Final call to celebrate Manufacturing Excellence 2010
MX is building a better future for UK business. If it’s made well – make something of it
Firms across the country have a final chance to enter the UK’s most prestigious business awards scheme.
An end of February deadline means firms can still enter the battle for ‘Best UK Business’ at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ (IMechE) Manufacturing Excellence Awards (MX) 2010.
What you can get out of MX2010?
• Advice on how to adapt your business in the recession
• Benchmark your firm against the rest in industry
• Share and learn about best practice
• FREE advice on how and where you can improve your business
• Recognition and a chance to become the best British business
Dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the business world, MX is free for any firm to enter and is the only best practice benchmarking scheme of its kind to offer an elite panel of industry experts giving up to £20,000 worth of free, impartial advice.
Latest Government figures show SMEs make up 95% of the UK manufacturing sector and 99% of all businesses in the UK. Within the MX scheme, these firms can receive coaching and support from leading industry experts such as the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS). MAS North West supported and advised more than 1,000 manufacturers in 2009 on issues ranging from implementing low carbon practices, increasing productivity and identifying new market opportunities.
Paul Fewtrell, Head of MAS North West said: “The MX Awards have been instrumental in identifying and developing some truly excellent manufacturing companies. I would encourage any business aspiring to be world class to enter these awards. The selection process is robust and successful participants receive valuable feedback on their strengths and weaknesses enabling them to plan a route to Manufacturing Excellence.”
Paul Terry, MX Project Manager at IMechE, said: “MX is known as the international hallmark of best practice. MX is unique because each year it goes out and demonstrates, time and again, that improving the skill base and empowering the people inside a company delivers better products and processes, more satisfied customers and, ultimately, improved profitability.
This is the one event your business should be a part of. While we have already had a high calibre of firms entering the award we hope this extra time will encourage even more to benefit from MX.”
This year MX is also supported by PricewaterhouseCoopers, National Skills Academy for Manufacturing, Arup, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Autodesk, and the National Business2Business Centre. They will be touring the country working with entrants to compile a Self Assessment Audit (SAA). In turn firms receive a free Benchmark Report, worth up to £20,000 in free business advice, which will provide them with invaluable advice on how to improve their business.
There are 12 ‘Oscars’ up for grabs including Best Overall Business, Best SME, Sustainable Manufacturing, Product Innovation, People Effectiveness, Customer Focus, Best Finance Management, and Best Business Education Partnership. Finalists get a chance to attend the prestigious ceremony on 23 June 2010 at the Dorchester in London where the winners will be unveiled.
If you are interested in entering this year then download the MX10 Entry Form or visit www.mxawards.org and email h_morgan@imeche.org. Media enquiries should be directed to the IMechE Press Office on 020 7304 6877 or email media@imeche.org.
• The MX Awards are believed to be the UK’s longest running business awards and were established by the IMechE 28 years ago to protect manufacturing and promote best practice. Previous MX winners can be found at www.mxawards.org. Contact the Press Office for more information on 020 7304 6877 or email media@imeche.org. For more information on how MAS has helped firms across the country please visit http://www.mas.bis.gov.uk/case_studies
• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) first established its Manufacturing Excellence Awards scheme in 1981. In 1999 the process underwent a major review when the Self Assessment Audit and Benchmark Report were introduced. The IMechE now has around 78,000 members in 120 countries. It represents mechanical engineers involved in a diversity of fields such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries to name a few. For more information on MX please visit www.mxawards.org or www.imeche.org.
