Sefton leaders urge manufacturers to tap into local support for growth

SEFTON business leaders are urging small and medium sized manufacturers to tap into local support as they face:- rising costs, skills pressures and tough decisions about where best to invest.

The call came at a partnership event at:- Glass Futures in St Helens, organised by Made Smarter North West, the Government backed programme that helps manufacturers adopt digital technology.

InvestSefton, Sefton Council's enterprise, business growth and inward investment service, was among the organisations that reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Liverpool City Region's more than:- 2,500 manufacturing businesses, which employ around:- 50,000 people and contribute:- �2.9bn to the regional economy.

Kristina Swift, Business Development Manager at InvestSefton, said:- "Bringing manufacturers together with Liverpool City Region's business support and innovation community demonstrated the strength of our regional network. Hearing how Made Smarter and other partners have helped businesses was a reminder of what manufacturers can achieve with the right support. We want Sefton manufacturers to make full use of that expertise. From workforce development and process improvements to technology adoption, there is practical help available. Start a conversation with InvestSefton and we can help you explore the options and connect with the right people."

Launched in 2018, Made Smarter North West has worked with thousands of manufacturers. Its support includes digital transformation workshops, tailored roadmaps, leadership development, Digital Champions training, internships and match-funded technology grants.

Sefton manufacturers that have worked with Made Smarter include:- Camper Camper, Happy Drinks Group and Edwards and Hampson in Bootle, Flavourfresh Salads in Southport, and Northwest Fencing and ULEMCo in Aintree.

The event also brought together organisations from the Region's business support and innovation ecosystem, including:- Liverpool John Moores University, Edge Hill University, RTC North, Sci-Tech Daresbury, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and Innovate UK.

Panellists from:- SolidTek, JPL Flavours and Algeos shared how Made Smarter's support helped them pinpoint bottlenecks, weigh up their options and decide where to invest in digital technology.

Alain Dilworth, Programme Manager for Made Smarter North West, said:- "Our job is to take the pain out of adopting technology. When you're running a factory, finding the time to work out what's worth investing in can be hard enough. AI is widening the choices, and the pace of change makes those decisions harder. Start with what you want to improve in your business. We'll help you work out what to tackle 1st, what skills you'll need and where an investment could make a difference. That's where our partners across Liverpool City Region come in. Between us, we can help businesses find the right expertise and stay with them as they put their plans into practice."

Sefton manufacturers can contact InvestSefton or visit this website to find out what support is available.

Tesco helps Liverpool pupils grow their green fingers

CHILDREN at St Anne's Catholic Primary School can now enjoy home-grown produce, thanks to Tesco.

The School received:- �1,500 through Tesco's Fruit and Veg Grants scheme, having been chosen by customers across 16 Tesco stores in Liverpool. The funding will go towards creating a vegetable garden where pupils can learn about growing their own:- food, healthy eating, and the importance of fresh produce.

Pupils will be at the heart of the project, taking an active role in:- preparing raised beds, selecting what to grow, planting seeds, caring for the plants and harvesting the produce, with support from the School's gardening club.

Children from all year groups will have opportunities to get involved through lessons, outdoor learning and practical gardening activities, taking their learning beyond the classroom.

The produce will be used to give pupils the opportunity to prepare and taste the food they have grown themselves, helping them experience the journey from seed to plate.

Any surplus produce will be shared with the School's cookery club and the wider School community.

Gill Murphy, Headteacher at St Anne's Catholic Primary School, said:- "The vegetable garden will give our pupils the opportunity to learn in a fun, practical way, developing a better understanding of where food comes from and the benefits of healthy eating. It will also be particularly valuable for our pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), providing practical, sensory-rich learning experiences while developing responsibility and teamwork. We are grateful to Tesco and the people of Liverpool for supporting our vegetable garden, which will provide a sustainable learning resource that can be enjoyed by pupils year after year."

The grant forms part of Tesco's Fruit and Veg Grants scheme, which awards funds of �500, �1,000, and �1,500 to charities and community organisations to help make a positive difference to children and improve their access to free fruit and vegetables to support a healthy, nutritious diet.

Claire de Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said:- "We're delighted that we can help support Schools, community groups and clubs in Liverpool. St Anne's Catholic Primary School are doing amazing work for the children there and we're encouraging more Schools and community groups to apply for funding for projects that help children access healthy food, learn where it comes from and build healthier habits."

Tesco's Fruit and Veg Grants scheme, delivered in partnership with Groundwork UK, provides funding to local Schools and community groups to help bring healthy eating projects to life. The scheme forms part of Tesco's wider Free Fruit and Veg for Schools programme, which aims to help 1 million children access free fruit and vegetables and build healthier habits for the future.

To apply for Fruit and Veg Grants scheme funding, visit this link.

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Sefton leaders urge manufacturers to tap into local support for growth

Tesco helps Liverpool pupils grow their green fingers