Hands-On Exposure to Advanced Manufacturing

The event offers an immersive visit to the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), showcasing cutting-edge workshops and technologies. Attendees will gain direct insight into how MTC supports SMEs in adopting advanced manufacturing methods, improving productivity, and navigating the journey to Net Zero.

Strategic Business Support for SMEs

The SME Playbook PDF attached outlines a wide range of challenges MTC helps manufacturers resolve, including:

• Productivity Gains: Optimising processes, equipment, and automation to increase output.
• Cost Reduction: Through energy efficiency, process improvements, and automation.
• Process & Layout Optimisation: Factory design, logistics, and flow enhancements.
• Scaling Production: Support for growth through new machinery and automation.
• Digital Transformation: ERP, IoT, factory performance monitoring, and smart systems.
• Robotics, AI, and Additive Manufacturing: Including 3D printing and machine learning integration.

Sustainability & Net Zero Focus

MTC provides comprehensive support for sustainability initiatives:

• Energy & Waste Reduction
• New Energy Transition (e.g., Hydrogen, Electrification)
• Circular Economy (Repair, Recycle, Reuse)
• Carbon Emissions Management (Scope 1, 2, 3)
• Alternative Materials & Net Zero Roadmapping

Skills & Innovation Development

• Workforce upskilling, apprenticeships, and bespoke training
• Product design and development
• Intellectual property and digital marketing support

Strategic Growth Opportunities

• Onshoring/Near-shoring supply chains
• Sector diversification (e.g., pivoting from automotive to aerospace)

Scaling operations and entering new markets

The post Why an EMN Member Should engage with the MTC appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Schemes generally assists businesses and helps them stand out when recruiting and support s businesses sustainability goals – boosting the rewards package offered to staff while shrinking carbon footprint. Plus, with salary sacrifice, the Company and their employees could both benefit from tax savings.

It’s better for your drivers, better for your practice, and better for the planet.

Many drivers would love a greener, cleaner vehicle, but the cost and complexity can be off-putting. that is where Salary Sacrifice comes in – giving employees a tax savings on low-emission vehicles. By making things more affordable, Salary Sacrifice can turn driving an EV from something they would like to do one day, into something they can do today.

Here is how it works First, they save – your employees pay for their car through salary sacrifice, saving money on Income Tax and NICs. Then, your business benefits from reductions in employers NICs.

Benefits of E V Salary Sacrifice:

✔ Attract and retain your talent

✔ Reduce CO2 emissions, become a green employer

✔ Help employees make the most of their salary

✔ Low risk, low hassle administration

✔ Tailored to fit your business

✔ Home, public and workplace charging expertise

 With a used EV there are even more benefits to enjoy:

• Up to 40% saving against new vehicle Salary Sacrifice
• Refurbished to high standards
• 12- and 18-month contracts available
• Immediate delivery
• No upfront rentals
• Full Maintenance, Servicing and Tyre replacements
• Road insurance included
• Early Termination Protection included

If EMN Members are interested in learning more, please contact Michael and I direct, and we will arrange a Teams Call to introduce Salary Sacrifice and explore your businesses plans to adopt electric vehicles. We normally aim for a 30–45-minute Teams meeting to provide an overview, establish appetite to explore further and answer any questions you may have.

All we need is a couple of dates and times you can accommodate to enable our colleagues to present to you.

We look forward to hearing from you.

E mail : chris.middleton@lloydsbanking.com

E mail : michael_hindhaugh@bankofscotland.co.uk

The post ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALARY SACRIFICE SCHEME & NOW INTRODUCING USED ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALARY SACRIFICE SCHEME appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

We wanted to share with you further information relating to Salary Sacrifice for your employees^. on zero emission vehicles. It could help you stand out when you’re recruiting and support your sustainability goals – boosting your rewards package while shrinking your carbon footprint. Plus, with salary sacrifice, you and your employees could both benefit from tax savings. It’s better for your drivers, better for your practice, and better for the planet.

Many drivers would love a greener, cleaner vehicle, but the cost and complexity can be off-putting. that is where Salary Sacrifice comes in – giving your employees a tax savings on brand new low-emission vehicles. By making things more affordable, Salary Sacrifice can turn driving an EV from something they would like to do one day, into something they can do today. Here is how it works First, they save – your employees pay for their car through salary sacrifice, saving money on Income Tax and NICs. Then, your business benefits from reductions in employers NICs.

Benefits of Salary Sacrifice:

✔ Attract and retain your talent

✔ Reduce CO2 emissions, become a green employer

✔ Help employees make the most of their salary

✔ Low risk, low hassle administration

✔ Tailored to fit your business

✔ Home, public and workplace charging expertise

Please use the link below to see some examples

Salary sacrifice EV Offers Mailer Microsite

As a reminder, the offers now include the Used EV Car Leasing offering, which is live, these are only currently for businesses with an employee size of under 75 with Drive Electric.

