A new national programme which will focus on helping small and medium manufacturing businesses to grow has officially launched.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said the new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is now available to all manufacturing businesses across England.

It will be delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC), which is comprised of Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium and SWMAS.

It has been estimated that the new MAS will help to generate £1.5 billion in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs.

Mr Prisk said: “Manufacturing contributes half of Britain’s exports and has much higher productivity than the rest of the economy so it is essential to our plans for growth.

“That is why we are taking steps to ensure our industrial base is thriving as part of a strong and balanced UK economy.