Focus on UK subcontractors

access to the 26,000 attendees that visit the UK’s national show. One visitor badge provides access to both events.

The ESC Show launches as part of the MTA’s commitment to support the UK’s aspiration to be a global leader in advanced and digital manufacturing. The event is designed to create new business opportunities in the engineering based manufacturing sector.

James Selka DL, Chief Executive Officer at the MTA, said: “Since bringing the EIA on board as part of the MTA family in 2021, we have continued to shine a spotlight on the UK engineering supply chain, hosting a well-received show-within-a-show at MACH 2022. Now in a dedicated hall alongside MACH 2024, ESC 2024 is the ideal place for world-class subcontractors and supply chain engineering companies to generate business leads from new customers. With more and more reshoring taking place, the ESC show is the destination for the UK manufacturing community, seeking to shorten their supply chain by sourcing more domestic content.”

Karen Finegold, Head of EIA, commented; “The EIA is committed to the Engineering Supply Chain show. The benefit to UK PLC, assisting in the reshoring of precision subcontracting products and services, is huge and confirms the EIA’s commitment to building a long-term engineering and manufacturing community. In addition, members of the EIA receive a discount for exhibiting in the Engineering Supply Chain show, further encouraging and supporting participation.”

8 engineeringsupplychain.co.uk

The latest Contract Manufacturing Index (CMI) shows that the UK subcontract manufacturing market surged by 60% in the first three months of 2023 compared to the previous quarter. As political and economic uncertainty eased, high value purchasing organisations came back to the market and the release of pent up demand saw activity soar.

The market jumped by 178% from December 2022 to January 2023 and remained healthy for the rest of the quarter.

Overall the first quarter of 2023 was 31% higher than the first quarter of 2022, demonstrating consistent growth in the longer term.

The CMI is produced by sourcing specialist Qimtek and reflects the total purchasing budget for outsourced manufacturing of companies looking to place business in any given month.

On a process by process basis the biggest growth in Q1 2023 was in fabrication, which grew by 71%. Machining grew by 56% and other processes by 15%. Fabrication represented 55% of the market, with machining on 38% and other processes on 7%.

The strongest market sectors have remained remarkably consistent over the past year, with Industrial Machinery and Food and Beverage holding the top two spots.

Commenting on the figures, Qimtek owner Karl Wigart said: “Coming off a poor end to 2022 we expected January