At Smart-Space we are proud to be members of Made In The Midlands, a manufacturers association representing nearly 450 businesses in and around the Midlands. The Made In network is a nationwide professional organisation. Other autonomous branches include Made In London and Made In Yorkshire, representing local businesses in those areas. The UK wide Rubber & Plastics Research Association (RAPRA) is also affiliated to the network.
The purpose of Made In The Midlands is to break down barriers between businesses in different parts of the region – where economies can be fairly insular based on counties – and to encourage cooperative innovation between manufacturers in different sectors.
Events
The Association runs regular networking events, seminars and conferences throughout the year, with the main annual exhibition taking place in Coventry on 21st June 2018 – which we are attending as exhibitors. The MIM Expo is one of the most important events for the manufacturing sector in the Midlands, and we look forward to taking part this year. Last year’s Expo attracted 2000 delegates from 400 regional firms, and this year promises to be even bigger. Hopefully we will see some of you there!
Education & Opportunity
Education and training is another major focus. Among the membership are Birmingham City University and several other training organisations. We are all aware of the skills shortage in some parts of UK manufacturing. By encouraging direct engagement with the sector by educational bodies we hope to develop new opportunities for apprentices and talented graduates in the manufacturing sector.
With over 32,000 companies employing 600,000 people, the East and West Midlands – the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution – remain industry leaders in advanced manufacturing. We are excited about taking part in Made In The Midlands and contributing our share to the ongoing conversation about the future of the manufacturing sector.
Find Out More
To find out about membership, please click here to visit the network website directly. You should also visit the network’s YouTube channel, which is regularly updated with industry news, interviews and information.
