Discover Excellence – Shingo Model, Gemba Visits • Module 2 Principles & Behaviours – Guiding Pronciples, Ideal Behaviours, Gemba Visits • Module 3 Enabling Systems (1) – Strategy Deployment System, Learning & Development System,

Gemba Visits • Module 4 Enabling Systems (2) – Improvement System, Leader Standard Work System, Gemba

Visits The Shingo Model™ is not an additional programme or another initiative to implement; rather, it introduces Guiding Principles on which to anchor your current initiatives and to fill the gaps in your efforts towards ideal results and enterprise excellence. Much more - here

Other Information/Courses/Events • Business Pulse events – Cornwall - here • Devon & Cornwall Energy & Environmental Management Group - here • EEF events - here • Electronics, Sensors, Photonics events - here • MAS events – here • The Manufacturer events - here • The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) - here • WEAF events – here

Other Courses/Events on specific dates

• Technology and Innovation Management, Tuesday 24 to Thursday 26 March 2015 Institute for Manufacturing, Jesus College, Cambridge - This intensive and interactive three-day course will help managers to understand and to use the key tools and techniques needed to manage and exploit technological investments and opportunities. More - here Contact: Jo Griffiths, Manager, Events and Membership programme. Tel: 01223 748260 jg393@cam.ac.uk

• Plymouth Business Show Plymouth Pavilions Wednesday 17th

June 2015 - Bookings for the show are now open and early birds can benefit from a discounted rate on our 3m x 2m stands of £299+VAT (saving you £50+VAT). There are limited spaces so please book now to avoid disappointment. More - here

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VI Requests for Assistance & Corporate Social Responsibility Matters

Is encouraging more young people into engineering important to you? If so, why not try doing it through a highly acclaimed Go4SET project? 34. The Project: Teams of 6 mixed ability Pupils (12-14yrs) alongside

their Company Mentor will work on a 10-week environmentally themed project, allowing students to apply maths, science, technology subjects to real engineering problem, whilst developing work ready skills such as team work, project planning, presentation skills, report writing skills and many more. "Open your company doors" – • Pupils and Teachers will gain industrial experience through their visit to your company –

learning about what your business does. • Develop skills and equip your workforce - Go4SET provides CPD opportunities for Company

Mentors • Promote STEM careers and change perceptions - be part of Go4SET's mission - Pupils will have

the opportunity to apply their maths and science skills to a real-life problem, outside of the classroom.

Key Dates: The Plymouth Go4SET Hub Launches on: 5th February at the National Marine Aquarium Celebration & Assessment Day: 21st May at Plymouth University The cost to the company to sponsor a team is £850+VAT per team More - here or contact Malgosia Kapala, Go4SET Coordinator on 01752 762110 m.kapala@etrust.org.uk

CSR Related newsletters Plymouth Drake Foundation Newsletter (Dec) – here Education through Expeditions - here

VII Consultations, Reviews, Surveys & Calls for

Evidence Do you run a family business? 35. Do you run a family business? Insider media need your input on the key

challenges and opportunities facing family businesses in the South West. Family businesses are critical to the regional economy. But statistics show that 65 per cent fail in the second generation and 90 per cent in the third. This survey, in association with Arthur J. Gallagher, is designed to understand how businesses plan to manage succession to the next generation and ensure their continued success for years to come. Our survey will take no more than two minutes of your time, and forms a core part of Insider's campaign in print, in person and online to support family businesses.

Other Surveys - none this month

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VIII Economic News; Newsletters, Briefings & Articles BIS Bulletins –

• 5th

Dec - Autumn Statement Special - here • 12

th Dec - Celebrating two million apprenticeships; Regional Growth Fund investment reaches £4

billion; National Colleges to lead hi-tech skills; Boosting skills in smaller engineering firms; Showcasing support for English and maths - here

• 19th

Dec - BIS launches £6 billion package for UK science and innovation; Ranking companies’ human rights performance; Debate encouraged on future process for stock market flotations; BIS tackles concerns over holiday pay ruling; Calculate your leave and pay when you have a child - here

BIS South, Central & West news

• December – Autumn Statement - key measures helping small businesses; New first time exporters guide published; The Small Business Enterprise and Employment Bill; Hauser Review into the future of Catapults; Automotive Supply Chain Employer Ownership Fund; UK Space Conference 2015; Apprenticeship Reforms; Free advice and support to help businesses stay safe online; Government launches support to help small businesses Do More Online; Vince Cable announces £40 million to support cutting-edge research; Government Fund for Small Engineering Businesses; Government launches maritime study to boost growth; More young people to be helped into work with traineeships; Government targets £1 billion business legacy from World Expo; 2015 Horizon 2020 Energy Calls for Proposals now open; New Chief Executive for Skills Funding Agency; Good News for LEPs that Want to Encourage Investment in the Private Rented Sector; Update on Relationship Managers for South Central and West; Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly & Heart of the South West Sally Edgington sally.edgington@bis.gsi.gov.uk - here

