About The Programme

The UK’s Largest and Leading Business Support Programme for SME Manufacturers

Supporting SME Manufacturers to grow by identifying, understanding and removing barriers to growth

Support tailored to your manufacturing SME business

A dedicated, experienced, Manufacturing Growth Manager will provide on-going support
A comprehensive business diagnostic tool specifically designed for manufacturers – GROWTHmapper
Identify opportunities and create plans for growth and improvement
Work with the best external experts to implement those plans
Cover a % of the cost of implementing an improvement project
Connect to wider support to maximise opportunities for growth

“The Manufacturing Growth Programme is fantastic for SME businesses. It is the easiest and most customer focussed business support scheme we have used, and the process is effective and efficient throughout. We are delighted to have been able to benefit from it and are most grateful for its availability.”

Wolf Components Ltd

“I am very happy with the Programme and the delivery by my Manufacturing Growth Manager. Given the opportunity, I would definitely use the Programme again and have recommended it to other business owners.”

Fresh Therapies Ltd

“I found the process of application and support extremely efficient and would recommend to any manufacturer looking for help around funding and information of other supporting services.”

F1 Metal Fabrications Ltd

“We cant speak highly enough of the programme. It has spurred us on to do the things we were planning and made a huge difference.”

The Traditional Wine Rack Company Limited

“The Manufacturing Growth Programme has provided Globestock with an excellent means to improve our business processes and deliver a far better manufacturing environment.”

Globestock Limited

“The support has been invaluable, and the grant scheme is operated in a very efficient manner.”

Commercial Systems International Limited

“The MGP over successive projects has without doubt added to the long-term value of & prospects for the business. Our manager has been very supportive & conscientious and has demonstrated a great interest in what we are trying to achieve.”

Brassart Limited

“Thank you so much for your help on this and for all the continued support! We are truly fortunate to support like you guys here in Sheffield to help drive business growth!”

Bag It Don’t Bin It Limited

Our Heritage

The Manufacturing Growth Programme was established in October 2016 with a £10.5m contract from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support SME manufacturing businesses across 18 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) across England.

The programme was delivered by Economic Growth Solutions Ltd, a purpose-built organisation to deliver effective business support programmes, working in partnership with funders to produce tangible results within businesses whilst maximising the return on the initial investment.

From April 2019, Economic Growth Solutions joined Oxford Innovation Advice to deliver a further £11.8m of ERDF to continue to deliver business growth support for SME manufacturers across those 18 LEP regions. In May 2020, the Manufacturing Growth Programme secured an additional £6.5m to expand into another LEP and to extend the programme to finish operational delivery in March 2023.

As a result, MGP is committed to delivering a further 3,800 improvement projects and create an additional 2,500 new jobs whilst supporting businesses to create new products, open up new markets, become more competitive, and ultimately increasing productivity.

For more information about Oxford Innovation Advice, visit oxfordinnovationservices.co.uk