Arrowsmith Engineering invests and draws on Manufacturing Advisory Service for support

Jason Aldridge, managing director of the 39-employee firm, explains: "MAS-WM has been an important driver in our expansion, with specialist adviser Peter Jones providing constant mentoring and help on specific projects, including the layout of the new factory, links to probing trials and giving us access to new machinery and technology. "The latest project is working with one of its cluster groups on securing a bronze SC21 award, an objective we hope to achieve in the next year." This help builds on Arrowsmith Engineering's £1 million investment, which has seen it complete its headquarters, increase floor space by a third (to 15,000 sq ft) and invest in new facilities, ranging from a thread-rolling laboratory and grinding capability to a 5-axis machine and three CNC lathes. Mr Aldridge again: "We are working to a five year business plan that will see us move from a £1.8 million turnover to a firm that is commanding in excess of £4 million in annual sales." This could see the creation of 10 new jobs, he adds. The company has already won a string of orders to produce complex engine and actuation parts for some of the world's leading primes, including Rolls Royce, Goodrich, Pattonair and Meggit. Growth has been based on establishing more strategic partnerships with its clients that sees Arrowsmith work more closely with customers to improve quality, on-time delivery and offer added value design. "This approach has reaped dividends and we now hold approved supplier status with Rolls-Royce in Canada, Germany, Singapore and the UK; and Goodrich, Bombardier and Eaton. We are also taking this same strategy with the energy firms we currently work with," Mr Aldridge adds. Arrowsmith Engineering provides turning, milling and grinding services in both large volume and low quantities, including after sales, development projects and 'aliens and strangers'. It has diversified its offer to become a global specialist in high precision, complex components in exotic metals, with many parts being used in the Rolls-Royce Trent series engines used on the Airbus A380, A350 and the Boeing 747 and 787. Following a shake-up of the regionally offered Manufacturing Advisory Service, the effort will be run as a national initiative from 2012. Mr Aldridge confirmed the need to do so, during a visit to the engineering firm by Minister for Business Mark Prisk. Says Mr Aldridge: "MAS understands what manufacturers want and has access to specialist experts that can make a real difference to our bottom line." MAS is aiming to create £1.5 billion in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and to safeguard 50,000 jobs. Image: L to R - Jason Aldridge; Simon Griffiths, area director MAC*; Mark Prisk, Business Minister * MAC - A new nationally operated Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will focus on helping small and medium sized manufacturers to grow, The new service will be delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) and will help create £1.5 billion in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs. The Manufacturing Advisory Service will continue to deliver a national service to all manufacturing businesses in England, but the new consortium now means that there will be a specific focus on: • driving business growth through strategic and technical support for SMEs developing Advanced Manufacturing capabilities and creating high value jobs; • enabling business improvement with manufacturers operating in global supply chains; and • linking SMEs with the Apprenticeship programme delivering a minimum of 1,250 engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships annually.