Manufacturers plan to create jobs

Sixty two per cent of firms questioned by the Manufacturing Advisory Service’s Barometer

are planning to spend more on machinery and plant equipment, with 48 per cent channelling increased funding into the development of new technologies. This marks a 16 per cent and seven per cent rise respectively on the same period last year.

Half of the companies who were quizzed as part of the survey said they were looking to create new jobs in the next six months, up from 38 per cent in March 2013.

Business Minister Michael Fallon said today: “Britain’s manufacturers are helping drive the UK economic recovery.”