Economic news • Bank of England - Agents' Summary of Business Conditions (Dec 14) – here • Deloitte Monday briefings - here • HM Treasury pocket databank (23/12) – here • House of Commons Economic Indicators – manufacturing - here

PMG Press Coverage Infographics & PowerPoints

• Evolution of robotics – Boston Consulting Group - here • Gov’t’s road investment strategy for the SW 2014 - here • Most used stations - Office of Rail Regulation - here

Manufacturing articles, publications and other reports of general interest: • Are we getting better at managing people? – CIPD megatrends report - here • Automation, jobs, and the future of work – McKinsey - here • "Fuelling Growth" by Lloyds Bank - UK automotive industry report - here • How to handle the office genius – CIPD - here • McKinsey top 10 articles this year – here – including: Next frontiers for lean – McKinsey Feb 2014 -

here • Triple Win: The Economic, Social and Environmental Case for Remanufacturing published by All Party

Parliamentary Manufacturing Group - here Other newsletters & journals:

• 1,000 Club newsletter (Dec) - here • Aerospace Technology Institute – (22/12) – here • All Party Parliamentary Manufacturing Group Newsletter - Dec - here • Beers – Flexible Working Requests - here • Bishop Fleming Autumn Statement – here or here • Bond Dickinson – Pensions Newsletter - December - here • Bond Dickinson – weekly employment law update (19/12) - here • CALMARE (Centre for ALternative MAterials and REmanufacturing Technologies) newsletter – (Dec) -

here • CIPD Update - here • Cornwall College Business – (Dec) - here

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• Devon & Cornwall Business Council – news & events – here • Devon & Cornwall Business Council – Dec update - here • Enterprise Research Centre (Dec) - here • Foot Anstey Employment & Pensions Legal News (Dec) - here • Heart of the SW LEP skills newsletter (Dec) - here • ISSR Institute for Sustainability Solutions Research newsletter – Dec – here • Microelectronics iNet (Dec) - here • Parklife from Plymouth Science Park (Dec) - here • Plymouth and the South West Peninsula City Deal Newsletter – (Dec) - here • Regen SW Bulletin Dec - here • SA Partners newsletter (Dec) - here • Sensors & Instrumentation newsletter (Dec) - here • Skills Funding Agency – Business Update – (Dec) - here • Strategy and organization - this year’s most popular articles on – McKinsey & Co - here • SW Academic Health Science Network – news and insights Christmas 2014 - here • SW Skills newsletters – #160 - here - #161 - here • Veale Wasbrough Vizards (Dec) - here • WEAF – Airtalk & Connect magazine - here • What’s on in Plymouth e-news (22/12) - here • Windpower Offshore Weekly (27/12) – here • Working4Talent newsletter (Dec) - here • WISE – news from (Dec) - here

Videos • 2 millionth apprenticeship - here • BIS adult literacy and numeracy response 2014 - here • Overview of the Catapults - here • Cable announces new UK manufacturing college in South Yorkshire - here • UK Government’s Science & Innovation Strategy - here • UK Innovation - The High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC) IET - here

Other sites of interest to manufacturers:

• http://www.manufacturinginfo.co.uk/ • http://www.imeche.org/news • http://www.themanufacturer.com/ • http://www.worksmanagement.co.uk/ • http://source.theengineer.co.uk/ • http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industrial-manufacturing/index.jhtml • http://www.thecqi.org/Knowledge-Hub/Qualityworld/Current-issue/ • http://profeng.com/ • http://www.chemweek.com/home/ • http://www.techuk.org/

Credits: The Editor of this newsletter is grateful to various news sources for stories contained either herein or in previous editions, including: insidermedia.com; Plastics & Rubber Weekly; The Manufacturer and Plymouth Herald The MAS barometer is provided courtesy of the Manufacturing Advisory Service National Barometer. Image credits: Princess Yachts Int; Magnum Photos; NB: Some weblinks are only accessible temporarily until the release of the next edition of this newsletter. Pl. contact the editor if you cannot access the link you require. stevegerry@dsl.pipex.com

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If you want to read what some people are saying about this newsletter please see here and scroll down towards the bottom of the screen. All comments are unsolicited. Please send me your own if you wish!

Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by the PMG and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained here for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will the PMG be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of products or services referred to within this newsletter. Throughout this newsletter you are able to link to websites which are not under the control of the PMG. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. The editor’s contact details are as follows:

Steve Gerry MBA PGDip MIED Secretary to Plymouth Manufacturers' Group 23 Nursery Close, Tamerton Foliot, Plymouth PL5 4QG : 01752 795034

: 07585 445 346

: stevegerry@dsl.pipex.com : www.mypmg.co.uk

: http://stevegerryconsulting.co.uk/