Business News Round Up (14/02/2025)
Manufacturing industry to accelerate in Greater Manchester with launch of new centre
Research and innovation in advanced manufacturing and the development of sustainable materials in Greater Manchester will be accelerated through a new Innovation Centre. With access to world-class university expertise, research and facilities, businesses in the region will have the opportunity to develop specialist knowledge, create job opportunities, build skills, and rapidly innovate sustainable products and services. This will be made possible by the launch of the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMMIC) at Manchester Metropolitan University. The Centre brings together a range of business support services at the University including additive manufacturing at one the UK’s biggest technology hubs PrintCity, and expertise in surface engineering, green energy, metamaterials, nanotechnology and digitalisation. It will also be supported by the Centre for Enterprise at Manchester Met, which is led by a team of experts transforming research into practical solutions for businesses.
January brings boost to Scottish retailers
Retailers in Scotland benefited from a trading boost last month as shoppers took advantage of the January sales. Total sales in Scotland increased by 1.8% last month compared with January 2024, when they had grown 1.9%, the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor showed. This was above the three-month average of 0.0% and above the 12-month average decrease of 0.4%. Adjusted for inflation, there was a year-on-year increase of 2.2%. On a like-for-like basis, Scottish sales increased by 1.1% compared with January last year, when they had increased by 1.2%. This was above the three-month average increase of 0.4% and above the 12-month average decline of 0.3%. Total food sales increased 2.5% compared to January 2024, when they had increased by 5.4%. This was above the three-month average increase of 1.1% and above the 12-month average growth of 0.5%.
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/january-brings-boost-scottish-retailers-34670522
More North West manufacturers to benefit from Made Smarter after Budget commitment
Made Smarter, the UK Government’s programme helping North West SME manufacturers adopt technology and digital skills, is to continue next year as part of a national roll out. The Government announced in the Autumn Budget that it will spend £16m expanding the programme to all nine English regions in 2025/26. The decision means hundreds-of-thousands more SME manufacturers will get access to technology advice, leadership, and skills training, as well as grant funding for digital internships and technology projects. These interventions will boost productivity, growth, create new high value jobs and decarbonise SME manufacturers across the country. Launched in the North West in 2019, Made Smarter has engaged with 2,500 manufacturers and funded 379 technology projects, which are forecast to create more than 1,700 new jobs and upskill 3,200 existing roles. The investments in technology and people are set to grow the economy by £267m over the next three years.
Scottish salmon hits new record overseas sales
Scottish salmon overseas have hit a record high of £844 million, soaring by 45% to remain the UK’s top food export, significantly beating the previous record of £618m in pre-pandemic 2019. Asian markets, particularly China and Taiwan, saw growth of 60%, according to HMRC figures published today. Scottish salmon is the largest export by volume that goes through Heathrow Airport, where it travels on scheduled flights to multiple international destinations and maintains its freshness. Despite the impact of Brexit, France remains the top market, accounting for 55% of total value of all Scottish salmon exports, followed by the United States on 27%. The new figures come after survival rates on salmon farms in Scotland – where fish spent up to two years at sea – reached a four-year high of 82.3% in 2024 following multi-million pound investment to enhance animal welfare.