HERITAGE MANUFACTURER BECOMES EMPLOYEE OWNED WITH £2.5 MILLION HSBC UK SUPPORT

A Dundee-based manufacturer with over 150 years of heritage has secured a £2.5 million funding package from HSBC UK, supporting its transition to employee ownership. Underpinning its long-term future, the funding has enabled Halley Stevensons to establish an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), facilitating the buyout of its previous shareholders through a deferred payment structure. Founded […]

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Barometer reveals lack of faith in government skills approach amidst a significant drop in planned apprenticeship recruitment

Engineering and manufacturing leaders have revealed the toughest ‘skills’ picture yet in the latest annual Training Barometer released by In-Comm Training today. Nearly three quarters of businesses surveyed said they felt there was a lack of government support to address skills shortages following the budget last year, whilst only a third believe the Industrial Strategy […]

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Steel River Quay Secures Top UK Ports Innovation Award

Steel River Quay has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading port operators after securing the prestigious UK Ports Innovation Award 2026, celebrating excellence in smarter, safer and more sustainable operations. The award was presented at a high-profile industry ceremony hosted by UK Ports on 19th March at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, bringing together senior leaders, innovators […]

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Indeed data reveals the British counties where manufacturing workers earn the most

New research from Rencol Components has revealed the British counties offering the highest average manufacturing salaries, highlighting where skilled workers may want to consider calling home when planning their next career move. The findings come as Britain’s manufacturing sector continues to face pressure from labour shortages. Research from Barclays has shown that the shortage of […]

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West Midlands manufacturing SMEs positioned for global growth after ‘Breaking into Defence’ event

More than 60 ambitious manufacturers from the West Midlands gathered recently for a special event designed to accelerate SME participation in international defence markets and to strengthen the UK’s sovereign defence capability. “Breaking into Defence: Enter Overseas Markets with the Ministry of Defence”, which was delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, directly addressed key priorities championed […]

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Supply chains under pressure: a new operating reality for manufacturers

Global supply chains have been reshaped at pace in recent years. For manufacturers, a combination of pandemic disruption, geopolitical tension and ongoing economic pressure has exposed just how vulnerable highly optimised supply models can be. Where supply chains were once designed primarily for efficiency and cost control, the focus is now shifting towards resilience, flexibility […]

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