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<p>The Government’s Industrial Strategy supports manufacturing across many sectors
in a number of ways through business support, skills and R&D.</p><p>Through Business
Support:</p><ul><li>The Government has undertaken a business productivity review and
is currently looking at how to improve manufacturing processes with 3000 industries
in the North West in the Pilot for Made Smarter. The learnings from this pilot, and
the conclusions of the review will benefit industry in the future.</li><li>We are
making sure small businesses across all sectors including agricultural machinery,
textiles and engineering, can find the information they need on their finance options
and additional support in information and guidance:</li><li>The British Business Bank
publishes (in partnership with industry) the Business Finance Guide, which also has
an interactive online version.</li><li>The Business Support Helpline and the network
of 38 Growth Hubs also provide advice and signpost businesses to sources of information
and guidance. We would encourage the industries to take advantage of this resource.</li><li>78,000
SMEs have been supported in various way by the British Business Bank. The Small Business
Commissioner helps with payment issues, dispute resolution and sourcing advice across
the UK.</li></ul><p>Through developing Skills:</p><ul><li>The Government has developed
a wide range of manufacturing apprenticeships. There are now specific apprenticeships
for textile manufacturing, at both intermediate and advanced levels and a significant
number of engineering apprenticeships across a range of sectors.</li><li>The Government
has introduced the apprenticeship levy across the UK to encourage sustained employer
investment in high quality apprenticeships. By 2020 the total annual apprenticeship
investment in England will be almost £2.45bn (in 2019/20); double what was spent in
2010-11. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will receive £460m, as their fair share
of the apprenticeship levy, in 2019/20. This will allow businesses to develop workforces
that have the skills they need for the future.</li></ul><p>Through supporting R&D:</p><ul><li>The
Government has increased the rate of R&D tax credit to 12% to encourage businesses
to invest in the future and as a step towards meeting the 2.4% target. As we try to
put the UK at the forefront of advanced sustainable agriculture, this tax credit will
provide opportunities for both manufacturers of agricultural machinery and small-scale
engineering firms to invest in innovation.</li></ul><p>We are open to having discussions
with all sectors of business and industry to discuss how we can support them and would
welcome the engagement from manufacturers of agricultural machinery, textile industry
and small-scale engineering firms.</p>
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