Advanced manufacturing sector

Despite its decline in recent years, manufacturing remains an important part of the UK and Plymouth economies. Locally, it accounts for nearly 13 per cent of the total economy and a similar proportion of the labour market.

In terms of productivity per head - gross value added (GVA), at £47K it is worth over one and a third times the average GVA within the local economy.

While the numbers employed have reduced in recent years, output per worker has risen significantly.

Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG) is an informal network of manufacturing companies from across the Plymouth travel to work area (TTWA). Membership includes household names such as The Wrigley Company, Kawasaki and Langage Dairy, as well as major local employers such as Babcock Marine with its 300 year heritage of ship building and ship repair at Devonport Dockyard.

The objectives of PMG are to:

• provide a convenient means of interchange of information, experience and opinion between members and matters affecting the interests of their companies and their employees
• encourage and assist in the orderly development of industry in the Plymouth area
• provide a channel of communication between members of the group, local authorities and other appropriate organisations

The PMG membership employs over 12,000 staff in the Plymouth TTWA and has a combined turnover of approximately £1.6bn (source SW Regional Accounts).

Academic provision in support of the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector is provided by City College Plymouth and the University of Plymouth and includes apprenticeships through to NVQ, City & Guilds, BEng and BSc. In addition, the University of Plymouth offers bespoke training and consultancy, internships and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships to the manufacturing and engineering sector.