Manufacturing SMEs in the South East can access more than £425,000 of dedicated support.

Business Leaders are being urged to take advantage of support being delivered by the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), which will help them complete projects that boost productivity and capacity, introduce new products, innovate existing services and manage change following the pandemic.

Delivered by Oxford Innovation Services and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the programme uses a network of 19 experienced growth managers to work with companies to identify barriers to growth, before putting in place an action plan to overcome them.

This could involve bringing in a specialist to deliver expert knowledge and guidance on issues/opportunities that will help them increase sales, become more efficient and hopefully create new employment. The programme has already assisted 168 firms in the region and creating and safeguarding hundreds of jobs.

The assistance on offer aims to support SMEs with their short and long-term objectives, starting with industry-trained advisers, who use the latest online business diagnostic tools to underpin on-the-ground coaching and advice.The programme can help companies overcome production bottlenecks, introduce automation, develop new products and even achieve ISO qualifications that can help when tendering for work.

Over £425,000 of grants are available to SME manufacturers.

For more information and to check your eligibility visit Join The Programme | Manufacturing Growth Programme