Manufacturers in Sussex are to benefit from a £15 million government-backed project to improve the help available to industry.

Alan Johnson, Employment Relations Minister, said a centre for excellence offering hands-on advice and support to manufacturers in the South-East was to open this year.

The centre forms part of a £15 million Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) initiative to boost manufacturing throughout England and Wales.

The DTI in partnership with the Seeda (South-East England Development Agency), has established the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) South in Hook, Hampshire, as the regional centre for delivering the service in the South-East.

The centre will help provide the opportunity for companies to raise productivity and competitiveness.

It will offer practical support from a core team on a range of manufacturing issues, including site visits and diagnostic analysis; information and advice on specific manufacturing subjects through practical workshops and seminars; and information and sign-posting by telephone, e-mail and web site.

Mr Johnson said: "The centre will make an impact on the productivity of the manufacturing sector in the South-East.

"These are tough times for manufacturing but be in no doubt, manufacturing matters to this Government and is central to our future as a leading, knowledge-driven economy.

SEEDA's director of business Marianne Neville-Rolfe said: "We have more than 20,000 manufacturing companies in the South-East, employing more than 12 per cent of the area's workforce.

"Manufacturing in the area is growing and it is vital we support it.

"This initiative will provide the hands-on advice and practical aid small firms need to solve their problems and improve their performance."