Call for focus on skills and innovation

The new chairman of the Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands (MAS-WM), Colin Tivey, has called for a focus on skills and innovation to keep manufacturing enterprises going through the recession, and to ensure companies prosper when economic conditions improve again.

In an article published by the Birmingham Post, Mr Tivey outlined how MAS-WM is going to be providing support for the manufacturing industry in the West Midlands, with plans for immediate assistance to firms currently struggling as a result of the global downturn, and also looking to retain and develop skills and innovation for the future.

Recent research has shown that a focus on developing skills can greatly improve a company’s workforce and provide resilience against economic shocks.

To keep up-to-date with the latest information on skills and employment in the West Midlands, see our quarterly economic downturn briefing paper.