With a used EV there are even more benefits to enjoy

• Up to 40% saving against new vehicle Salary Sacrifice
• Refurbished to high standards
• 12- and 18-month contracts available
• Immediate delivery
• No upfront rentals
• Full Maintenance, Servicing and Tyre replacements
• Road insurance included
• Early Termination Protection included

We would welcome the opportunity to arrange a Teams with Drive Electric to introduce Salary Sacrifice and explore your businesses plans to adopt electric vehicles. We normally aim for a 30–45-minute meeting to provide an overview, establish appetite to explore further and answer any questions you may have.

All we need is a couple of dates and times you can accommodate to enable Drive Electric to present to you.

The post Lloyds – Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme – Updated Offers including used EV’s appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

For new Invoice Finance facilities taken out between 1^st January and the 31^st March, the following will be available:

• No arrangement fee at the outset.

And for the first 3 months;

• No Minimum* service fee.
• 0% Discount Margin over base rate.
• No same day payment charge.

*Service fee % still applies. Facilities are subject to a 12 month contract.

Why are we running this campaign?

To evidence our commitment to support UK trading businesses with their working capital requirements, therefore supporting the overall goal of growing their business.

Companies do not need to have their day-to-day banking with us, therefore, please contact myself or Michael if any of the EMN Membership are thinking of invoice finance for cash flow solutions or if they wish to review existing arrangements with third party providers. It could be Members have held facilities with the same provider for several years and wish to benchmark the facilities or review what is available to them.

Summary

Please could I ask you to promote this within the EMN Membership and update the website (Lloyds Affiliates Section with this offer of support).

The post Lloyds: Invoice Finance – 2024 New Pricing appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

The Newcastle and Gateshead City Council launched a CAZ on 3rd October 2022 to cut harmful traffic emissions, improve air quality and protect people’s health. Vehicles that do not conform to the emissions standards set for the zone are subject to a daily charge if they enter the controlled area. Signs and cameras have been installed and are in operation with charging being introduced in two phases – with noncompliant taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and HGVs charged from 30th January 2023 and vans and light goods vehicles facing charges from July 2023. If your vehicle does not meet CAZ requirements, you will be able to apply for financial support to help you replace or upgrade your vehicle. Details of how to apply for a vehicle upgrade grant will be published on the council website as soon as they are available: https://www.breathe-cleanair.com/grants

COMMERCIAL BANKING

Whilst it may be possible for your business to fund the additional costs from your own cash reserves, it may be worth considering the use of alternative sources that do not impact your working capital, such as Hire Purchase.

Key Benefits
Hire Purchase enables investment that can deliver competitive advantage and improved productivity, supporting growth.
Protecting working capital by avoiding the need to make a lump sum payment or release lockedin value from fixed assets.
Funding can be secured against the asset, rather than needing to provide alternative forms of security.
Asset ownership – you will have title to the asset at the end of the term and therefore have the freedom to keep using the asset or to sell and replace/upgrade.

How could Hire Purchase help?
Hire Purchase can allow you to fund the purchase of a new vehicle over an agreed term, usually linked to the vehicle’s useful life. You can normally borrow up to 90% of the purchase price. Hire Purchase is available to both new and existing Lloyds Bank customers.

Eligibility
• The asset must be for use in your own business.
• Your turnover must be more than £100,000 per annum.
• Your business must have been trading for a minimum of 24 months and be UK-based.
• Funding starts at £15,000, after deposit (minimum deposit of 10%).
• Repayment period between 12 and 60 months.

Newcastle and Gateshead City Council grant scheme A total of £18.2m of grant funding for taxi, van and HGV upgrades will be offered and the two councils are appointing a finance provider to help manage and distribute these funds. A separate fund of £1.7m will be administered directly by the councils for bus operators.

Drivers who are in the process of accessing funding and upgrading their vehicle may be entitled to a
temporary exemption while they wait for their upgrade to be completed. Only older higher polluting taxis, vans, buses, coaches and HGVs will be affected by the CAZ. Private cars, motorbikes and low emission vehicles are not affected. Lorries, buses and coaches that do not comply with emission standards will have to pay £50 per day, while non-compliant vans and taxis will be charged £12.50 per day.

For more information about the grant scheme, please visit the website: https://www.breathe-cleanair.com

View PDF

The post Lloyds Bank – Asset Finance Clean Air Zone – Newcastle appeared first on The Engineering & Manufacturing Network.

Key Features

The campaign will run from 1^st Jan 2023 – 30^th June 2023. All clients onboarded (i.e. with a live facility) during this time frame will benefit from the following pricing reductions:

Read More

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