Author Archives: Ken Hurst

About Ken Hurst

Ken Hurst began his career as a journalist in London over 30 years ago, working on a range of publications before moving on to weekly newspaper production in the newly-independent Zambia of the 1970s. He returned to the UK where his work included spells on newspapers and magazines, before moving to head up Norwich Union’s corporate affairs division. In the 1990s he moved on to freelance, co-own and publish the B2B audio magazine Sound and front the BBC radio Yesterday’s Papers programme. There followed six years as Business Editor at Britain’s biggest selling regional daily newspaper, The Eastern Daily Press, where he led an award-winning team and for whom he still writes a weekly socio/political comment column. Subsequently, he was Group Editorial Director at CBM, responsible for its UK and US magazine output – including The Manufacturer magazine – research-driven industry reports and live events content. Currently he is Contributing Editor at Works Management magazine publisher Findlay Media and Chairman of the consumer publishing house TNT Multimedia Ltd. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and of the British Association of Communicators in Business.

Growth ahead for smaller manufacturers, says MAS

Growth prospects among small manufacturing businesses in England are at a 12 month high, according to the latest Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Barometer. It reveals nearly two thirds (64%) of companies questioned are expecting to increase sales over the next … Continue reading

Posted in Finance, Innovation, jobs, Manufacturing management, R&D, sales & marketing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Students bid for schools engineering challenge title

Students from 13 Glasgow schools have put their design and build skills to the test in the BAE Systems Schools Engineering Challenge 2013. S2 pupils are taking part in a challenge to design and build model ships using paper, card, … Continue reading

Posted in Aerospace & defence, Education & Training, Manufacturing management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New plant set to boost sales and create jobs

A £750,000 investment in a new glass beneficiation plant (pictured) is set to boost sales and create 10 new jobs at  Middlesbrough-based Ward Recycling. The new plant will enable Ward, which employs 140 people across the UK, to boost sales … Continue reading

Posted in Manufacturing management, waste management | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Debate on Europe ‘letting Britain down’ – EEF

Manufacturing bosses have hit out those who it says are “letting Britain down” by calling for a referendum on EU membership. The voice of the manufacturers’ organisation EEF, is calling on the Prime Minister to hold good his promise of … Continue reading

Posted in europe, Manufacturing management | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Record £440m funding for innovations agency

The Technology Strategy Board (TSB), the UK’s innovation agency, has been allocated a record £440 million budget which experts say will provide a boost to the UK’s long-term competitiveness. The funding boost, announced by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts, … Continue reading

Posted in advanced manufacturing, Innovation, Manufacturing management, Technology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Trade data confirms manufacturing is ‘finding its feet again’

The latest UK trade data showed that exports rose almost 5% in March, prompting suggestions that the manufacturing sector is “finding its feet again”. Official data showed the UK’s trade deficit falling slightly in March, down from £3.391bn in February … Continue reading

Posted in exports, Government/statistics, Manufacturing management | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Exports boost UK manufacturing output

Boosted by the export of machinery and cars, the UK manufacturing sector appears to be moving into more positive territory, according to the latest official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In March, the ONS Index of Production showed manufacturing … Continue reading

Posted in Aerospace & defence, Automotive, Electronics, exports, Food & beverage, machinery, Manufacturing management, metals | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Manufacturers call for safer gas supply

Energy-intensive manufacturers are calling for urgent Government intervention to protect industry from gas shortages, warning that UK supplies of gas have been running perilously low and that the consequences of this are harming firms and stifling employment. Organisations including the … Continue reading

Posted in Construction, energy, Manufacturing management | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

UK auto sector puts rest of Europe in the shade

The UK automotive sector continues to defy gravity with new car registrations rising almost 15% in April and 9% (768,555 units) in the year so far – a performance that has put the rest of Europe in the shade. SMMT … Continue reading

Posted in Automotive, Government/statistics, Manufacturing management | Tagged , | Leave a comment

New composite engineering skills framework to be led by new chairman

Semta, the sector skills body for science, engineering and advanced manufacturing, is today (8 May) launching a new ‘Composite Engineering Apprenticeship Framework’ and a change in the leadership of the group that will oversee its implementation. New strategy group chairman … Continue reading

Posted in advanced manufacturing, Automotive, Education & Training, Manufacturing management, People | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment