Manufacturing businesses in Cornwall will benefit from advice and support to grow their business following the launch of two new support programmes.

The High Value Manufacturing Investment Programme (HVMIP) supports SME manufacturers to grow and create jobs and is offered to firms centred on the five aspects of Innovate UK’s high value manufacturing strategy - resource efficiency, manufacturing systems, materials integration, manufacturing processes and business models.

The second scheme, the Local Manufacturing Advisory Programme (LMAP), will offer advice and grants to help manufacturing firms improve their business strategy, become more efficient, develop new products, access new markets and develop their supply chains.

The services are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-20 and will be delivered by South West based consultancy and business support firm SWMAS Ltd.

A key element of both services is that they provide a nominated business improvement specialist focused on supporting manufacturers within Cornwall.

Martyn Pearson, a manufacturing specialist at SWMAS Ltd, said: “I am delighted to be appointed as the lead manufacturing specialist for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LEP area. I’ve been supporting Cornish manufacturers for 14 years and the county has some fantastic SME businesses operating in a number of key sectors for the future of the UK economy. I’m excited to be able to provide these businesses with support and to ensure that Cornish manufacturing continues to thrive.”

SWMAS will work closely with the new Growth Hub Team, which acts as the first point-of-call for businesses seeking support, and they will be referring businesses to both programmes depending on their growth ambitions. To ensure close collaboration with the Growth Hub the two organisations have formally signed a service launch agreement.”

Councillor Julian German, portfolio holder for economy and culture at Cornwall Council, said: “Manufacturing represents 8.3 per cent of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s economy and is growing in importance, with wages in the sector well above the local average. I welcome the launch of this new SWMAS service which will no doubt be instrumental in growing our export markets.”