LONDON: A survey of almost 400 firms showed they have enjoyed a relatively strong start to 2015, increasing the chances of recruiting staff and investing.
The report by the EEF manufacturers’ organisation and global law firm DLA Piper said some manufacturers were seeing improved demand from their European customers.
The poll suggested that the positive run of output expansion across manufacturing for the past eight quarters will carry on in the first half of 2015, with investment plans continuing to look “robust”.
EEF chief economist, Lee Hopley, said: “Any concerns that manufacturing activity might wobble at the start of 2015 have been quashed. Particularly promising are signs of a return to growth in new export orders.
While confidence levels overall are holding firm, policies to sustain positive investment plans, encourage exporters and improve access to skills remain the order of the day.”
