NAA Business Excellence Programme Update: Membership has now exceeded 100 companies!
As we approach the end of 2013 we have seen the number of companies in the North West seeking support through the Business Excellence Programme dramatically increase. We are proud to announce that in November we reached the grand total of 100 members and currently have 106 members
The number of members is increasing at about 10 per month, which is extremely positive and we should soon surpass our goal of 133 members.
Probably more importantly is the proactive way in which companies are engaging with us through Business Excellence membership. To date we have supported and subsidised 86 projects, offering a very diverse array of mentoring and technical support through our highly experienced panel of external consultant providers. I am pleased to say that there is still money available to support both large companies and SMEs throughout the region, although I estimate that there is only sufficient funding available to support 3 further projects in Merseyside (based on average project expenditure).
We wish to welcome the following new members to the BEP:
- Advanced Laser Technology
- Festo
- Piolax
- Clive Walton Engineering
- Key Safety Systems
- Waites Pressings
- Marbocote
- SB Car Seat Covers
- Yuken Europe
On 20 November, we held a Business Excellence registration ‘surgery’ prior to our NAA members networking event at Pirelli, when four new companies joined. Previously, we had no SME members from Cumbria, so we saw this as a great success and something to build on.
Norman Addisson, from Clive Walton Engineering, attended the pre-event and commented: “We found the day interesting, informative and well organised. With the Business Excellence seminar being held on the same day as the Northwest Auto Alliance members meeting we were provided with a great opportunity to network with current members and discuss the merits of joining the programme first hand. The presentation by Pirelli was excellent and the factory tour enabled us to spot opportunities for our services.”
In November Amanda and I exhibited at the UK Engineering Show, NEC, which was a great success enabling us to meet existing and new Business Excellence members. We were taken back as to how busy we were. We are already considering attending this show again and exploring the feasibility of supporting companies attending. We would be keen to hear from you, if you are considering exhibiting at this event in November 2014.
To close, we would like to wish all our members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and look forward to supporting you all into 2014 and beyond.
Contact Me
If you are interested in finding out more about the Business Excellence Programme then please contact me. My email and telephone numbers are as follows: m.andrews@nwautoalliance.com, telephone 07870 812214 (direct mobile).
I look forward to hearing from you.
Martin
Dr Martin Andrews
Northwest Automotive Alliance
