UK manufacturing is not dead say figures from government backed Manufacturing Advisory Service

UK manufacturing is not dead and more than half of the UK's small and medium manufacturers plan to expand their businesses in the next six months.

Figures from the government backed Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Barometer, which interviews more than 600 companies every quarter, found 55 per cent of SME manufacturers will grow in the next six months and 41 per cent are looking to invest in plant and machinery.

The barometer found aerospace, marine, off-shore wind and rail sectors as the biggest growth areas.

Despite the optimism only 45 per cent of those interviewed reported an increase in sales in the last six months.

Business minister Michael Fallon said: "Of course, these are still challenging times, but the recent GDP output is the latest sign yet that the wider economy is starting to recover. We will continue to support manufacturers through MAS to ensure they are best placed to take advantage of opportunities to grow."