News
SMMT News: NEW SMMT Funding and Support Guide
The new version of the Funding and Support Guide for automotive companies requiring access to finance has been published, containing over 100 different regional, national and European schemes that are cross referenced by type, category and criteria The document has been designed to make it easy for automotive companies to find the schemes most relevant […]
Torotrak Acquires 20% of Flybrid Automotive Ltd
Leyland-based Torotrak acquires 20% of Flybrid Automotive Ltd, formalising successful partnership to deliver first-to-market flywheel hybrids Torotrak has acquired a 20% stake in flywheel hybrid innovator Flybrid Automotive Ltd (formerly Flybrid Systems LLP) with an option to acquire the remaining shares before the end of the calendar year. The transaction strengthens Torotrak’s ability to provide […]
March 2013 Budget: Changes to VED, company car tax, capital allowances, and more
Here’s a summary of how the March 2013 Budget affected motorists, including changes to Benefit In Kind (BiK) tax levels for Electric Vehicles (EVs) Company Car Tax and EV BIK Benefit In Kind (BiK) tax levels on Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs) – including Electric Vehicles (EVs) – with 0-50g/km CO2 emissions, will remain at […]
NAA Update: Carol launches an appeal – and an action plan – for North West automotive companies to maximise the youth, diversity and skills of their staff
I recently attended the UK Manufacturing Summit where Vince Cable commented that due to ageing demographics the bottleneck in the future will be staff. He also commented that engineering is one of the most sought after subject areas at University – but that we need to tackle the gender issue, with only 1 in 10 […]
NAA Business Excellence Programme Update: Project extension, next BE event, case studies, and more
Since Christmas, we have been focussing on a number of areas, including our funding application for the project extension to June 2015, preparation for a European audit, performance evidence, a major public sector event and the commissioning of the last remaining monies for mentoring and technical support in this phase of the project. I would […]
NAA Skills Update: National Apprenticeship Week and Engaging with Schools
11th to 15th March 2013 was National Apprenticeship Week, the annual event which celebrates the positive impact apprenticeships have on individuals and businesses alike. Regular readers of the Skills article in the NAA’s newsletter might be forgiven for thinking that in ‘Susan World’ every week is Apprentice Week, but even the strongest exponents of apprenticeships […]
In the Driving Seat: Steve Williams, Managing Director, Performance Springs Ltd, and NAA Board Member
Steve Williams sounds like he’s desperate to kick his kids out of his house and set off on a European road trip in an E-Type Jag. Name Steve Williams Company Performance Springs Ltd Position MD Apart from that NAA Board Member Director and VP of the Institute of Spring Technology Association with NAA I have […]
BE Case Study: SMMT Meet the Buyer 2011
North West companies attend SMMT Meet the Buyer event and gain introductions to key automotive purchasers. Link to case study:- BE Case Study: SMMT Meet the Buyer 2011 North West automotive businesses meet buyers and benefit from mentoring in how to sell to major manufacturers. PROJECT SMMT Meet the Buyer event, Chester, 2011 BACKGROUND The […]
Event Review: SMMT SME Support Roadshow, 7 March 2013
If you missed the SME Support Roadshow which explained the funding and business support available for companies in the North West, then you’d better read this summary of the event. The SMMT SME roadshow was designed to follow up from the publication of last year’s Supply Chain Finance report, and the SMMT’s Meet the Funder […]
A partnership including the Northwest Automotive Alliance, Bentley Motors and the Virtual Engineering Centre is awarded £1.95 million of AMSCI funding
A partnership comprised of the Northwest Automotive Alliance, Bentley Motors, the Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) (part of the University of Liverpool), Optis, Icona and SimX has been successful in its bid for £1.95 million of Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) Round 2 funding, and two more automotive projects with North West partners also gain […]
