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SME hiring hits 10-year low
- 31/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
Just 30% of British SME manufacturers plan to hire in the coming months. The findings, published in the national Manufacturing Barometer, show that 44% of SME manufacturers had increased their investments in new premises and machinery in the last six months, up on the previous quarter’s 37%. Whilst the [...] -
SMF bolsters development team
- 31/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
Specialist Motor Finance has appointed Jim Cowell to the senior role of business development manager with the company. Jim joins Chester-based SMF following seven years at Moneybarn where he worked in a deal management capacity, liaising with both finance brokers and car dealership groups. At SMF he will take [...] -
Engine production down almost quarter
- 31/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
British engine manufacturing fell 23.4% in April, with production for home and international markets down 41.1% and 12.8% respectively. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said, 'April’s engine figures show the impact of Brexit upheaval across the supply chain. With summer shutdowns at many British car factories [...] -
APC announces innovation funding
- 31/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
The Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) is supporting 15 UK technology developers in sectors from fuel cells to batteries with £1.1m over the next 18 months. This brings to 101 the number of SMEs so far supported by the APC, which aims to make UK a world-leader in low carbon propulsion technology. The APC’s [...] -
Bentley tops employer poll for school leavers
- 30/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
Bentley Motors has been named the number one automotive employer for school leavers in the UK for the second year running. The awards – presented by careers guidance company AllAboutSchoolLeavers and voted for solely by Apprentices – highlighted Bentley’s focus on future talent, learning and development and [...] -
McLaren chief to lead CLF
- 30/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
Ken Smart, executive director of business strategy for McLaren Automotive, has been announced as the new chair of the Composites Leadership Forum (CLF). He takes over from Alex Aucken of the group that provides direction to the UK composites industry and that brings together businesses, academia and [...] -
Skills shortages at crisis point
- 30/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
Staff shortages in repair workshops have reached crisis point, with more than half of vacancies unlikely to be filled in the near future. This is according to FTA’s 2019 Logistics Report. Lawrie Alford, head of automotive at FTA, the organisation representing the interests of the logistics sector, said, [...] -
bodyshop magazine backs training hub at Automechanika
- 30/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
bodyshop magazine, as the leading UK publication in the industry, is sponsoring a new bodyshop training hub at Automechanika Birmingham 2019. The Bodyshop Training Hub will include CPD accredited technical seminars offering expert advice specifically for the collision repair sector, from some of the industry’s [...] -
AutoRaise receives government recognition
- 30/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
AutoRaise has received official government commendation after the successful completion of its VDA apprenticeship standard. Sir Gerry Berragan, chief executive at the Institute for Apprenticeships, congratulated AutoRaise on gaining approval for its standard and acknowledged the work its done to bring new, modern, [...] -
Moore the merrier for ACIS
- 30/05/2019
- Posted by: Alan Feldberg
- Category: News
ACIS has appointed John Moore as a business development director as part of its national business expansion strategy. John, who began his automotive refinishing career as a panel beater more than 40 years ago, complements the role of fellow director Damon Curtis in generating additional sales and the promotion of [...]