Hello and welcome to the penultimate Friday Brief of 2012.
As the old year draws to close the Brief focusses on the calendar for the New Year which is already taking shape. The first major event in January is Autosport and we have details of how you can use the show to get in touch with foreign buyers with the help of UKTI. The MTA’s events calendar opens with our event at the AMRC on the 30th of January; this is a great opportunity to find out what is going on in one of manufacturing’s busiest new project hubs, as well as about some of the latest Education and Training developments we’re getting involved in here.
Looking a bit further forward, the Annual Gala Dinner is on the 27th March and bookings are already coming in thick and fast. Last year we sold out so book early to avoid disappointment. The evening will also see the presentation of the Manufacturing Industry Awards – entries are now open in all categories so take a look and see if your company, or perhaps one of you partners or customers could take the chance to shine.
We have details of Government schemes for getting people back to work and for providing money to SMEs for training, as well as the latest from Brussels on the Eco Design Directive.
Geoff Noon rounds up the week’s economic data and features a report on China. Finally we have a challenge to foil bicycle thieves. NESTA are holding a competition, with a £50,000 prize, to find the most innovative product idea to make your bike more secure – good luck!
Have a good weekend.