Manufacturing Week will shine spotlight on county

The challenges and opportunities facing Lancashire’s manufacturing sector will be discussed as part a series of events being held in the county next month.

Manufacturing bosses, professional advisers and other industry leaders are being invited to attend the free events as part of Lancashire Manufacturing Week (June 2-6) which will showcase inspiring success stories, business support opportunities and funding options.

The events will explore issues such as the potential of 3D printing technology, the implications of re-shoring production to the UK, how processes can be improved and how manufacturers can develop a growth strategy to increase sales.

Ginni Cooper, head of the manufacturing team at Moore and Smalley, one of the partners behind Lancashire Manufacturing Week, said: “These are exciting times as the economy returns to growth and order books start to look healthy again. That said there are numerous challenges, such as attracting funding, recruiting people with the right skills and avoiding the danger of overtrading.

“The events we are putting on for Lancashire Manufacturing Week are a great opportunity for manufacturers to hear the views and experiences of a range of peers and sector experts.”

The first of two events will be held at the Blackburn-based headquarters of Precision Polymer Engineering, one of Lancashire’s biggest manufacturing success stories, on June 3.

The event includes a tour of PPE’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and an insight into its world class processes, while other speakers include representatives from the county’s business growth hub Boost Business Lancashire, HSBC and The Manufacturing Institute.

The second event takes place on June 5 at HSBC’s Preston-based business banking centre in Fulwood. Speakers at this event include experts from Moore and Smalley, EEF, MAS, UCLan and Freshfield.

This event will also hear from James Saunders, founder of Burnley-based 3D printing specialists FDM Digital Solutions, who will explore the opportunities the technology presents for the region’s manufacturers. For more information, or to book a place on any of these events, please contact Julie Treverton at Moore and Smalley on 01524 62801 or visit the event pages www.mooreandsmalley.co.uk/events