Scotland’s manufacturing sector has created £20 million of productivity savings in the last year, making them more competitive and helping them to open up new opportunities such as new customers, new products and new markets.
New figures released by Scottish Enterprise today confirm that it has supported 165 Scottish manufacturers undertake 207 business efficiency projects over the past twelve months, generating £20 million productivity benefits for Scotland’s economy.
These savings contribute to further growth opportunities for companies such as The Boxshop Ltd, which has accepted an offer of £300,000 Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant from Scottish Enterprise towards a £2.2 million expansion project at its manufacturing facility in East Kilbride, creating 18 new jobs and safeguarding a further 18 jobs.
The company was one of the first to work with the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service when it was set up in 2005 and has undertaken a project every year since. During this time, The Boxshop has generated £1.4 million efficiency savings and increased its turnover from £5.7 million to £11.3 million.
Approximately 75 percent of Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service customers are account managed by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, however, its services are open to all manufacturing business in Scotland.