Sahar Hashemi stressed that that it was “absolutely crucial” for greater backing and claimed that, with 41 per cent of UK national income coming from such companies, SMEs are “our future”.
This comes as April’s Purchasing Managers’ Index revealed manufacturing productivity is at its highest level for more than 15 years.
Furthermore, exports also reached a record peak and showed significant gains in new orders as the sector appears to exhibit increased confidence.
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Ms Hashemi remarked that the UK could make substantial inroads in areas of manufacturing that are unique to this country and she indicated that competing against countries with cheaper operational costs was also possible.
“Where we can innovate is by thinking of things that no one else does and building those. It will have to be manufacturing with an edge,” she added.
By Colette Paxton
