The Manufacturing Advisory Service in the South West (MAS-SW) has given a £100 million boost to the economy since its launch in 2002.

MAS-SW has provided 3,000 engineering and manufacturing businesses with information and advice, and holds 250 company case studies demonstrating examples of the hands-on support it has provided.Greg Taylor, the RDA’s head of business support, said: “MAS-SW is making a real difference to the bottom line of manufacturers throughout the region. For every pound we have invested in MAS-SW they have returned £10 to the South West economy. They provide expert, impartial advice and work with companies to deliver innovative solutions to a range of business problems, as well as enabling them to seize opportunities during these difficult times.”Simon Howes, managing director of MAS-SW, said: “These figures clearly show the commercial value of the support given by MAS-SW over the past eight years.

“We look forward to developing and delivering the hands-on support we know our customers value, and continue to help them to innovate and grow in new and emerging markets.”MAS-SW is one of 10 regional Manufacturing Advisory Services created by the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and is funded by the South West Regional Development Agency (South West RDA), and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Its brief is to help manufacturing businesses innovate and grow by developing strategy, introducing new products and improving their processes. The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in the South West is delivered by a team of 18 home-based specialists located across the region, and is managed by a voluntary board made up of the South West RDA, EEF, the region's Business Links, University South West, the Skills Funding Agency, and representatives from local manufacturing businesses.