Southport based FPC short listed in parliament hosted awards following MP nomination

SOUTHPORT based Chartered Financial Planning firm, FPC, has been shortlisted for a national business award following a nomination from Southport MP, Damien Moore.

The National Responsible Business Champions Scheme awards, which are sponsored by the All-Party Parliamentary Corporate Responsibility Group, are run by a cross-party group of MPs who promote corporate responsibility in the community and workplace.

This month a reception for the national awards was held in Parliament, with Managing Partner at FPC, Moira O'Shaughnessy in attendance with the other 8 shortlisted nominees - including prestigious businesses such as Camelot, BAE Systems and award sponsor, Budweiser.

Earlier this month, FPC was named Constituency Responsible Business Champion for its commitment to responsible business practices. The firm had to demonstrate its ability to engage with stakeholders to support the local community, invest in healthy workplaces, commit to training and development and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. FPC was also selected in recognition of the work of the FPC Foundation in supporting groups working with vulnerable people in the local community, particularly during the Pandemic.

Speaking on the nomination, Damien Moore comments:- "I was delighted to see the charitable work FPC delivered during the peaks of the Covid19 Pandemic. From helping the vulnerable, to putting on workshops for local Schools. It is clear that the business is a valued asset to the community and the work they are doing is truly fantastic. It was therefore an honour to nominate FPC for the Constituency award and I am delighted to hear that the business was shortlisted for the national awards."

Managing Partner at FPC, Moira O'Shaughnessy added:- "We were delighted to have been nominated and to have then been shortlisted for the national award, alongside such formidable contenders. This award acknowledges the importance of small businesses within local communities and the positive impact they can have. I would like to pay tribute to the FPC team especially for their efforts and say a big thank you to Damien too for the nomination."

Financial Planning Corporation (FPC) provides financial planning and independent investment advice to clients across the UK. Based in Ainsdale, the business celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
 

Made Smarter survey reveals need for Liverpool City Region manufacturers to digitalise to survive, recover and grow

'THE case for digitalisation has never been stronger' says Donna Edwards, Director of Made Smarter adoption programme in the North West  Manufacturers in Liverpool City Region are being urged to accelerate technology adoption to adjust to the economic challenges around the supply chain, energy costs, post-Brexit and COVID. Made Smarter, the movement connecting UK manufacturing industries to digital tools, conducted a survey of some 200 SME manufacturers in the North West.

The results highlighted how the last 2 years affected them, and their approach to digitalisation and their priorities going forward.

The survey revealed while many (35%) makers, particularly smaller businesses, are focussed on survival after a turbulent few years, achieving growth by improving productivity and adopting digital technologies are key drivers for SMEs.

In fact, 38% of manufacturers revealed they had plans to invest in or adopt new technology in the next 2 or 3 years. Meanwhile, 1 in 3 respondents said their latest business strategy included integrating digital technology or a roadmap towards automation.

The survey also showed that manufacturing leaders are exploring a range of technologies to revolutionise the way they make and distribute their products.

44% expressed an interest in data and systems integration technologies, while 66.67% were considering industrial machinery, robotics and automation.

The survey also tapped into attitudes towards technology adoption where it found almost a 29% cited productivity, efficiency, and output as key drivers for manufacturers in 2022 and beyond, despite the current business climate. Increasing revenue (18%) was the secondary motivator to invest in new digital tools, followed by attracting and winning new customers (17%).

However, while the majority (80%) of manufacturing leaders expressed a clear understanding of what they need to do and the benefits of investing in new technologies, once they are aware of the benefits, barriers to adoption remain. 42% manufacturers said that the lack of capital and funding to invest was holding them back from investing, as well as the lack of time (10%).

The survey also revealed a fragmented awareness of the business advice and support available, meaning SMEs are potentially missing out on valuable funding and support available to them. Donna Edwards, Programme Director for the Made Smarter adoption programme in the North West, said the findings of the research show that the case for digitalisation has never been stronger.

"SME manufacturers have endured a few unsettling years and continue to face a multitude of recovery challenges," she said. "They are aware that technology brings significant benefits and they risk being left behind by not capitalising on the opportunities on offer. But it is also clear that they need support and advice to create a roadmap to digital transformation to enable them to adopt the right digital tools, progressively and sustainably, to avoid risking wasted time, money and effort."

Made Smarter was designed to overcome these and other hurdles by helping SME manufacturers navigate through complex technology advice and decisions. Initial registration only takes 5 minutes and is followed up with a digital transformation workshop to identify core challenges, provide a bespoke digital manufacturing roadmap, and pinpoint other ways that Made Smarter can support a maker's digitalisation.

Edwards added:- "We have developed a simple and straightforward process which quickly gets to the heart of a business's challenges and supports them to take that 1st step in their digital transformation. Hundreds of manufacturers have reaped the benefits of our impartial help, identifying the most effective technologies to boost productivity, efficiency, growth and create high value jobs. Meanwhile, hundreds more have taken advantage of funding opportunities to invest in those ideas, as well as investing in the right skill sets and leadership development to help them achieve their goals. Digitalisation is the key to UK manufacturing's post-covid survival, recovery, and growth. And with new challenges at our door, such as rising energy prices, supply chain disruption and labour shortages, now is the time for business leaders to reach out and take advantage of the support on offer."

For more information, visit:- MadesMarter.UK.