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Northwest Manufacturing Forum announced






Posted by Brian on 8th March 2010 at 10:30 PM
Northwest Manufacturing Forum announced
The EEF’s successful Manufacturing Week has now come to an end but promoting the positive image of Northwest Manufacturing continues. The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has, today announced a new Manufacturing Forum for the Northwest. Its members will act as ambassadors for this vital Northwest sector.

The industry-led Northwest Manufacturing Forum will steer the Northwest Manufacturing Strategy, launched at the end of last year, and influence the public sector actions within it. The members of the Forum will act as ambassadors and become the face and voice of Northwest Manufacturing on the local, regional, national and international stage.

The Forum will identify ‘demand’ requirements and influence ‘supply’ provision, particularly from the public sector. This will allow the Forum to advise the public sector on the implementation of the Manufacturing Strategy; future developments of the strategy; and interventions in manufacturing going forward.

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “The Northwest’s manufacturing sector is the biggest of any English region and remains a major driver for improving GVA, contributing almost £20 billion to the regional economy.”

“The Northwest Manufacturing Forum will be the voice for Northwest Manufacturing, helping to promote the diverse strength of our outstanding manufacturing sector.”

“The NWDA will work with the Forum and partners across the Northwest to create a modern manufacturing sector in the region that will be innovative, enterprising, highly skilled, and well led.”

The new Forum will be chaired by Duncan Craig, Vice President, Manufacturing Processes for Westinghouse. Duncan has over 30 years of manufacturing experience (See Biography in Notes to Editors).
The appointment of the first Chair of the Forum was announced by Vanda Murray, Deputy Chair of the NWDA, at the beacon Manufacturing Week event. held in Halewood, as part of the national Manufacturing Week activities, on Tuesday 2nd March.

Duncan commented: “I am honoured and excited about the prospect of chairing this new forum. Having spent 32 years in manufacturing I am passionate about the sector, it is in my blood, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to help develop the sector in the Northwest.”

“Manufacturing is at the heart of the Northwest economy and will be critical to securing a strong and sustainable economic future for the region. The Forum will play a vital role in helping to move this along and will champion this vital sector.”

Further Forum members will appointed shortly.

EEF’s Manufacturing Week took place between 01-05 March and was part of a long running campaign to promote the success of the sector and policies to promote a better balanced economy. It was backed by the NWDA in the Northwest who are used the week as a platform to promote the Northwest expertise, excellence and strength in manufacturing.


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