Infor and EEF Join Forces to Deliver Competitive Edge to UK Manufacturers

Strategic Partnership Set to Help Manufacturers Emerge from Recession

Infor, the leading provider of business software for mid-market customers, have announced an exclusive, two-year strategic partnership with the manufacturers organisation, EEF - the most powerful force backing UK manufacturing.  Under the terms of the partnership, EEF recognises Infor solutions as its technology of choice for UK manufacturers.

Infor will undertake a range of activities with EEF throughout the two years including headline sponsorship of the 2010 Future Manufacturing Awards; research among the EEF membership on key topics; networking events and speaking opportunities.  In addition Infor will be involved with the EEF as it develops strategic technology offerings to the EEF membership.  Infor will also assist the EEF with initiatives for the representation of UK manufacturing to the government.

The UK manufacturing industry is undergoing radical change and a great deal of Infors customers are caught up in these developments, explains Emma Rainey, UK marketing director, Infor.  The UK still has a lot of benefits to offer manufacturers we have advanced infrastructure, a highly developed skills base and strong protection for intellectual property rights.  Manufacturers are leveraging these benefits and adapting to different ways of doing business.  As a result we have seen a reassessment of IT and the use of technology. There is more investment in the supply chain and gaining better visibility of critical data.  Technology is also supporting innovation both in terms of product development and the internal working practices.  Infors partnership with EEF will help to strengthen what we can offer UK manufacturers.

Recent EEF research has shown that while heavier industry has suffered strongly during the recession, small, agile, R&D focused manufacturers have thrived.  In addition 14% of UK manufacturers have brought production back onshore.  However, the balance sheet recession has seen not only a drop in demand for manufacturing but also aggressive restructuring of many companies.  It is against this backdrop  that Infor and the EEF have joined forces.

 As the UK manufacturers' organisation, the EEF helps thousands of companies to evolve and compete in a fast-changing world, explains Lee Hopley, chief economist, EEF.  The UK is the worlds sixth largest manufacturing nation, and it is good news that economic recovery is now underway, although its strength remains in doubt. But to keep the UKs place it needs to keep ahead of global competition.  Technology is one part of that advantage and as we support manufacturers to grow their businesses, especially with regards to export, we are confident that our partnership with Infor will help deliver added value to our members.