Made in the Midlands

Made in the Midlands (also referred to in some circles as MIM) is a form of business network, e.g., a local organisation of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses - specific to manufacturing in the West Midlands. Each firm is represented at boardroom level from companies located in towns and cities in the Midlands, United Kingdom and form this local society to advocate on behalf of the manufacturing community. Local businesses are members, and is driven by regular steering groups and focus groups to advise on continued improvements and it is understood that a non-executive board is to be introduced in 2012 open to firms within the manufacturing community to further advise on strategic direction and lobbying to national and local government.

History

Made in the Midlands as a business network representing around 250 SME's in manufacturing in the Midlands was founded in and currently based in Wolverhampton in the Black Country, England. .

Demographic Area

The Black Country area is rich in manufacturing firms comprising of the boroughs of Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and Wolverhamton.

Structure

The organisation acts as a platform for firms to source and supply with one another, collaborate and improve their businesses - all indepenent of the public sector. .

As of May 1,[clarification needed] 2009, the organisation went public announcing itself with a large Manufacturing summit in the city of Wolverhampton where firms were able to meet at director level only with other manufacturers. It was the first time this had been achieved in the region where firms came together to interact on their own merit. This has now become a regular fixture in the local business calender, with a larger gathering in 2010, again in the city of Wolverhampton, UK which the Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands (MAS-WM) assisted hosting. The most recent gathering was held in nearby Walsall in 2011.

In October 2011 the collective are to meet again to recognise the achievements of the performing manufacturing companies within the group, following the success of the 2010 Awards event where leading organisations within the business community such as SEMTA [The Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies and BCU (Birmingham City University) collaborated with Made in the Midlands..

Political Links

Made in the Midlands is now notable within business support network for the extensive lobbying and representation activities it undertakes on behalf of its members. In 2011 the delegates from Made in the Midlands were invited to Westminster to meet with senior government figures to contribute to business policy in line with the UK government's 'big society' drive. Now recognised as a major non-government initiative for the region, Made in the Midlands sought to influence the relevant authorities to expand and improve the region's manufacturing focus using the campaign slogan "Championing Midlands Manufacturing!" which was endorsed by leading former government figures and leading industriallists including Lord Digby Jones, Tony Woodley of UNITE and Colin Green, MD of Land Rover.

Future Programmes

Made in the Midlands has also pioneered a manufacturing academy scheme with local education centres to engage youngsters in the region to fall in love with indsutry through submitting innovation IDeaS to a panel of Made in the Midlands firms with a view to putting them into production.