MAS was originally a Government initiative that was introduced as part of the Business Growth Service with the support of up to £125m in funding. However, the service was ended in 2015 as a result of funding cuts.

Now, the initiative has been revived by the manufacturing and engineering membership body, Made in the Midlands (MIM).

“When the original Manufacturing Advisory Service closed due to lack of funding, it left a gap in the manufacturing industry,” explains Charles Addison, MIM’s business development director. “Prompted by the uncertainty surrounding the Government’s industrial strategy, we gathered a coalition of our members, led by non-executive chairman Lord Mike Whitby, to see what could be done about the industry’s uncertainty concerning who to turn to for advice and for help navigating the innovation minefield.

“It became clear that there was the technical capability and industry knowledge among our members, and the capacity in the Made in the Midlands team, to combine efforts and launch MAS as on online helpdesk for Britain’s manufacturers,” he continues. “The service will help businesses find the support and advice they need, about everything from process improvements and r&d grants, to access to finance and marketing best practice.”